GREAT TELEVISION DOESN'T COME OFTEN ANY MORE

In a day when network television seems to aim for the lowest common denominator, occasionally a show comes along that combines great writing, a great cast, and great direction to bring something special into our living rooms.

Back in the 1980s, it was Steven Bochco's police drama Hill Street Blues. Then Cheers made many of us laugh every week. Sunday evening, we saw the end of a wonderful eight season run with the last episode of The West Wing.

While the quality may have dropped slightly after creator Aaron Sorkin was sacked by NBC and replaced by E.R.'s John Wells, it was still a far better show than much of the crap found on the major networks.

BTW: Where is Bococo these days? With the exception of LA Law, much of his work after Hill Street crashed and burned. And for those who forgot, Jimmy Smits, who took the oath of office as president on West Wing, had his first big time gig playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on LA Law from 1986-91.