TVSquad

Southland, the gritty new police drama from film producer Ann Biderman, puts the spotlight on the dark and grimy corners of Los Angeles as seen through the eyes of uniformed cops and plainclothes detectives. Unfortunately, the series premiere is mired in cop show clichés and forgets to deliver anything we haven't seen before.

The first episode – stream it now or watch it below, a week before it debuts on NBC – owes a lot to NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life on the Street and countless other cop shows that came before it. It's a procedural with a large cast about cops struggling to balance "the job" with their personal lives.

Regina King gives a standout turn as a smart, understated detective. The rest of the cast is solid, but the show relies on too many clichés and rarely gives the actors anything interesting to do.

We follow a greener-than-green rookie beat cop, Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie), on his first day working with hard-line vet John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz). Ben is an earnest rich kid trying to prove himself on the force, but John's hazing -- and a few nasty crime scenes – tests his commitment to the badge. Does this fresh-faced probie have the right stuff to serve and protect the people of L.A. and earn the respect of his grizzled partner?

Later we meet detectives Nate Moretta and Sammy Bryant (Kevin Alejandro and Shawn Hatosy) investigating the gang-related shooting of a teenage boy. Bryant has been neglecting his wife, but will a successful day on the job change his attitude at home?

King and Tom Everett Scott play detectives working a kidnapping case that ends with a "surprise twist" that will surprise no one who's ever seen a cop show before.

Aside from some hammy scenes meant to shock viewers and make the show feel edgy, the only thing that makes Southland stand apart is its practical production and visual style.

The show is shot almost documentary style, with handheld cameras and lighting that looks natural. It uses real-world locations, like crumbling street corners and out-of-date office buildings, instead of sets. There's little to no gloss here, which feels fresh after nine years of CSI-style flash influencing almost every procedural on the air. Still, it's not enough to keep me coming back.

It's hard to commit to a show that's stacked with fine actors and interesting production values but delivers stale stories and concepts in its first episode. NBC is giving Southland the 10 p.m. Thursday night timeslot starting next week. Judging by this first ep, I'm not expecting it to last nearly as long as ER, the show that held that slot for 15 years.