While controversial at times in the world of stand-up, thereâs no denying that when it comes to small screen entertainment, Denis Leary knows quality. The Job is great, Rescue Me was a game-changer, and Sirens is one of the funniest new comedies of the year. With that said, itâs been a while since last we saw Leary in a leading role on a television series â itâs kind of hard to do that when youâre fighting giant lizards on the streets of Manhattan. But it seems the dry spellâs over, since FX has announced today, just weeks before the 10 year anniversary of Rescue Meâs premiere, theyâve ordered a 10-episode first season of the actorâs new series Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.
Created by Leary, the new series âis centered on âJohnny Rockâ (Leary), a middle-aged rock ân roller who desperately wanted to be rich and famous. So far, he’s 0 for 2. As the magnificently talented lead singer of New York’s legendary early 90’s band The Heathens, Johnny was on his way to the cover of Rolling Stone magazine⦠But Johnny had a problem with booze. And coke. And weed. And pills. And cough medicine. And oh yeah – he slept with best friendâs wife. And his bass player’s fiancé. The band broke up the same day their first and only record was released. 25 years later, Johnnyâs trying to get the band back together. Why? Because as his soon-to-be-ex manager Ira Feinbaum tells him: ‘Johnny, you’re 50, broke and completely anonymous. In rock ‘n roll you know what that makes you? A bartender.’ 25 years later the sex might be harder to find, the drugs might be Luvox and Crestor and Cialis – but rock ‘n roll will never die. It just has a bigger prostate.â
Well, thatâs a mouthful, which is a good thing since this is the same kind of character expectations we had for Rescue Me, and that turned out wonderfully. This series sounds like itâs right up Learyâs alley, and we canât wait to see it.
Are you looking forward to the next Denis Leary/FX team-up? Let us know in the comments below.