Rosie's winning ticket is a rich role

BY DIANE WERTS | Newsday Staff Writer

October 3, 2006

Rosie O'Donnell gets a housecall from Julian McMahon in "Nip/Tuck" (FX Photo)

Well, if that "View" gig doesn't work out, Rosie O'Donnell sure has a future in acting. Our homegirl is a delight tonight starting a guest-star arc on FX's sleek Miami plastic surgery drama "Nip/Tuck."

As Dawn "Pudge" Budge, the veteran comic is a decidedly declasse Powerball winner with a honkin' accent who can now put into practice her belief that "there's nothin' money can't buy" - including a better bod, some first-time fashion sense, and a McMansion that "looks like Liberace took a dump in here."

What money can and can't buy is the theme of the week, too, for the series' two star surgeons/messed-up men. Sean (Dylan Walsh) lays out serious dinero to hold his family together by impressing his alienated wife (Joely Richardson) and Scientology-gripped son (John Hensley). Meanwhile, Christian (Julian McMahon) tries to fund freedom from her past for his trophy wife dalliance (Sanaa Lathan), whose former "escort" boss (Jacqueline Bisset) makes some doubly and triply surprising demands that ultimately turn bloody.

As always, the surface is sleek and the hearts tend to be hollow - although the guys are starting to understand how deeply sincerity counts when it comes to emotional connections and lasting satisfaction. So is Budge, giving O'Donnell something substantial to play when she returns in future episodes, after tonight's spending spree gets out of control at Christian's place in a conveniently carnal way.

Back next week are Larry Hagman as the trophy-hunting husband, who's also bought the surgery practice, and Brooke Shields as Christian's therapist/conquest. "Nip/Tuck" is back, too, on a glossy roll by this fifth fall episode, after the third season's Carver serial killings alienated some fans who wondered where the entertainment went. Seems writer Ryan Murphy's show is as eager for reinvention as his characters are.

NIP/TUCK. Rosie O'Donnell plays a lottery-winning fixer-upper. Tonight at 10 on FX.