“Cold Case,” CBS, Sunday at 8 p.m.

Telltale quote: “You should be married, living the good life.”

“Well, nobody asked, so here I am – working homicide.”

Overview: Unlike many other police dramas that feature a single male lead or an ensemble cast, “Cold Case” focuses on the work of Detective Lilly Rush, the only female member of the Philadelphia homicide squad. Rush is played by Kathryn Morris, from the Tom Cruise blockbuster “Minority Report.”
   The series involves new investigations into unsolved crimes that were long been forgotten. 
   In the first episode, Rush receives new information about an unsolved murder case from 1976, prompting her to reopen the investigation.

    The flow of the first episode is hindered somewhat by the awkward introduction of Rush’s new sergeant in what is presumably intended to evolve into tense relationship. But the introduction comes off as an effort simply to include more cast members in a story that is otherwise completely dominated by Morris.

   While the reinvestigation of old cases and the female lead are the show’s points of differentiation, much of the rest of the series resembles countless other police dramas, as indicated by three trademark signs:

¤  Somehow, despite the setting in a large city, the police are always able to find their suspect drinking alone in a random bar.

¤ At some point an arrest is made in the rain, with the officer escorting the suspect in handcuffs to or from the squad car. For some reason, this arrest is usually documented in slow motion with moody music.

¤ Despite initial protests, suspects and family members of the victim become suddenly forthcoming with information, often to the point of confessing (thus removing the need for shows like “The Practice”).

Verdict: The tone of “Cold Case” resembles other Jerry Bruckheimer dramas “CSI” and “Without a Trace,” and the formula seems to be a good fit for CBS.
   Like the others, “Cold Case” features fully-contained storylines that are neatly resolved at the end, a device that allows viewers to jump easily from episode to episode (and a good selling point for syndication). 
  Though predictable, and at some points absurdly so (why would the killer confess after 27 years?), the show is likely to beat out ABC’s new offering “10-8” in the 9 p.m. timeslot.

For past Media Life reviews of the new fall shows, click below.

ABC's "10-8"

NBC's "The Lyon's Den"

WB's "Tarzan"

ABC's "Married to the Kellys"

ABC's "Karen Sisco"

NBC's "Miss Match"

CBS's "Joan of Arcadia"

ABC's "Hope & Faith"

CBS's "The Handler"

NBC's "Coupling"

CBS's "Brotherhood of Poland, N.H."

CBS's "Navy NCIS"

ABC's "I'm With Her"

WB's "One Tree Hill"

NBC's "Las Vegas"

CBS's "Two and a Half Men"

WB's "Like Family"

Fox's "Luis"

ABC's "Threat Matrix"

UPN's "All of Us," "Rock Me Baby"

UPN's "Eve"

WB's "All About the Andersons"

WB's "Steve Harvey's Big Time"
WB's "Run of the House"
UPN's "The Mullets"

UPN's "Jake 2.0"

NBC's "Whoopi"
NBC's "Happy Family"

A.J. Livsey's fall season overview