Chicago Fire

The best thing going for Chicago Fire, which bears the mark of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, is that it bears the mark of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf. But that doesn't mean it's a must-see show -- only that, if you do see it, you can expect to find a solid story and an ensemble of serviceable characters. (And, in a few years, perhaps, a multi-city franchise.)

Chicago Fire, like so many other TV series, falls victim to Beautiful People Syndrome -- the compulsion to cast actors who are more believable as underwear models than working-class heroes who risk their lives every day. But in this case, even distractingly good looks aren't hot enough to compete with the elaborately staged fire and rescue scenes that, in the end, are the real stars of the show.