“Steak Knife”

Air date: July 20, 2009

Is there a better first-season comedy on TV right now? I think not.

From director Steve Buscemi’s cameo as the schizophrenic whose “voice of god” booms across the street to All Saints hospital to O’Hara’s hilarious unraveling over Vicodin, Nurse Jackie proved its mettle again last night.

It’s great to see the writers bring up Jackie’s addiction in ways that test her, like when Eddie lets on that he knows she likes him as much for the pills as for the sex.

Edie Falco’s Jackie is terrific, of course, but the supporting cast at the nurses station helps her shine (Thanks, Momo, Zoey and Thor!). If there’s a weak point, it’s Mrs. Akalitus, who’s so often employed as sitcom-style comic relief. Anna Devere Smith is a better actress than that, which we’d learn if she were given more to do than bumble around being officious.

Still, I give last night’s episode three and a half stars. How would you rate it? Fire away in the comments.

Photo: Ken Regan/Showtime