Premiered: January 8, 2007

On: ABC Family

Starring: Russell Hornsby, Nicki Micheaux, Erica Hubbard, Rhyon Nicole Brown, Mishon Ratliff, Michael Reilly Burke, Robert Adamson, Gus Hoffman, William Stanford Davis, Lisa Renee Pitts, Michael Warren, Bobby Hosea, Myzel Robinson, Amy Powell, Tammy Townsend, Raymond T. Williams, Kimleigh Smith, Jacqueline Pinol, J.D. Hall, Khanya Mkhize, Edi Gathegi, Jennette McCurdy & Corey Pearson

A different type of drama for the younger audiences that watched ABC Family, Lincoln Heights doesn’t seem to quite solidify what story it’s telling despite being a captivating story.

Police officer Eddie Sutton (Russell Hornsby) moves his wife Jenn (Nicki Micheaux) and three kids – Cassie (Erica Hubbard), Lizzie (Rhyon Nicole Brown) and Tay (Mishon Ratliff) – into the crime-ridden neighborhood Lincoln Heights where he also patrols.

Unlike many of the other shows on the network at the time, Lincoln Heights doesn’t focus on high schooler Cassie but instead more so on her parents. It’s more of a police drama, but has to be tamed down somewhat because of being on a family station.

Hornsby and Micheaux both give great performances and go through lots of ups and downs throughout the season with their family’s situations.

Final say: Different, but great drama. ★★★★☆