Like the 'Law and Order' shows, 'RHD' is plot-driven over character-driven. The other cops in the squad are pretty interchangeable, and next to nothing is ever learned about their lives away from the precinct. As for the story lines, they're pretty damn week. Gang wars, serial prostitute murders, the Russian mob, crooked cops; there hasn't been anything done on 'RHD' that hasn't be seen before on other crime shows. But it isn't about plotlines, at least not yet, the show is still establishing its image and acting prowess, so I've cut it some slack; it's pretty to look at, and for now that's enough.

However, when the show after only four airings has had not one, but two special guest star appearances by Mario Van Peebles, and another by Coolio, I'm can't help but begin to lose faith. Van Peebles plays this cop who was a bodyguard agency on the side. On the October 25 episode Van Peebles strutted around and wore his 'slick gangsta' face as best he could, but he is way too good looking and clean-cut to ever be believable as a 'down with the hood' street hustler/cop. It doesn't help that he chose to wear low-cut t-shirts either, as he was exposing much cleavage that was far too distracting even to a well-grounded heterosexual like myself. The man has breasts. Big, muscley breasts. Add in Coolio to the mix and we're in a load of trouble. Coolio toned it down a lot for his role as a hip-hop producer whose singer-girlfriend was abducted and raped, so much so that I wondered if he was autistic. It seems he went to "The Acting Through Your Eyebrows School of Theatre" as that was pretty much the only part of his face that conveyed any emotion.

It will be interesting to see how 'RHD' will evolve, so I'll keep watching. If only for Tom Sizemore, and to see when Hammer shows up playing a pimp with a lousy attitude. My Friday nights are pretty clear for the next half-dozen months anyway.