Perverse charms keep 'Shield' shining

With all the spectaculars planned for May, here's one last reminder that many of television's truly special programs aren't specials: You may recall that Michael Chiklis, now starring as the ultimate bad cop on FX's "The Shield," played a Mr. Mom type on a family-friendly comedy called "Daddio" a couple of years back on NBC. It was all innocent fun, though most critics ridiculed the show, and NBC probably erred with this rare foray in family-friendliness. With "The Shield" (9 p.m. Tuesdays on FX), Chiklis has gotten about as far away from "Daddio" as you can get. Innocent this show is not, nor is "fun" quite the right word for this testosterone-juiced thrill ride through the inner workings of a thoroughly corrupt - and one hopes entirely fictional - L.A. police precinct. Bad guys don't stand much of a chance on this show. But then again, neither do good guys. The only justice you'll see on "The Shield" is a judge taking a bribe so that Chiklis and his boys can steal back the drugs they were planning to sell on the street. Perversely, all of this adds to the show's charm. Stylish writing and bold story lines make by-the-book detectives like Dutch (Jay Karnes) appear unmanly compared with Mackey (Chiklis) and his swaggering band of toughs, who never seem to have trouble finding suspects. In this week's episode Dutch haplessly directs a manhunt for a serial killer. It is too obvious from the start that he will fail to win the respect of his colleagues. Still, I enjoyed the episode, especially the head-turning final scene, in which Dutch utters a barnyard epithet I never thought I'd hear on basic cable. Small wonder that Chiklis recently said he made "Daddio" for his kids but wasn't letting them near this show. Other highlights: Those of you still clinging to the belief that everything on Fox's "24" takes place "in real time" will find your faith severely tested with this week's episode (8 p.m. Tuesday on "Fox 4"). When last we left Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) in a barren field, it was daylight. Now, some two minutes later, the episode opens ... in total darkness. As for those of you who might be wondering when they're going to speed things up again, your patience will be rewarded in this episode, which introduces Dennis Hopper in a multi-episode role. (The producers have begged critics to reveal as little as possible about Hopper's part. Let's just say it's a name you've heard before - and no, it's not Ferragamo.) But before this TV column turns completely into the man show, let us praise the women of "24." Bauer and Sen. Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) are compelling characters, but a little one-dimensional. Do good, fight evil, blah blah blah. On the other hand, Teri Bauer (Leslie Hope) has had to endure three kidnapping attempts, a sexual assault and even that movie-of-the-week groaner, amnesia. She's come a little bit more unglued with each hour, which is just as you'd expect. As for Mrs. Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald), comparing her to Lady Macbeth may be a bit strong. But it is a tribute to her character that after 20 episodes, I'm still not quite sure she isn't hiding some terrible secret from her husband and the rest of us. I've often heard HBO's "Six Feet Under" referred to as "soapy." Maybe I missed the glycerin tears and phony eavesdropping scenes, but that description just doesn't fit this terrific show, which is currently roaring through its second season (it airs 8 p.m. Sundays on HBO). In particular, it doesn't do justice to the very un-soap-like relationship blooming between Ruth (Frances Conroy) and Nikolai (Ed O'Ross). After a stormy start, they've settled down, and far from being a disruptive force, the randy Russian has played a stabilizing role, uttering words of wisdom and plying the uptight Fishers with plenty of good vodka. This Sunday the holiday episode brings back a couple of characters who have been missing lately: Brenda's brother Billy (Jeremy Sisto) and mom (Joanna Edwards). If you're a vegetarian, then you can safely skip this week's "Frontline" (9 p.m. Thursday on KCPT, Channel 19, and Topeka's KTWU). It's about the meat industry's recent efforts to relax standards for contaminated hamburger. By the way, a lot of it apparently gets served in the public schools. But again, it's nothing to get too worried about unless, you know, somebody in your family eats meat. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. RECOMMENDED SHOWS TUESDAY: "24," 8 p.m. on WDAF, Channel 4; and "The Shield,"9 p.m. on FX (Channel 62, Time Warner Cable) THURSDAY: "Frontline," 9 p.m. on KCPT, Channel 19 SUNDAY: "Six Feet Under," 8 p.m. on HBO
Copyright 2002 Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service The Kansas City Star
April 8, 2002, Monday
SECTION: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
KR-ACC-NO: K1344
LENGTH: 795 words