Guy show makes this a good 'Strip'

>>> TV critic Aaron Barnhart rates tonight's premiering show The Barnhart scale, from best to worst: Don't Miss, Has Potential, Needs Show Doctor, D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival). DON'T MISS "The Strip" UPN wasn't supposed to unveil this action series from movie producer Joel Silver ("Die Hard" and "The Matrix," among other genre classics) until midseason. But when another series fell through, "The Strip" was pressed into service. Lucky for us, "The Strip," a derivative-as-heck buddy detective series that feels like the Vegas version of "Lethal Weapon," is the unexpected jewel of UPN. Sean Patrick Flanery and Guy Torry form one of those tried-and-true buddy teams; they're ex-cops who agree to be security hounds for a pockmarked casino mogul (Joe Viterelli). Naturally, they're not afraid to bend the rules to get things done. "The Strip" bursts out of the gate with a heart-pumping fight scene, then keeps the tempo going with surprisingly fresh banter and the obligatory things that go boom. And diversify this: Torry isn't just the best black actor to hit the airwaves this fall - a limited competition, that - he's the sensation of the season, from his nonstop mouth down to his $ 300 shoes. Parents please note, "The Strip" tolerates raw language, escort services and other vices that are virtues in Vegas. (8 p.m. Tuesdays, Channel 29) For full coverage of the fall season, visit the TV Barn Web site www.tvbarn.com