"The Shield" - Going Out in a Blaze of Glory and Gunfire

It' amazing to consider that when "The Shield"he killed a much-beloved friend and ally of Vic
premiered on March 12, 2002, the FX networkMackey's, Curtis Lemansky (Kenny Johnson).
was only known for one flagship show: HowardShane also believed that "Lem" would turn state's
Stern's "Son of the Beach". That show would beevidence against the team, which caused Shane
laid to rest on October of 2002, as the FXto drop a hand grenade on his friend and blow him
network was looking to expand its originalto smithereens. In a recent episode, Vic gets
programming to include more action-orientedShane to reveal his horrible deed and the friction
dramas that broke new ground. Since "The Shield"between Vic and Shane is driving the sixth season
premiered back in 2002, FX then went on toof the series into overdrive. The viewer never
produce the hits "Nip/Tuck", "Rescue Me" and "30knows if Vic will eventually murder Shane, or let
Days", the reality-documentary show that wasShane kill himself through his reckless and
created by the author of "Super Size Me", Morganpsychotic behavior.
Spurlock.CCH Pounder is doing some of the best acting of
From the day that "The Shield" premiered,her career playing the role of Claudette Wyms, a
controversy followed the series. Shawn Ryan, thevery strong and willful detective on the LAPD,
show's creator, wanted to push the envelope ofwho was made captain of the department last
basic cable television to see what he could getseason. She and Dutch (Jay Karnes) made a
away with. He used every possible profanity ingreat detective team who investigated every
the show's dialogue except the "F-word" and alsomurder and rape with a great humanity and
was not shy about adding more blood and gore inemotion that the rest of the LAPD division on the
one episode than "CSI" included in an entireshow never dared to convey. Dutch is now
season. But the FX network wanted this kind ofteamed up with the ex-captain of the division,
controversy to help propel the FX name into thewho is none too pleased by the demotion. Their
minds of the vast television audience. The trickchemistry together is akin to a Laurel and Hardy
seemed to work, as "The Shield" garnered thecomedic coupling, which results in some of the
best ratings that FX had ever seen, and the showbiggest laughs of the show, which is greatly
would go on to help win Emmys for guest-starsneeded now that the dark undertones of Vic's
like Glenn Close. Forrest Whitaker also got raveand Shane blood feud gains momentum.
reviews playing a detective hell-bent on gettingThere won't be another show like "The Shield"
Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) behind bars for all theappearing on broadcast television any time soon,
criminal activities Mackey has been covering upand that's a real shame, because network and
over the years with his crew of tough andbroadcast TV executives need to pull in younger
corrupt cops.audiences who relish the violence of video games
The series started out with a bang when Vic andlike "Grand Theft Auto 3" and movies like
his crew had to kill a police officer that they"Scarface". The only way to develop a true
believed was going to turn evidence in againstconnection with the under-thirty crowd is to wow
them. Vic set up a shoot-out in a drug raid sothem with great action and a level of realism that
that it looked like the would-be stoolie was killedevery kid that's ever played the action-packed
by a drug dealer, and not by Vic's 45 Colt. It onlyand gory "The Godfather" video game for XBOX
got more corrupt and bloody for the corrupt360 is accustomed to.
crew from there on in. There are many fineLet's hope creator Shawn Ryan has another great
performances by actors like Walton Goggins whoshow in store for us after "The Shield" retires its
plays one of Vic's best friends in his crew, Shanebadge in 2008.
Vendrell, but who now faces Vic's wrath because