Don Johnson Is ‘Nash Bridges,’ Supercop

He’s ready for his close-ups, Mr. DeMille.

At the very least, the new CBS cop series “Nash Bridges” will have a loyal cult following of one: Don Johnson. That’s because the camera surveys his face in worshipful close-up after close-up, framing it as if it were destined to hang at the Smithsonian or in the Louvre instead of in the Museum of Television & Radio.

The doting lens may be related to Johnson being an executive producer as well as star of this “Miami Vice” Lite, in which he plays a sharp-shooting, woo-slinging San Francisco police inspector whose bravado and swagger stamp nearly every scene.

Supercop Nash Bridges is so tough and indestructible that whizzing bullets wouldn’t dare even graze him. Nor would life’s little problems. He’s smart, glib, smooth, cocky and brash, basking in his own sunshine while tooling around in a gold 1970 Plymouth Barracuda open convertible, accompanied by his own up-tempo bongos and exciting musical score.

Here is a man with so much flair that he doesn’t let his style slip even while breaking up with his second wife. His personal life is a shambles, the kind of glamorous shambles other heterosexual guys fantasize about.

The requirement here is not so much acting as it is gliding, and Johnson is as good at gliding as anyone. Gliding with him are Cheech Marin as Nash’s wise-cracking ex-partner, Annette O’Toole as his still-friendly ex-wife No. 1 and Jodi Lyn O’Keefe as his adoring 16-year-old daughter, with whom he shares his swell digs.

Now, for the plot. Uh, what plot? “Nash Bridges” is classic character-driven drama, the protagonist and his panache--who he is, what he does and how he does it--becoming the plot. Oh, there is something in the premiere about some stolen high-tech computer chips that may be en route to China, thanks to some dim local thugs. Nash is hot on that trail, but the camera is even hotter on his trail.

Despite its formulaic car chasing and repetitive gunplay, “Nash Bridges” is amiable enough and Johnson cool and charismatic enough to make this passable entertainment. If you prefer heartier entertainment, though, check out “Homicide: Life on the Street,” the time slot’s vastly smarter and superior cop series on NBC.

* “Nash Bridges” premieres at 10 tonight on CBS (Channel 2).