ANDY BARKER, RAINES Week 2

Andy Barker was a bit less funny this week, but still solid and watchable.

I'm not sure I like knowing that Raines's visions of dead people aren't ghosts but figments of his imagination fleshed out as he learns more. It isn't all that different from what any cop does, yet it seems gimmicky as presented. I have a better feel for Raines's brand of humor, though it still seems out of step with the show's overall somber tone as evidenced by its main title sequence and theme music.

Added to the cast this week was Madeleine Stowe as Raines's psychiatrist. It's good to see her again. I was pretty sure Raines would lose going head-to-head with CBS's Shark Thursday nights. Apparently NBC anticipated the same thing. Next week Raines moves to Fridays at 9:00 PM.