‘The Shield’ beset by upheaval
The addictive cop drama “The Shield” (10 p.m., FX) enters its fourth season with both continuity and major changes.
As followers of the show know, Capt. David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) is leaving the grim confines of the precinct house to join the City Council, where, presumably, he’ll have even more opportunities for corruption.
His logical replacement, Detective Wyms (CCH Pounder), was deliberately passed over because she refused to go along the prevailing atmosphere. Worse, her principled stance put her in a deep freeze with the DA’s office, and her sad-sack partner, Dutch (Jay Karnes), joined her in the doghouse.
Fans of his character should enjoy this; no one revels in awkward alienation quite like the Dutchman.
Of course the biggest change is the introduction of Glenn Close as the new captain, Monica Rawling, a 20-year veteran with ideas of her own. She wastes no time alienating the outgoing Aceveda with her notion of “privatizing” the funding of police work by seizing the assets of drug dealers and gang members.
She wouldn’t involve Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) in this confiscation, would she? Won’t that open a whole new avenue of corruption?
Vic has enough problems of his own. His old squad has been busted up, and his former partner, Shane (Walton Goggins), appears to be more out of control than ever.
The arrival of an actress of Glenn Close’s stature is certainly a validation of “The Shield“‘s place as one of television’s premiere dramas. But the question remains: Does she belong here? It’s difficult to accept Close as a police veteran accustomed to L.A.’s grim streets and gang warfare.
This is no slight on Close; I couldn’t imagine Katharine Hepburn as a streetwise detective, either. Close does her best, but she often seems out of place on “The Shield,” like a Connecticut housewife in King Mackey’s court.
“Project Greenlight” (9 p.m., Bravo) enters its third season on a different network and with a brand-new attitude. They actually want to make a film that might make a profit and find an audience.
This year, the reality show follows the making of a horror film.
“Greenlight” will follow the filming of “Feast” over nine episodes. Complications ensue almost immediately: The script for “Feast” calls for far more special-effects magic and many more characters than “Greenlight“‘s $2 million budget can afford.
Other highlights
The final 12 compete on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox).
Richard and Emily look for eligible suitors for Rory on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB).
The hospital’s new owner (Chi McBride, “Boston Public”) wants big changes on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).
Actresses face the wrath of Faye Dunaway on “The Starlet” (9 p.m., WB). “One Tree Hill” returns to the schedule on April 12.
Nate blacks out after a bender on “Committed” (9:30 p.m., NBC). This is the season, and most probably the series, finale.
Amy battles a bureaucrat on “Judging Amy” (10 p.m., CBS).
A boy dies at the hands of his disturbed neighbor on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).
Dunbar’s wife gives him an ultimatum on “Blind Justice” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
A creepy columnist (Clifton Webb) complicates the investigation of a beauty’s death in the 1944 mystery “Laura” (5 p.m., Fox Movie Channel).
Series notes
Terrorists target a war vet on “Navy NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … On back-to-back episodes of “Will & Grace” (NBC), Janet Jackson (8 p.m.), and a broken heirloom (8:30 p.m.) … Doing it better means doing without on “My Wife and Kids” (8 p.m., ABC) … Bleacher bums on “All of Us” (8 p.m., UPN).
Home-schooling makes George the vice principal on “George Lopez” (8:30 p.m., ABC) … In the ring with the green-eyed monster on “Eve” (8:30 p.m., UPN).
Longitudes and attitudes on “The Amazing Race” (9 p.m., CBS) … A change in narrators on “Scrubs” (9 p.m., NBC) … On consecutive episodes of “According to Jim” (9 p.m., ABC), a very old excuse (9 p.m.), and a change of heart (9:30 p.m.) … Rumors of a maternity ward mishap on “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m., UPN).