New on the tube

Airs: 8:30 p.m., ABC (Channel 9), replacing "Spin City" for six weeks Stars: Denis Leary, Bill Nunn, Lenny Clarke, Diane Farr, Adam Ferrara, John Ortiz, Julian Acosta In brief: Leary plays a pill-popping, womanizing cop whose buddies at work help him stay sane - barely. But is it any good? Sharply written by "Larry Sanders" writer Peter Tolan. And though it's filmed in the style of "NYPD Blue" (with no laugh track), no one should confuse this with reality TV. At least we'd better hope the cops don't get confessions out of people the way they do on "The Job." The first episode also features a very funny, very incorrect riff on racial profiling. Is it a survivor? Shifting the "Larry Sanders" mindset from pay cable to network TV is tricky, but using the familiar cop genre will help. ABC has scheduled "The Job" after "Drew Carey," one of the few shows that can match it insult for insult. But for viewers expecting "Spin City," Leary's foul mouth and mordant cynicism may be too much to take. You can reach Barnhart through the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com >>>