To serve, protect, and entertain: you want the zeitgeist? It carries a badge

You can't change the channel these days without being flipped a badge. Sure, cop shows have been around virtually as long as TV itself, but a new breed of law enforcers--from cops on the beat to spies in lingerie--has taken over the airwaves. Audiences are devouring these shows (at last count, 23) as fast as the networks can spit them out. Perhaps during these uncertain times, viewers long to see those who are responsible for their safety, and connect with them in a new and realistic light. The old blue wall has come crumbling down--the bumbling flatfoot is a thing of the past. Today's officer (or detective or special agent) is as likely to wear heels as gumshoe loafers, is more apt to use brains than brawn, and is quicker to grapple with the ethical challenges that accompany a gun and a badge.

THE OLD-SCHOOL SHOWS

1. DRAGNET: The original Joe Friday (Jack Webb) had ironclad morals and a Boy Scout's honor; he was the perfect cop to patrol the '50s airwaves. With spit-shine-clean idealism and the loafers to match, he made it hip to be square.

2. CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU?: Pairing mismatched partners for a laugh is an old cop show (and an ongoing cop movie) staple, and Car 54 Where Are You? started it all. Tall, short. Fat, thin. Smart, stupid. The Only thing Toody and Muldoon shared was their ability to make us laugh.

3. THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: The word of mouth on this show was its tongue-in-cheek look at the Cold War. The U.N.C.L.E. organization fought a web of global evildoers, whose weapons included stink bombs, earthquake machines, and Sonny and Cher (in a guest spot). Camp was never cooler.

4. I SPY: As undercover agents, Bill Cosby and Robert Culp hopped the globe in the name of democracy. There weren't the gags, facial distortions, or garish sweaters young generations associate with Cosby, but there was enough sharp drama to win him three consecutive Emmys.

5. GET SMART: Leave it up to creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry to find a way to make America laugh at the Cold War. A combination of satire and slapstick, Get Smart was the best show in the history of TV ... Would you believe the best show of the '60s? ... Okay, but it was pretty damn good.

6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: With its killer theme song--recognizable in only four chords--and that burning fuse in its opening sequence, this spy drama delivered explosive entertainment in nearly every episode.

7. THE MOD SQUAD: Afros, butterfly collars, bell-bottoms-these kids didn't have to carry guns, because they dressed to kill. Solid!

8. HAWAII FIVE-O: Don't be fooled by the scenery--Hawaii was not the idyllic paradise it seemed. Detective Steve McGarrett cleaned it up one arrest at a time, and left us with an enduring catch phrase: "Book 'em, Danno."

9. STARSKY AND HUTCH: Their red Ford Gran Tarino, indestructible friendship, and super-fly pimp informant, Huggy Bear, helped secure Messrs. Starsky and Hutch a well-deserved place in pop-culture history.

10. BARETTA: Before his real-life murder charge, Robert Blake was Tony Baretta, a bird-loving undercover cop. It's been 25 years since this program last aired--a number the actor might soon hear at sentencing.

11. CHIPS: Ahh. The tight tan uniforms, the knee-high boots, the California sunshine, and Erik Estrada. A guilty pleasure that gave us six full seasons of bumper-to-bumper action.

12. HILL STREET BLUES: This show's continuing story lines, ensemble, and handheld camera revolutionized the genre--and announced the arrival of top cop producer Steven Bochco.

13. T.J. HOOKER: William Shatner proves Star Trek wasn't his final frontier. Heather Locklear--moonlighting from Dynasty--sports an extratight uniform. What's not to love?

14. CAGNEY & LACEY: They gave a woman's touch to the police force, and packed a punch every bit equal to the guys'. This show's powerful plotlines brought hot topics like rape and abortion to prime time. No wonder Gloria Steinem called it the best series on TV.

15. MIAMI VICE: With a rock 'n' roll soundtrack, hot wheels, and neon leisure suits, Crockett and Tubbs cleaned Miami's streets of hardened criminals and miraculously avoided the wrath of the fashion police.

16. 21 JUMP STREET: Before Johnny Depp became the rebel poet of the silver screen, he was roaming the halls of high school, busting America's teenage thugs. Never have so many students wished they had criminal streaks--or, at the very least, wandered the halls without a pass.

THE NEW-SCHOOL SHOWS

17. THE WIRE: With its intense look at the narcotics trade, The Wire shows us that the war on drugs lacks a clear front line, and distinct sides. From corrupt cops to junkies to crooked politicians, the only good thing here is the show itself.

18. BOOMTOWN: With arresting performances (sorry, but we had to go there) and this season's most innovative premise--multiple perspectives on a single crime--Boomtown has both critics and viewers hooked.

19. THE DISTRICT: Craig T. Nelson's job of keeping Washington, D.C., safe is as hard as trying to figure out how his old show, Coach, ran for nine seasons. This program's not the cream of the crop, but if you happen to find yourself home on a Saturday night, it beats cleaning out your fridge.