Can't Cut The Cable: Nurse Jackie's Pilot

Nurse Jackie Pilot
Nurse Jackie airs Monday’s at 10:30am after Weeds on Showtime.
Let’s get to the good part first. Watch Nurse Jackie’s pilot episode. It is classic TV drama. It is Gun Smoke. It is Star Trek. It is The Twilight Zone! It is this show that used to be on HBO about mobsters in New Jersey that starred Eddie Falco as a house wife that always wined “Toooe-neeeee!”
I enjoyed “NJ” so much I am giving the grade first, A+!
In the opening scene Nurse Jackie played by “Carmela Soprano”... I mean Eddie Falco is telling a doctor to run a test on a patient. (I am literally saying to myself “I am loving this for the opposite reasons that I loved Scrubs.”) After the patient dies, Jackie tears into “Dr. Cooper” and clearly lets “Coop” and us know that this is real life where seconds can mean the difference between life or death. This is not Scrubs wear we can and should relate to each character.
God bless cable and Show Time because unlike other hospital shows Nurse Jackie is complex, diverse, and brought to the screen by people who want to tell quality stories. I am not the biggest fan of Nurse Jackie being only a half hour, however Nurse Jackie had no throw a way or filler scenes. Each scene supported the story arc as a whole. That I like.
As a fan of TV I enjoy quality and being sold authenticity. Nurse Jackie so far is not over the top on drama, does not feel the need to throw in a joke, and was a great view into the world of a nurse.
Although a totally different show N-J reminds me of Barney Miller or even Hill Street with its fly on the wall realism. Let’s hope that the next episode doesn’t snatch issues from the headlines as it base for stories each week. Though I love M.A.S.H I hope Nurse Jackie doesn’t get that preachy.
In closing...Eddie Falco acts within herself and stays true to her character. In doing so Miss Falco does an amazing job of carrying this solo vehicle. I know one former Emmy award winning mobster who should be proud because Falco shows the potential to be every bit the talent James Gandolfini is.
Doctor’s orders for Nurse Jackie- While I am sticking by the A plus I do have some concerns about Nurse Jackie. The way she manages her life under the influence of drugs she cops is a little disturbing. I personally always worry a bit when drug use is played out as a manageable evil or when recovery comes by the third act of a script. I think many people take their cue from real life and the idea that popping pills can make you more productive as long as you “manage it” is BS.
Later This Week: My top ten things you should know before you watch True Blood’s Season two premiere on Sunday.