The Job

2001

Seasons & Episodes

  • 2
  • 1
  • 0

8.2| 0h30m| TV-14| en
Synopsis

Mike McNeil is a decorated New York City detective whose toughest assignment is himself. He's struggling to balance a challenging personal life with a job that leaves him wondering on a daily basis if he is the last sane person in New York. His unconventional approach to his job makes him a great cop, even on the most trying days. The only thing he can't figure out is why, if he's the only sane guy around, everyone's always looking at him like he's crazy.

Director

Producted By

Touchstone Television

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Trailers & Clips

Reviews

LouHomey From my favorite movies..
CommentsXp Best movie ever!
Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.
Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Thomas Dietrich This was one of the best shows on TV while it lasted. The story line included comedy, drama, and tragedy, and mixed them well. The central character was played by Dennis Leary. He was a flawed detective, alcoholic, abusing prescription drugs, and cheating on his wife. Not the best qualities for a member of the police force. It was those underlying stories that really made this series so enjoyable. It wasn't always easy to watch, but it was always compelling and drew you in so that you didn't want it to end. I was shocked when they took it off the air without any announcement. That was a huge mistake by some spineless executives without the nerve to give this gritty show a chance for success.
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?
StevieL This had to be one of the finest and funniest shows in recent history. Snappy writing and a great cast made this the most watchable new series on television I have seen. The characters were well-developed and each episode had me doubling over with laughter. To think that there are so many lame shows on television being renewed year after year, while a true gem like this one got cancelled shows just what is wrong with the networks and the idiots who control the programming. I had to go out of my way to keep up with the network's broadcast schedule to find this show whenever they moved it around so it's no big surprise that it did not have a chance to find a bigger audience. The show itself was a cross between the drama of Hill Street Blues, with a healthy level of Seinfeld's clever writing and quirkiness. Denis Leary is a true comic genius and the supporting cast (including the riotious Lenny Clarke) deserved so much more from their network to break this show. If it weren't for cable television providing the intelligent and edgiest shows, television sets would have gone the way of the Edsel decades ago.The cancellation of this show was an absolute crime and I'm not sticking up for a fellow Massachusetts guy's project. Heck, the show was more 'New York' than 'Mass' in attitude anyhow, but it was funny, heartfelt and clever...something the networks never get right anyway. Major bummer and the reason the local news is about the only network television I watch. "ABC" should stand for "A Bad Choice" on this one!
fossate Excellent police dramatic television series. "The Job" is very realistic and its characters are very charismatic and "human", especially Mr. Bill Nunn a seasoned and veteran actor. It's a rarity that a local TV network has had a hit series which "The Job" is. Only one problem--the show is too short. There isn't much else to say because "The Job" says it all. . . . Hats off to Denis Leary and crew!