'Shield' is risky and terrific

'The Shield' Airs: at 9 tonight on FX (Channel 62 on Time Warner Cable) Stars: Michael Chiklis, CCH Pounder, Catherine Dent, Walton Goggins, Michael Jace, Kenneth Johnson, Jay Karnes, Benito Martinez Who should watch: Grown-ups looking for a grown-up cop show From the "not what we expected" department, the cable channel best known for the raunchy Howard Stern-produced "Son of the Beach" and "M*A*S*H" repeats brings us the year's riskiest venture - a drama that celebrates police corruption. And it works, thanks to great writing and a terrific lead character who lives just across the thin blue line from Tony Soprano. Vic Mackey (Chiklis) is the LAPD's secret weapon: He's an unscrupulous detective who always gets his man. He's a sleazeball, but an endearing sleazeball, with a normal wife and kid at home. The whole division knows he's dirty but he's making L.A. safer, right? A new captain (Martinez) thinks otherwise, yet even he comes to appreciate having Mackey as his personal pit bull. Pounder, once described as the queen of "serious black women in the background" before her recent work ("ER," "Boycott"), sparkles as an icy lieutenant who gets results. As if that weren't enough, "The Shield" also features heart-stopping action scenes, the steady backbeat of its addictive soundtrack and highly entertaining chatter. The combined effect will kick down your door. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com @ART CAPTION:'The Shield' stars CCH Pounder as Claudette Wyms and Michael Chikis as Vic Mackey. @ART:Photo (color) @ART CREDIT:FX