Sunday's Best Bets on TV

"Prime Suspect: The Final Act" (9 p.m., PBS): When this groundbreaking British series burst onto the scene in 1992, it presented viewers with the kind of female hero rarely seen on television. Detective Jane Tennison, as deftly played by the great Helen Mirren, was not only shamelessly mature and ambitious, she was full of rough edges. In other words, she was oh so real. Now, a lifetime of booze, cigarettes, loneliness and grueling police work are finally catching up with Jane, who is pushing 60 and also coping with the imminent death of her father. Still, she's determined to hold off retirement until she can solve one last case -- the murder of a teen schoolgirl, who to all appearances was a well-loved and exemplary student-athlete. A taut script and outstanding supporting performances boost the two-part production beyond the typical police procedural, and, as usual, Mirren is marvelous. Concludes next Sunday.
"Desperate Housewives" (9 p.m., ABC): We're expecting some major fallout from the grocery store shootings on last week's "Desperate Housewives." Also, Bree has the pleasure of meeting her newest mother-in-law, played by Dixie Carter ("Designing Women"). Oh, this should be fun.
"The Wire" (10 p.m., HBO): Guilty as charged. We haven't been doing nearly enough lately to pump up "The Wire," which has put together yet another electrifying season. In tonight's episode, Bubbles, tired of the beat-downs he's been getting lately, identifies a witness for Herc. Meanwhile, Colvin tries to motivate the apathetic students.
"Family Guy" (9 p.m., Fox): Peter likes it when Lois gets a job, and he gets to sit around.