Showtime and the Runaway Success of “Nurse Jackie” on Satellite TV

If there's one television show that managed to captivate audiences and get people hooked who weren't even looking for a new series, it's definitely "Nurse Jackie." With Edie Falco, who endured marriage to Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos" and subsequently won a bunch of Emmy awards, it's the definite breakout hit of the past year as far as dark comedies go.

Falco plays Jackie, a nurse who leads somewhat of a double life, even in the midst of her double life. With a husband and two kids at home, she takes off her wedding ring and heads to work in a New York City emergency room, where her friends include a posh British female doctor, a bumbling and brashly confident young male doctor, and an ever-growing assortment of witty nurses and nurses' aides. But "Scrubs" this is not. Jackie's double life is a lot more Showtime than network, and satellite tv viewers will find themselves rooting for her, even as they are worried about her behavior.

It's that kind of writing, really. The kind that manages to pull you in, even when your protagonist is annoying you a little bit. Think back to the days of "Six Feet Under" on HBO, and you'll know what sort of characters you're dealing with, at least in the case of Jackie. In fact, until the end of the pilot, you think the worst thing that this assertive and gifted nurse is doing is extra medicine and the pharmacist at the hospital. That's until she hugs her daughters and gives her husband, who is also her high school sweetheart, a big kiss.

While certain conservative groups blasted the show and sent angry letters to Showtime and satellite tv companies alike insisting that it be taken off the air, millions of viewers have decided to make up their own mind. The result has been some of the highest ratings Showtime has ever experienced. Considering that the show manages to take your typical ER drama and turn it on its head, and considering the fact that your lead character is a woman who is unabashedly enjoying both chemical and physical comforts that aren't exactly in line, it's quite a feat. Something's definitely changing in America.

It's not just the fans who have flocked to "Nurse Jackie" in unheard-of numbers. Everyone from "Entertainment Weekly" to "Variety" has praised the cast's performances, been pleased with the writing, and recommended that the show is worth watching. And it's not just Falco who is doing a great job with her role. Every single member of the cast manages to carry things perfectly, adding poignancy to the darkly funny moments that seem to be never-ending.

For a truly different look inside of an emergency room, there's no better place to turn on satellite tv than to Showtime for "Nurse Jackie." After all, she might be saving lives, but that doesn't mean that she has to be a saint. Or as she said during the first episode, "please God, make me good. Just not yet." Thankfully, that's not the message that the writers and actors were conveying, because the show is close to perfect.

With satellite tv, you'll get the best quality picture for catching up with "Nurse Jackie." For an even better price on your favorite show, consider directv.