TV characters you want on your side

While watching U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon cling to life "In Plain Sight" the other night, I started thinking about what TV character I'd like looking out for me in the event I ever needed looking after.

My wife and I decided there are characters who you want on your side if you've been scammed or cheated, such as Timothy Hutton's crew of grifters in TNT's "Leverage." The grifter, hitter, hacker and thief that work with Hutton's mastermind are about evening the score. They even took on crooked bankers trying to milk the bailout in a recent episode.

We also decided that if you were a crime victim, you'd want Kyra Sedgwick's Brenda Leigh Johnson from TNT's "The Closer" on the case. She's like a pit bull once she sets her sights on solving a crime.

Those guys are tough but nice. What about the TV characters who are tough but not so nice?

The litmus test my wife and came up with was what TV cop/detective/righter of wrongs would do violence in his or her pursuit of the bad guys who did one of us wrong.

One character we decided could be violent but would try to out-think the bad guy was "In Plain Sight's" Marshall Mann. In last week's season finale, Mann tried to reason with the leader of a gang responsible for shooting his partner. If Mann wouldn't resort to violence to pry the information out of that scumbag, chances are it's just not in his character.

We compiled what we think are six of the baddest TV characters that you would definitely want on your side. All of these shows are available on video and DVD.

"NYPD Blue" -- Dennis Franz's New York City Detective Andy Sipowitz was not above using violence when he deemed it necessary. He's the kind of TV cop you'd want on your side if a relative was missing or you wanted to squeeze the information out of a suspect. Although he mellowed in later seasons, Sipowitz no doubt would have killed if someone threatened his family or loved ones.

"NCIS" -- Mark Harmon's NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a dogged pursuer but as a former Marine sniper he has the killer instinct, which he used to kill the drug dealer who murdered his wife and daughter. Gibbs would not hesitate to use violence to defend one of his team.

"Saving Grace" -- Holly Hunter's Oklahoma City Detective Grace Hanadarko is small but packs a punch. She won't abuse a suspect but she'll use violence if necessary to take down a bad guy. Even as she pals around with an Angel named Earl, you can't help but believe she'd kill someone who threatened her family, friends and fellow cops.

"The Shield" -- Michael Chiklis' Los Angeles Detective Vic Mackey (pictured above) murders a fellow cop in the series pilot, so we know he's got the killer instinct. In fact, it's hard to keep track of all the people he killed during the show's run. Mackey would knock down doors, beat people and maybe even kill to help a friend or loved one. Just make sure you stay a friend or loved one.

"Burn Notice" -- Jeffrey Donovan's Michael Weston is the star, but Gabrielle Anwar's ex-IRA bomber Fiona Glenanne is the shoot-first character on this USA Network hit series. She'd definitely kill to protect Weston and his mom, and she'd probably not hesitate to kill to protect Sam (Bruce Campbell), even though they bicker a lot.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" -- Chris Noth's Detective Mike Logan left the original series after punching out a New York City councilman, it's not hard to imagine he'd use violence to protect his family, friends, partner or fellow cops. He's a good cop but he'll push the envelope when needed.

Got a favorite TV bad ass? Let me know.