Phyllis – I’m glad you mentioned the lead-out, Raising the Bar. Last year the show was just too liberal for me. But they began this year with a haircut for the lead public defender Kellerman. It had been too painful to watch Mark-Paul Gosselaar in that role, because I liked him so much on the right side as Andy Sipowicz’ final partner on NYPD Blue. Re-visiting the show this year, I find Kellerman less annoying and sometimes facing the consequences of his liberal arrogance. There are episodes spotlighting a conviction-minded prosecutor’s office, including J. August Richards and NYPD Blue grad Currie Graham. There’s a balance of viewpoints, more or less, much more than you ever got in the Kelley shows or the later years of Law & Order. And best of all, the Bochco production style is still intact. With so many shows amping up the musical score other gimmickry over the last decade, Steven is still strong on the fundamentals: great writing, intelligent adult casting, and production values in support of strong characterization and writing, rather than covering up for their absence.

Brenda Leigh’s wardrobe is atrocious, but she is smart and single minded. (I didn’t care for the shacking up with Fritz, though.) Thought it was out of character, but Brenda Leigh’s deception of her father about her lack of “weddin’” was priceless! Her mother loyally covered up for her too. Funny! I know these people.

We can’t have a civilized society without proper enforcement of the law. Unfortunately modern law enforcement seems to be a mixed blessing. I’m thinking of the four Mounties who killed a confused, unarmed immigrant with a taser at Vancouver airport in Canada.