So I'm watching TV late Saturday night, making one last channel surf before hitting the sack, and I come across a show called Cold Squad. It's about a team of police investigators who solve tricky crimes. The main character is a spunky woman with short blond hair, and the theme song features slight moans. Hmmm...where have I seen all this before?

That's right, Cold Case! I sat there amazed that a show could rip off such a really popular show. What, they didn't think anyone would notice that some low-budget syndicated show wasn't a replica of a hit CBS program?

Then, of course, I did some detective work of my own on the internets, and I discover that Cold Squad debuted in Canada in 1997! And it lasted for seven seasons! Which means it came on the air many, many years before Cold Case! A company finally got the rights to syndicate the show here in the U.S. this year, and the run started this past week. It starred Julie Stewart as Ali McCormick, and cast members during the show's run (several cast members were replaced) included Stephen McHattie, Michael Hogan, Joy Tanner, Linda Ko, and Peter Wingfield and Jim Byrnes from Highlander.

The makers of Cold Squad actually sued the makers of Cold Case a few years ago, but I can't find any information on the outcome of the lawsuit. Readers?