‘Division’ Adds Emotion to Finale

When “The Division” premiered on Lifetime in January, we poured on the unsolicited abuse for this one-hour drama about four female police inspectors in San Francisco, calling it common, cliched and conventional.

We even suggested that “The Division” should be subtracted from the prime-time schedule as soon as possible.

Ha!

Lifetime had the last laugh. Turns out the show was a hit with viewers, who made it one of the highest-rated original dramas on cable. Shows you what we know!

In the season finale airing Sunday at 9 p.m., the focus shifts to alcoholic Jinny (Nancy McKeon), whose ongoing battle with her addiction leads to an intervention arranged by her partner, Magda (Lisa Vidal).

“She’s just here to twist in the knife,” a defiant Jinny says about her boss, Capt. McCafferty (Bonnie Bedelia), who has suspended the veteran cop because of inebriation on the job.

Jinny is angry and resentful, but she’s also in denial, claiming that others are out to bury her.

“I’m here to try and stop you from killing yourself,” counters a concerned McCafferty. “No one can see clearly from a bottle of booze.”

Bottom line: We’re not willing to throw our complete support to “The Division” just yet, but at least this emotional episode is a step in the right direction.

Surf Report

SPECIALS

Two hours may not be nearly enough for Neil Diamond to sing all his hits (“Song Sung Blue,” “Cherry, Cherry” and “Solitary Man,” to name a few) on the latest “Live by Request” (6 tonight, A&E;).

“Real Teens, Real Times”(8 tonight, NBC) consists of previously aired “Dateline” segments dealing with sex, co-ed sleepovers and plastic surgery.

“Bon Jovi: One Last Wild Night” (9 p.m. Sunday, VH1) features the band’s performance at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium.

MOVIES

Amy Heckerling directed “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (9 tonight, NBC), the hilarious 1982 high school comedy with a memorably dazed and confused Sean Penn.