Entertainment

Jane on Top

The actual whodunit that you’ll have to solve in NBC’s new police procedural, “Prime Suspect,” is why it felt the need to adapt Helen Mirren’s Brit series about a lone woman in a police precinct.

Twenty years ago, when the original debuted, police departments were sexism central, and, as such, the idea of a woman rising to the top was riveting.

Mirren was, of course, great and grew not just into the role of Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, but grew older in the part, as well.

But recreating that only-boys-allowed premise in NYC in 2011 is about 15 years too late.

We’ve had women chiefs on American TV for at least that long.

In the Mirren role as homicide detective Jane Timoney (a nod to John F. Timoney, of the NYPD), is Maria Bello.

And the gorgeous veteran of “ER” is so good here, she makes it all somehow believable.

Bello doesn’t need to adapt to anyone else’s role model (literally), because she’s created her own strong, stand-alone character.

Tonight’s premiere centers on her first day in the department, dodging absurd, sexist remarks because she’s the only female, and because she once had a relationship with a higher up.

That aside, Timoney has to win over her boss (Aidan Quinn) and gain the respect of her colleagues (Brian O’Byrne, Kirk Acevedo) who have it in for her.

Her first case is catching a serial rapist/killer.

And that’s more interesting than the unnecessary sexism can ever be.