george.schmidt THE JOB – THE COMPLETE SERIES (2001-2002)SYNOPSIS: A sitcom based in a NYC precinct focusing on the trials and tribulations of Detective Mike McNeil (Denis Leary), a pill-popping, borderline alcoholic politically incorrect cop whose personal life is in a freefall crises: he's having an affair with a young, black woman while trying to maintain his marriage and family man status. On top of the daily stress and rigors of his highly demanding job McNeil tries to do as little police work as possible in solving crimes while bantering with his ensemble squad and suspects alike. Leary – who based his questionable character on technical adviser Mike Charles, a real-life detective who did likewise for Leary for his role in the big-screen remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair" co-executive produced this mold-breaking blend of "Barney Miller" meets "NYPD Blue" with longtime collaborator Peter Tolan (both now teamed successfully with the critically acclaimed F/X comedy/drama "Rescue Me") that aired for a bracketing one season on ABC also with critical acclaim but yanked far too-quickly before it could establish a firm audience. ABC should be ashamed.CRITIQUE: Denis Leary is arguably one of the best stand-up comedians of his generation – a snarky blend of George Carlin and world-weary Richard Belzer – with his full-throttle, take-no-prisoners chain-smoking deliveries to the comedic solar plexus and a gnashing grin to those who get in his way. In this, his first foray into 'traditional television sitcom series' Leary fitted perfectly to the short-fused yet heart of gold schmuck whose comeuppance threatened to occur with each new episode, and made a unique interpretation of the average NYC police detective who has seen it all, is fed up and will let anyone within earshot know it. When I first heard about it in the few promos ABC dished out I was excited and when I first viewed it became an avid viewer. However as networks are wont to do as of late, the series never established a firm footing in the scheduling and in the wake of 9/11 perhaps became skittish that the sitcom didn't appease the American zeitgeist at the time it surely could've used a balm. But that was never "THE JOB"'s intention; it was a comedy – pure and simple. And a pretty hilarious one at that.Shot on location in NYC (and its surrounding areas including the set of the squad in an abandoned school in Jersey City, NJ) with a single-camera, no laugh track and 'racially balanced' production the perfectly assembled cast included veteran actor Bill Nunn (perhaps best known as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's incendiary "Do The Right Thing") as McNeil's long-suffering, yet devoted (perhaps too devoted) married man Terence "Pip" Philllips, the moral center of the partnership (and the show too boot) who was very in touch with his feminine/sensitive side (asking his partner if 'these pants make my ass look fat' to the point of getting out of their undercover sedan and giving McNeil a good view); fellow stand-up comic Lenny Clarke (and current "RESCUE ME" co-star) as Frank Harrigan, a fat old school detective buddy and food addict currently living in a spare room of the precinct due to his wife throwing him out of their home; young comedian Adam Ferrara as Frank's partner , Tommy Manetti, the gadfly of the group and sex pervert trying to make a name for himself as a detective; the Hispanic team of Ruben Sommariba (John Ortiz) and Al Rodriguez (Julian Acosta) – a Mutt and Jeff duo nicknamed "rice and beans" ; the latter practically a mute to fine comic consequences (often used as a device for the inner –office gossiping ("well I heard from Al…"); and tomboyish, one-of-the –guys, ballsy hottie Diane Farr (late of MTV's "LoveLines" and current co-star of "RESCUE ME" as well), the voice of reason and the sole female dick who matched her male charges with verbal wit and demeanor, and single mother on the prowl. Rounding out the fine ensemble were vet character actor Keith David as the gruff, no-nonsense and often riled black Lt. Williams (and replaced fellow vet actor Richard Gant after the pilot); Wendy Makkena (the "Sister Act" films) as McNeil's unsuspecting wife Karen and Karyn Parsons as his lively lover, Toni; Janet Hubert-Whitten as Pip's ball-busting wife, Adina, who clearly hates McNeil and feels he is a bad influence for her cuckolded husband; and occasionally Rory Culkin as McNeil's son, Davey. Leary and Tolan (an accomplished comedy scribe who penned "Analyze This" and "That" as well as stints on "The Larry Sanders Show" and "Murphy Brown") scribed 90 percent of the well-written, joke-laden scripts with deft comic aplomb by not only showcasing Leary's trademark cynicism but also allowed to bounce off the excellent comedic ensemble allowing each one to shine in any given show (as any smart sitcom does). Among the guest stars included the lovely, shapely Elizabeth Hurley and Gina Gershon (past co-stars and close buddies off-screen with Leary) in aptly titled showcases "Elizabeth" and "Gina" , respectively, touching on bodyguards and stalkers/crazed fans; veteran character actor Zeljko Ivanek ("Homicide: Life On the Streets" and "Oz"); Ellen Pompeo (currently of ABC's out-of-nowhere smash hit "Grey's Anatomy"); Scott Wolf; Eli Wallach; and Donald Trump. FINAL THOUGHTS : While there is comfort in the fact that since ABC stupidly cancelled this above-average cult classic-in-the-making and Leary & Tolan re-teamed successfully to create "RESCUE ME", it still boggles the mind of the ineptitude of traditional network fare bowing to idiocies aplenty. Truly deserved another life – perhaps an unexpurgated turn on say, HBO?

