If you haven’t had a chance to catch one of ABC’s newest shows (which premiered on September 21, 2010) you might want to check your Direct TV listing to find out when Detroit 1-8-7 will be on in your area. Yes, it’s that good. The premise of the show is based on a homicide unit set on the gritty streets of Detroit complete with its crumbling economy and storied past. Robert Bianco of USA Today describes the drama as “the best police drama on ABC since NYPD Blue,” and we definitely agree. Should you wonder about the authenticity of the show, one former Detroit Police Department spokesman (Rob Owen) commented that he thinks “the show portrayed Detroit’s police officers as real people, dedicated, even heroic, which is entirely deserved.”Main characters include Detective Louis Fitch played by Michael Imperioli whose role is a respected yet misunderstood and somewhat quirky man who is seriously dedicated to his responsibility as detective. Another strong contributor is James McDaniel whose role as Sergeant Jesse Longford is one filled with veiled hope as he is a lifelong Detroit resident who has witnessed the decline of the city and he is only months away from retirement.We think that the show’s producer summed it up best by saying Detroit 1-8-7 “is a crime show but we will explore various nooks and crannies in the communities and within that context there’s a lot of opportunity to see what’s positive in the city and see what’s heroic about the people fighting for what’s best for the city of Detroit.” We couldn’t agree more the show’s nooks and crannies are always riveting and oft times hauntingly thought-provoking concerning what was once one of America’s greatest cities.And for those trivia buffs out there, 1-8-7 refers to the common pop culture jargon for homicide (as taken from the California Penal Code).