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« Rescue Me Anti-Blog
Week Five
I, John Scurti, recently had the opportunity to visit the set of Rescue Me in New York City to chat with one of its stars, John Scurti, who plays Lt. Ken (Lou) Shea, a grizzled FDNY veteran and best friend to Tommy Gavin, played by Denis Leary.
Me: Well, good morning, and the first thing I feel I must comment on is how much thinner and younger you look in person.
Him: Right back at ya, pal. And just to get it out of the way, "Lou” is short for lieutenant, and that’s why he’s called that. His real name is Kenny Shea. It confuses a lot of people and I’m tired of explaining it to those moro… to the fans.
Me: So what’s it like working with Denis-
Him: I’ll tell you what it’s like. It’s like finding a big hornet’s nest and throwing it in a burlap bag and then tying the bag over your head. And the hornets are smoking.
Me: You know you said that out loud.
Him: Did I? I gotta stop doing that. It’s great. He’s great.
Me: One of the things that critics have noted is-
Him: Are those my shoes? Are you wearing my shoes?
Me: No… I assure you, these are my shoes.
Him: I have a pair just like them, and I can’t find them. Explain that.
Me: I… these are mine, really. Can we move on?
Him: If you need shoes that bad I can get you some from the wardrobe truck. Of course, you can always try one of the many charities out there, seeing as you don’t like to buy things. Ever thought of that? Walking into a store and buying shoes?
Me: What did you do in terms of research when you realized you’d be playing a member of the FDNY? What was your approach, if any?
Him: Like most actors, I was interested in getting it right. Knowing that what you do and how you behave on the screen is going to be watched by lots of real firemen around the country and judged not only by them but by everyone. How would you jump off the truck when you get there, what exactly are the tools that a lieutenant would be carrying, what is the behavior of a guy like Lou at a real fire? That’s what was really important to me.
Me: Did you spend a lot of time at a particular house or with a particular crew to learn all that?
Him: The problem was that they know you’re an observer, some actor on a TV show, and my fear was that I wouldn't be getting the truth but rather what they wanted me to see. That was the real reason I started to set fires and then hiding and watching — that way you get a true view of how it all unfolds.
Me: I see. For how long did that last?
Him: It’s an ongoing process.
Me: I also understand you take great interest in the outer layer of your character-
Him: Yeah. Once we had our first table read of the pilot, I looked around and on some level said, “How is Lou different from these good-looking guys?” The answer was not very. I always try to create a character that is memorable and who stands out. That’s when I decided to put on 40 pounds and age myself 20 years. It just felt right.
Me: There has been a lot of talk, particularly among your parents, that you’ve been overlooked by the Emmys for a best-supporting-actor nomination. Any comment on that?
Him: It would be a shame if something happened to their headquarters.
Me: Something… like a fire?
Him: [Shrugs]
Me: Kind of like what just happened to the Sopranos studio? A seven-alarm blaze in the middle of the night that consumes everything?
Him: In television, anything is possible.
Me: What are you planning for the off-season?
Him: Well, I usually take a few weeks off to relax and then go right into rehearsals with the Bolshoi. We have a great winter season planned, and I will be playing the role of Giant Mouse No. 3 in The Nutcracker.
Me: Well, thanks for your time and best of luck with everything.
Him: You’re not going anywhere until I get the damn shoes back.
** Writer’s note: At this point in the interview, Mr. Scurti became violent and tried to remove my shoes. When that attempt failed, I was lit on fire. On the advice of counsel, that is all I am permitted to say.
Editor's note: All of the comments expressed in this blog are purely the product of John Scurti's overactive imagination and do not necessarily have any basis in reality.
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Jun 21, 2006 11:23 AM
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Mr. Scurti, I'm awed that you would gain weight and age 20 years for the sake of your art. De Niro would be so proud. But could you at least tone down the facial hair a bit? Looking like a homeless bum might not be a good thing off-screen.
As for your character Kenny's new living arrangements with Tommy, let's hope y'all don't go "Probie" on us, if you catch my drift.