markus waibel I saw the episodes in Austria and I must say that the German production company made a great job using the best dubbing voices for the different characters. It was a funny show with a lot of real-life stories - unfortunately broadcast in Austria after midnight. I also liked "It's Like, You Know..." which also had been canceled after two seasons. The question in both cases is why? But remember: "Star Trek" was a flop at the beginning and no public broadcaster was encouraged enough to buy "Sex and the City" ... So, what remains of "The Job" is a good memory, a couple of episodes on DVD+R and the hope for a future release on DVD.

kablam It's hard to believe that ABC, a network owned by the Disney Corporation, a network that once harbored television's most irritating character, Steve Urkel, a network that gave birth to long-running entertainment tumors like "Full House," could come up with not ONE of the greatest genre-pushing television shows of all time, but TWO, in a period as short as three years, and cancel them both. The first was "Sports Night" a series that has rightfully been called "one of the greatest things in the history of television;" the second was "The Job."What IS "The Job?" Is it a sitcom? Is it a drama? Is it a 'dramady?' The answer to all of these questions is 'yes.' "The Job" is all of these things and more, a concoction of acting, writing, and production so perfect, that the very idea that it could come into being so soon after the demise of "Sports Night" practically defies all possibility, and yet it happened. And yet it had a wonderful timeslot. And yet it was canceled."The Job" stars Denis Leary in what could have and SHOULD have been his first real niche role outside of standup and performance art-comedy: A New York Police detective named Mike McNeil with a drinking problem, a smoking problem, and a drug problem, who has a wife and kids, but also has a mistress on the side, and a wandering eye. The perfect anti-hero.Surrounding Leary is an equally-talented cast that comes together just as seamlessly as, again, "Sports Night." Bill Nunn is Leary's partner, Terrence "Pip" Phillips, the good-conscience-with-a-halo to McNeil's horns-tail-and-pitchfork, chiding him for his bad behavior while simultaneously envying him a but. Lenny Clarke delivers his familiar big, goofy police officer role without flaw, often drawing some of the loudest laughs. Diane Farr shows that she has razor-sharp acting skills to go along with her extremely good looks. Adam Ferrara is, as usual, hilarious.But don't let all the comments about how funny this show is throw you off: as was said, it's NOT just a sitcom. It also carries all the elements more familiar in drama-territory wonderfully.And just when shows like this were giving television viewers with an ounce of good taste a chance to dance around on TGIF's grave like Evil Homer Simpson, all that "family friendly" programming has to rise back out of the ground like half-decayed zombies and take big, fatal bites out of the skulls of more daring and innovative programming like "the Job," all under the command of Mickey Mouse, Zombie Master.ABC should be proud of themselves for bringing this show into existence in the first place, but that pride should be more than obliterated by their decision to heartlessly yank it away just as we were all starting to enjoy it. They should be ASHAMED of themselves for once again caving to the lowest common denominator and dropping this one, as if their treatment of "Sports Night" wasn't bad enough.Let's hope Comedy Central's weeklong special showings of "the Job" a few months ago were an indicator that Denis Leary took note of what happened to "Sports Night" and was smart enough to get a hook-up for his show with that network as a backup plan. It may be the last chance for cutting-edge shows such as this to protect intelligent viewers from a new wave of Urkels and Tanners sucking (extra emphasis on that) what little brains are left out of television with a bendy-straw.

march74 I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED that ABC canceled this hilarious show!!!! This series was unique, funny, and had a wonderful cast which clicked. It was the only show I looked forward to watching whenever it was on the air. I can't believe that ABC, in yet another DUMB move, didn't consider moving the program to a different time slot, or advertised more!!! They really didn't give it a chance. I wish another network, would pick the show up. I hope that in the near future all episodes of "THE JOB" are on DVD. This show was a real classic, and will certainly be missed by myself and countless others!!!!!!