The Chicago Code during the Super Bowl

The Chicago Code during the Super Bowl, you knew at least two things about the new series before it premiered Monday night: Jennifer Beals can employ a tough-person voice in saying, “This is my city now!,” and you knew some guy was going to snarl, “You think you can change how things get done… in Chicago??!!!” So going in, you could assume that this was one of those “gritty,” “dark,” “real” cop shows, right? It turned out that Chicago Code was both better and a little worse than its promos. The show, from Shield creator Shawn Ryan, had more humor than you might have guessed. Jason Clarke — so good in the Showtime cult series Brotherhood — has a mordant way of joking with new partners such as his latest, Friday Night Lights‘ Matt Lauria.

But in the meantime, what did you think of the first episode of The Chicago Code? Is this going to be your new Monday-night 9 p.m. habit, leading out of House? I think Chicago Code is positioned well for ratings success: Up against the second hour of The Bachelor on ABC, the faltering Cape on NBC (sorry, Cape; you’ve lost me), Gossip Girl on the CW, and The Charlie Sheen Relapse Show — ‘scuse me, Two and a Half Men – on CBS, it looks as though Code can attract a sizable male audience, at the least.