Start! Thief!

Perhaps it's her arresting, severe style and good looks; or maybe her magnetic, cool charm; possibly it's her refusal to disclose anything about herself portraying the intriguing, brilliant, skillful, articulate and enigmatic character Kalinda Sharma.

Whatever it is, Archie Panjabi steals every scene she's in as she investigates whatever she deems necessary, where ever she wants to, in the new CBS hit, The Good Wife.

I keep wanting to see more and more of her character. Writer-producers Michelle and Robert King have been good enough to oblige me - and still, I want more.

The British actor is in a supporting role here, but she could easily carry her own series - I'd be happy to see Kalinda do her thing every week!

Panjabi's smarts are no act - she has a doctorate in management; her feature film pedigree is one to be envied - starting out in the BAFTA-winning East is East as the soccer crazy player; then on to Bend It Like Beckham, followed by The Constant Gardner, portraying the title character in Yasmin, and a reporter in A Mighty Heart.

British TV viewers have enjoyed her in Grease Monkeys and Sea of Souls.

The Kings have set us up with such a great series - it started to wane just a bit but came back with a steamrolling roar - the season finale is next Tuesday (CBS 10/9pm).

I've already written about what a superlative portrayal Julianna Margulies (already winning awards for her performance as Alicia Florrick) brings to the screen every week. The Kings have given us a cornucopia of riveting characters in The Good Wife, but when Margulies and Panjabi share the screen, kaboom! Fireworks!

The is she gay subplot is a great addition to the mix; with all the dramatic and legal twists and turns and desperate decisions being made by so many untrustworthy and flawed characters, I can hardly wait until next season!

Meanwhile, sadly, CBS did just as I predicted, which is why I now DVR the episodes to watch later: they started reruns early, did not have a reliable, systematic release of the new shows, which frustrated me enough to stop counting on watching it every Tuesday night. This is the stuff that kills great series. Before you know it, they'll be switching nights and times and ...

I hope, hope, hope CBS sticks with The Good Wife and handles it respectfully - the cast and crew are so strong and accomplished (Paris Barclay is one of their lead directors); with the Kings in charge, this should be a solid mainstay of the network for years to come.

And look for Archie Panjabi to become a major player internationally in quality television programs and feature films.

My favorite new TV show

Of all the new comedies and dramas, for me this fall's breakout hit is THE GOOD WIFE.

The number one reason to watch: Julianna Margulies.

Heading a spectacular cast of mega-talented actors - she not only carries the show but has the opportunity to display a tremendous range as she flows throughout the multi-faceted day of her character, Alicia Florrick.

Alicia reminds us of how many roles we play in our real lives - responsible parent, child, in-law, spouse/significant other, housekeeper, worker, colleague/co-worker, detective, citizen, supervisor, supervisee, pet owner, friend, would-be victim or victor - and the list goes on.



















Playing the wife of a jailed, sex scandalized politician (played by the actor-who-can-do-no-wrong Chris Noth, billed only as a special guest star), Alicia is a determined woman who, after surviving the excruciating humiliation created by her husband's cruel, selfish and thoughtless behavior, refuses to be deceived, or tolerate insincerity or dishonesty ever again.

Ever. Again.

So she calls everything like she sees it, even if it creates discomfort for those to whom she directs her honest comments, evaluations, observations and reality checks.

Because she sees the world not as everyone else *wants* to see it, or thinks we *should* see it, but as it really is, she comes up with clever, practical and logical evidence that solves the cases she is hired to unravel in court.

Courts are notorious for finding solutions that are legal - forget morality.

THE GOOD WIFE comes up with ways to, at least so far, serve both masters - legality and morality.

THE GOOD WIFE writers have dumped fabricated script twists and turns - Alicia's disarming honesty provides plenty of relevant, surprising and very real twists and turns along the way.

Interestingly, the side story of her errant husband is also something she is cracking through her new eyes. Intolerance of dishonesty means that she has to look at her own misguided thoughts, self-deception and conclusions. Could her cheating husband actually be ... innocent? Framed?

Having said that, and forgive me for not pointing out the significant contribution of each terrific cast member, including Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Archie Panjabi and Matt Czuchry - not to mention the tremendous contribution made by terrific guest stars like Martha Plimpton (better than I've ever seen her, btw), the show itself - the concept and the writing - are the real winners here.

One of the first things I thought as I have watched each episode not just as a viewer but a writer-director is that an authentic, smart, mature woman who's been there, done that, is represented here, perhaps for the first time on television, the way an actual smart, mature (at any age) woman thinks, behaves and speaks.

She is a genuine, flawed, human heroine without being an over-the-top superhero. Wait. Come to think of it, I believe Alicia's hypersensitive BS meter is her superpower.

The show is still finding its "legs," but starting out of the gate with strong, distinctly drawn characters, each of whom has his or her own goals, aspirations and Achilles heels.

This ensemble of superb actors has, IMO, been thrashing about on projects unworthy of their talents and skills for awhile; I'm so happy they've all found each other. This one is hit out of the park for all of them, and with the growth that each episode brings to the show's creative team, it's only going to get better.

In addition to watching live, I also dvr THE GOOD WIFE so I can watch it again when nothing else I want to watch is on. I also do this with 30 Rock.

Honest-to-goodness, authentic, believable, intense, passionate characters and stories worth our time. And worth watching more than once a week.

Credit show creators - writer/producers - Michelle and Robert King for that.

Well done.

And well done CBS, for not joining the ranks of desperate network programmers chasing their tails to score a fad megahit with schtick or cheap reality shows. You've developed a fine, modern drama with characters we want to see every week in stories we find believable and worthwhile, dealing with issues we care about.

Congratulations.

Now. Don't screw it up by flipping broadcast times or days or showing reruns way before the season is finished - or all the other things that have killed great shows long before they deserved to be cancelled.