LIFETIME Vivica Fox shows up among the 'Missing'

Her character gives the show a new balance.
By DAVE MASON
SCRIPPS HOWARD
"Missing" starts its second season at 10 tonight on Lifetime with the addition of Vivica A. Fox, and the series is better off with her.
Fox ("Independence Day," "Kill Bill") plays Special Agent Nicole Scott, the new, experienced partner for Special Agent Jess Mastriani (Caterina Scorsone of "The Third Miracle"), who just completed her FBI training. While hesitant to call herself a psychic, Mastriani gets visions that help her find missing people. If her visions spelled everything out, the stories would be over in a second, but they're actually metaphorical.
"Missing" is enjoyable because it's an old-fashioned whodunit, but it's also a strong police-buddy series in the tradition of shows like "Cagney & amp; Lacey." Fox's character, Scott, has improved the series by providing someone to challenge Mastriani's perspective. Mastriani wants to do everything by the book. Scott rebels against rules.
Mastriani reminds Scott to be safe. Scott teaches Mastriani to trust her gut and take risks. They complement each other well.
The other stars -- Mark Consuelos as Special Agent Antonio Cortez, and Justin Louis as Assistant Director John Pollock -- provide a mix of drama and comedy that keeps the stories moving.
This week's episode provides a good introduction to the new partnership, but a better story is the July 17 tale in which everything isn't what it seems.
Worth a look
Other worthwhile Lifetime shows include the new cable movie "Baby for Sale," in which Dana Delany helps a sting operation apprehend a man trying to sell babies to the highest bidder. It airs at 9 p.m. Monday.
And "Wild Card," the drama-comedy about insurance investigators, begins its second season Sunday with a new, blunt, fast-talking, no-nonsense boss who steals the scenes. It's clear that new cast member Loretta Devine is having fun with the part. The challenge is for the other characters to keep up with her. "Wild Card," which airs at 10 p.m., stars Joely Fisher ("The Mask") and Chris Potter ("Kung Fu: The Legend Continues") as Zoe Busiek and Dan Lennox, partners in the company's investigations. They continue to clash over how to best solve cases, and that leads to some good comedy and action.
In Sunday's season premiere, "Just Shoot Me" and "Frasier" actress Wendie Malick makes for a great, over-the-top character -- a murder suspect.