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Jun 21, 2006 11:39 AM
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What a brilliant schizophrenic soliloquy, John! Once again, you had me (at "hello")laughing out loud, and it was your best anti-blog thus far. Thank you for sharing the intimate recesses of your mind...especially the crusty edges.
I must, however, naysay your previous poster's comment about Kenny's hirsuteness. I LOVE IT ! Always have loved men with clean full beards...verrrry sexxxxy ! (please - not a woosy van-dyke, though) I truly hope your character finds a woman who appreciates Kenny for himself and his beard...and gives him the love, respect and appreciation he deserves.
If this is not in the works for Kenny, YOU can reach me at 386-216-41-- anytime.
Warm regards,
Faery
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Jun 21, 2006 7:18 PM
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I must refute an item posted in Week 3: Your DP Tom Houghton does NOT wear his wife's dresses. W
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Jun 22, 2006 7:30 AM
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I must refute an item posted in Week 3: Your DP Tom Houghton does NOT wear his wife's dresses. While he is indeed a size 6, I am a size 2 and I will not allow him to stretch out my clothes. He buys his own dresses.
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Jun 22, 2006 7:33 AM
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Dude,
You are so freakin' funny. And the show just keeps getting better every week. Thanks for bringin' the laughs.
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Jun 22, 2006 3:21 PM
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Well, we're now hooked on RM, thanks to this blog! I started reading and laughing and so we went out and got season one DVDs and can't stop watching. We are fans for life. I have always like Conan O'Brien, oh I'm sorry, I mean Denis Leary. I want to know more about the great music!
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Jun 25, 2006 3:39 AM
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Now that your at the point of talking to yourself... I can help you. Come over to our site and read the short novella we are in the mist of writing about YOU and Faery… You can replace Lou with Him or Me. Maybe you can incorporate into this blog or the show. Talk it over with Denis & Peter to see what they think.
Come over and take a peak yourself. http://www.rescuemeforum.com/index.php. You will find thread in Season Three is aptly named LOU. We are only in the PG stage but it would be nice to have some R material.
BTW the poem written with love by Lou currently aka: ffwifeandmom made me cry.
You need to come over and read for yourself. I could have posted here, not…
Catch you on the next round, Your Pal Sassy
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Jun 25, 2006 1:56 PM
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hmmm, maybe you could get Peter Tolan to teach you how to post a reply (he's burning up the message boards over at televisionwithoutpity.com). Your fans need you, John. 
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Jun 25, 2006 8:45 PM
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I bet you your "Week 6" blog is going to be the most anticipated that you ever wrote, right? I heard that they will be changing the name of the show from "Rescue Me" to "Rape Me" Is that true. lol. just kidding. lol
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Jun 26, 2006 7:32 PM
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Wellllll, John, it's looks as though you're going to have competition for the blogs here. I see a new anti-blog is soon to be posted by Callie Thorne.
As for the novella on http://www.rescuemeforum.com about you and a certain "Faery"...uh, I plead the Fifth (of Patron). If I don't, I'll never be able to face you at next November's "BASH". I'll be the mute 5'5" blonde hiding behind Yankeegirl.
(The poem does rival Kenny's best, I have to say...)
Regards,
Faery
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Jun 26, 2006 7:35 PM
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Dear John,
Your fans are wondering when you're going to post your next installment here.
Is it true (from a post allegedly by Peter Tolan on televisionwithoutpity.com) you wrote the 11th episode for this season of RESCUE ME?
I, for one, always check the beginning credits in hope of seeing "Written by John Scurti"...the guarantee the episode will be extraordinary.
Regards,
Faery
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Jun 28, 2006 8:52 PM
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John, (aka Mr. Scurti) this blog is a hoot!
Love the show and "Lou" -- he is the heart of the cast. Thanks for the giving this character such life.
It was heartbreaking to see the pain he's gone through and hope that there are better things ahead for him. He deserves it.
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Jul 13, 2006 5:23 PM
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John, will you or Callie be writing the next blog?
Warm regards,
Faery
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Jul 16, 2006 8:06 PM
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