Fire Country and 4 of the best Diane Farr shows to watch

It’s always great when an actress who’s long been one of those “hey, it’s that lady” actresses on TV gets a meaty role. Diane Farr is such a case, as while she’s been in a few movies, her television career has been dominant. Since 1992, she’s appeared in scores of television shows, mostly minor or recurring roles with the occasional meaty one like an episode of Desperate Housewives as a horrible mother. 

Currently, Farr has a top role in the CBS hit Fire Country, which has put a good spotlight on her. Yet there are a few other roles in her career worth checking on, such as showing her drive, her great aura, and being able to make any show pop by being on it. With so many credits, it’s hard to narrow down, but here are five of the best TV roles for Farr and why it’s wonderful seeing her become so successful today.

Numb3rs

One of Farr’s best regular gigs was on this long-running CBS procedural. It focused on Rob Morrow as an FBI agent who enlisted his mathematician brother (David Krumholtz) on special cases. Farr joined in the second season as Megan Reeves, an FBI psychologist who aided them. She could be tough in the field while handling problems like a distant father and often getting too close to some victims. She also had a fun long-term relationship with Peter MacNicol’s character. Farr left the show in Season 4 but did have an excellent showcase for her talents on this hit series. You can stream Numb3rs on Prime Video.

The Job 

This criminally underrated and overlooked ABC sitcom starred Denis Leary as a self-destructive cop handling the police force while also dealing with a pack of bungling co-workers. Farr played Jan, who came off as the one sane person in this station, often more level-headed, while the others played off her. She had a dramatic scene with a breast cancer scare, and she and Leary’s character had some nice banter, but his inability to keep a secret among his other sins ruined any romance. The show lasted only two seasons and 19 episodes but did mark a much-needed breath of fresh air among police shows. Want to watch? The Job is on DVD.

Rescue Me

Leary would end up getting much of The Job cast and writers together again for his more famous long-running FX dramedy. His firefighter character was an even bigger mess than his Job cop with his constant problems yet still doing his best to handle the tough job and his co-workers.

Farr had an arc as Laura, joining in Season 1 and a series regular in Season 2. A big episode had her upset when a fellow firefighter called her stupid, and her protest brought up the issue of a woman in a mostly male field. Farr only lasted one year on the show, but this was another reason this series could feature the tarnish of these heroic figures. Rescue Me is currently streaming on FX.

Californication

The long-running Showtime series was a significant post-The X-Files role for David Duchovny as Hank, an author who gets into some pretty wild personal tales that put his novels to shame. Season 3 is seen as a high point for the series with Farr as Jill, Hank’s teaching assistant at his new job as a college professor. It’s not long before they’re hooking up, allowing Farr to show off a steamier side to herself than usual. Her arc only lasted this season, but it says a lot that Farr was able to spark up this already sexy comedy so nicely. Californication is streaming on Showtime/Paramount+.

Fire Country 

Obviously, Farr’s latest role has to count as it’s also her biggest yet on a network drama. The pilot for the CBS hit at first indicated Farr’s Sharon was just a dedicated leader of a pack of California firefighters with a good relationship with her husband. Then came the revelation she was the mother of the main character, Bode.

The show has built up the drama of Sharon’s cancer battle, her issues with her son, and the latest season, which has teased tension in her marriage. It’s wonderful seeing Farr get so much attention late in her career and a key reason why this show is such a hit. Fire Country airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.