Picture this"¦ it's the 1950's in the ultra glamorous Miami Florida. The hotels are huge and luxurious and the people who run them all appear to be a bit "shady". Mob influence is obvious but the guests who stay for days or weeks at a time don't mind as they watch for "Miami Vice" to come to life there. Creator Mitch Glazer lived the life when he was growing up as he worked as a cabana boy and his father was involved in hotel maintenance back in the late 50's. All the glitz and glamour covers up a world of gangsters, dope dealers, and strippers that has always been part of the lifestyle. And it makes for interesting viewing, particularly when based on true events. Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Supernatural, Watchmen) as "Ike" Isaac Evans, Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Hitman) plays Vera Evans, Steven Strait (Undiscovered, City Island) is the young Stevie Evans, and Elena Satine (Melrose Place, Smallville) is Judi Silver. An intriguing show with lots of nice scenery and plenty of action, Magic City is one to watch.

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Hiring former fugitives to assist the U.S. Marshals with cleaning up the mean streets sounds like a far fetched idea but it works, at least on Breakout Kings. After all who would know better how to outwit the bad guys than former criminals themselves? They don't get off scott free exactly but do receive time off their sentences for aiding in the capture of crooks and as they get one month off their sentence for each criminal they help apprehend it makes sense that they work hard for their eventual release. Most of the "cons" do appreciate the opportunity to reduce their jail time and even get enthused with the prospect of turning over bad guys themselves. Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso from Fast & Furious, Avatar) is head of the task force and a previous member of the Criminal Program Analysis Department. A heart ailment kept him tied to his desk job but he still manages to break records getting the criminals reined in. Ray Zancanelli (played by Domenick Lombardozzi from Public Enemies, Miami Vice) lost his Marshals job due to a theft conviction. He works well with the criminal set because he knows the territory so well. Brooke Nevin (Sherman's Way, Infestation) is Julianne Simms, student of law enforcement who has mental issues keeping her from her full potential. This "mixed bag" of law enforcers work well together, keeping criminals in line most of the time.

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Ann Biderman, highly respected as a writer on the NYPD Blue TV series as well as movies (Copycat, Primal Fear), created Southland originally for NBC television. When the series moved on to TNT cable network it opened up the plots and scripts with a freedom not seen on network television. It became decidedly more earthy and real without the constraints of network censors. SouthLAnd (styled promotionally to represent LA California) follows the lives of LAPD officers who try to keep the streets of one of the largest cities in the U.S. clear of crime and corruption, but that's a daunting task! The series closely follows several officers in particular, bringing in their personal lives along with the dangers they face every day on the job. Being a cop is never a 9 to 5 job and it's never boring! Starring Benjamin McKenzie (The OC, 88 Minutes) playing Ben Sherman who we follow from rookie to seasoned veteran, Shawn Hatosy (Dexter, My Name Is Earl) is Sammy Bryant and is Ben's partner, a man who has plenty of problems at home. The show is definitely worth watching for the honest look at dramatic police life.

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What they call a "backdoor pilot became the pilot for The Finder, a new procedural drama on the Fox network when the 19th episode of Bones premiered in January of 2012. That episode has the main characters of the popular series Bones traveling down to Key West, Florida. The main characters must be people we love to see each week and follow along with their lives on the program. Series creator Hart Hanson wanted each character to be memorable and one which we, the viewing audience, want to see back again next week. Episode plot lines include a Cinderella story, including missing shoe, finding a missing father who's airplane vanished in the wilderness of Florida, and lead character Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults from October Road, Happy Town) hunting for bullets from a murder involving a policeman's death from 20 years ago. Also starring are Michael Clark Duncan (The Green Mile, Redemption Road) as Leo Knox, Mercedes Masjohn (Now and Nowhere, Red Sands) as Isabel Zambada a US Deputy Marshall, and Maddie Hasson (God Bless America). The initial episode included a brief appearance from John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival) who provides the theme music for The Finder.

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The new hit series Prime Suspect is a reboot of a crime drama already familiar to British television viewers. The strong female role is now played by Maria Bello in the U.S. version whereas Helen Mirren capably handled the rough and tumble female cop role in the original British version. We find out in the first few minutes exactly how not to approach Detective Timoney as she is simply not in the mood for small talk or flirting. Jane Timoney is a dedicated member of the NYPD and has plenty of "attitude". As with other female cop roles like Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order SVU), Mary Shannon of In Plain Sight, Kyra Sedgwick's Brenda Johnson from The Closer, and the original Police Woman herself, Angie Dickinson's Pepper Anderson the most difficult part of being a good looking female cop may be convincing others the can handle the job. So attitude goes a long way. Starring Maria Bello (ER, World Trade Center) who handle such cases as a raped and murdered woman after it happened in front of her small children. The case goes to her but is taken away by another detective who dies on the job, prompting her to demand it be returned to her. Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall, Nine Lives) is Lieutenant Kevin Sweeney who is often helpful to Jane.

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When billionaire software guru known simply as Mr. Finch develops a software program for computers that helps identify someone who potentially will become involved with violent crime he intended the program to help locate terrorists in our midst and prevent another disaster such as happened on September 11, 2001. As they work with the software it is soon learned there are other uses for it. The program can be set to detect those who run the risk of being involved in some sort of violent crime but cannot tell if those involved will become victims or perpetrator or simply witnesses to the crime. While crimes cannot be stopped before happening they do find it helpful in solving and making arrests. Helping Mr. Finch (Michael Emerson from Lost, The Practice) solve these crimes is John Reese (Jim Caviezel of Outlander, The Prisoner), formerly with the CIA and now presumed to be dead. Mr. Finch is also thought to be deceased and the two have worked out a plan to locate those singled out by the software program by use of their social security numbers.

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Carrie Wells has what is considered a gift. A medical condition called hyperthymesia which is rare and not always welcome for those who have it. It involves total recall and the ability to remember every thing. She was a detective with the NYPD and now is called back into service to help solve some difficult cases involving murder. Homicide detective Al Burns is played by Dylan Walsh (Brooklyn South, Everwood) and he is Wells former partner as well as love interest which complicates things for the two of them. An interesting side note to this is that creative consultant Marilu Henner herself possesses the condition, hyperthymesia and she also plays a smaller role in Unforgettable being Wells aunt who suffers from Alzheimer's disease in its early stages. Henner starred in Taxi and Evening Shade. Unforgettable was originally titled The Rememberer which is the title of a short story by J. Robert Lennon. Starring Poppy Montgomery (Without A Trace, True Blue) as Carrie Wells who is also trying to find who and how her sister was murdered this hour long crime drama will make for interesting watching.

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