Edie Falco in "Nurse Jackie"
courtesy of SHOWTIME
“Nurse Jackie” (SHOWTIME)

To tell you the truth I was never that big a fan of “The Sopranos.” So sue me! But I was always a big fan of Edie Falco. Now Edie is back on cable with SHOWTIME’s new series “Nurse Jackie.” It is a half hour weekly show that veers between drama and comedy.

Falco plays Jackie Peyton, a dedicated nurse who knows how to put upstart doctors in their place. She does this early on when a misdiagnosis by hot shot Dr. Cooper (Peter Facinelli) results in a death. She lashes out at him and he responds in a startling way.

Nurse Jackie is a complex woman. She has a loving husband (Dominic Fumusa) and two adorable young girls, but she also has a lover at the hospital (Paul Schulze). It seems the people at the hospital don’t even know she is married. She takes off her wedding ring everyday before entering the hospital doors.

Her best friend on staff is Dr. Eleanor O’Hara (Eve Best) a droll, sarcastic woman who would do anything for Jackie. Both of them have fun antagonizing the ER administrator Gloria Akalitus (Anna Devere Smith). Jackie also has a new nurse she is trying to help train named Zoey (Merritt Weaver). Zoey is in awe of Jackie and drives her crazy with her adoration.

It is a strange group that inhabits the ER world of All Saints Hospital. Jackie is definitely the leader of the pack and she fights hard for her patients. She also has that love affair going on and is a pill popper/sniffer. She has a bad back and that may be the reason for the pills. It also may be the reason she is involved in the affair. Her lover is the pharmacist and he keeps her supplied with drugs.

This being SHOWTIME the language is a little rough and the subject matter can get pretty mature. For adults though it is a perfect blend of superb acting and skillful writing. You get to know these characters pretty quickly and once you are hooked you are hooked all the way.

Edie Falco is back and starring in a show that is built around her talent. “Nurse Jackie” is for all the fans who have been living for her return, and a lot of other people who will hear about this show and tune in for the fun and excitement.

“Nurse Jackie” premieres June 8 at 10:30PM on SHOWTIME. It should be around d for a long time so get in on the ground floor and love it from the start.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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