1-2-3-4, Can I have a little more?

With the start of summer comes the official end of the 2010-2011 television season. The ashes are still smoldering on the battlefield as some shows emerge triumphant (seriously, Vampire Diaries had on the best seasons ever), some shows floundered (Glee--I want you to sit in the corner and think about what you did), and others crashed and burned.

But if you just squint your eyes, you can see the remains of one of my favorite shows this season. Not many people watched it and it didn't get a lot of attention, but it was quietly brilliant. Which is unfortunately not enough to cut it these days and it was canceled after it's first year.

I am talking about Detroit 1-8-7, an ABC drama that went inside Detroit's homicide division and told some of the best stories on television.

I know what you're thinking. "But Maggie, you hate procedurals and there are already so many cop shows on tv, why on earth would you even watch this or mention it since it doesn't even exist anymore?"

I am glad you mentioned that, imaginary blog reader. The answer is that you can still watch episodes of Detroit 1-8-7 online, and honestly, it's a show worth checking out. Just because some shows didn't last long, doesn't mean I don't enjoy them. I still love Pushing Daisies, Firefly, Freaks and Geeks and Wonderfalls.

Detroit 1-8-7 is way grittier than those shows, but Michael Imperioli was genius on it and created one of the more unique characters in recent memory. In fact, everyone on the show was great, the stories were interesting, and Detroit was as much a character as any of the cops. Lord knows I rag on Detroit, but the city has personality and if you think about it, serves as an allegory for America itself. Think of it this way: Detroit is to Detroit 1-8-7 as Baltimore is to The Wire. In fact, Detroit 1-8-7 is like a network version of The Wire. It has less profanity, is easier to follow the plot, and is just as compelling.

So give it a try. You've got all summer; think of this as part of your summer viewing list. I defy you not to root for Detroit by the end.