The day the promising pilot for 'Prime Suspect' (10PM ET Thursday, NBC) aired, I said I was going to delay reviewing until I'd seen more of the cop drama. As we all know from bitter experience, sometimes "promising" shows turn labored and hackneyed by the time the third episode airs (if not before).

That's absolutely not the case with the excellent 'Prime Suspect,' which is one of the best new dramas of the fall. (Showtime's 'Homeland,' which was renewed for a second season Wednesday, is the best, but 'Prime Suspect' certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence.)

I'm writing now to urge you to watch the struggling NBC drama, and not just because ubiquitous guest star Mark Sheppard will be appearing in the show's ninth episode and I want 'Prime Suspect' to stay on the air until then (and beyond).