THE DISTRICT is a new cop show premiering on January 7th on the Lifetime: Television for Women cable network. It is definitely not your average cop show, however. Think of it as CAGNEY AND LACEY Meets NYPD BLUE.
THE DISTRICT boasts a strong cast including Bonnie Bedelia (HEART LIKE A WHEEL), Nancy McKeon, (THE FACTS OF LIFE), Lela Rochon Fuqua (WAITING TO EXHALE), Tracey Needham (LIFE GOES ON) and Lisa Vida (THIRD WATCH). The production team is strong as well. The creator and executive producer of the series is Deborah Joy LeVine (LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN).
Nancy McKeon is far removed from her FACTS OF LIFE role. In fact, her character, Inspector Jimmy Exstead, is more like Dennis Franz' character on NYPD BLUE. She is continually clashing with her superiors and co-workers. She is a good cop who doesn't always play by the rules. She has some dark secretes in her past though and routinely goes out drinking and looking for a good time. No doubt this area will be heavily explored in upcoming episodes.
Bonnie Bedelia's character, Captain Kate McCafferty, is a politically-savvy officer who can more than hold her own when dealing with city hall. As successful as she is, however, she has many problems in her private life, especially where her college drop out daughter is concerned.
Lisa Vidals' character, Inspector Magdalena Ramirez, is a single mom trying to do her best to raise her young son. There are some nice scenes in the pilot, which have her trying to teach her son how to properly react when a stranger approaches.
Tracey Needham's character, Candace "C.D." De Lorenzo appears to have it all including a great career and an ideal husband. She does a good job of hiding the fact that her husband continually cheats on her with other women.
Rochon Fuqua plays Inspector Angela Reide, a hard-nosed and determined officer who melts when her husband is around. The two were college sweethearts and are very much in love.
