Television: New Cops On The Beat

As the networks clone CSI and Law & Order, two innovative cable cop shows are playing by their own set of rules

As America busily allocates new resources to law enforcement, let it never be said that TV isn't doing its bit. Next season the four major networks will air at least 18 hours a week of police shows. That's more hours than Fox airs in prime time all week, and 6 1/2 more than last fall. This beefed-up squad will include a lot of cops you haven't seen before--except that, really, you have. CBS is spinning off CSI: Miami; ABC has a remake of Dragnet from producer Dick Wolf, who has essentially been remaking Dragnet for 12 years on Law & Order,...

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