Last year, Nippon TV beat perennial winner Fuji TV in the drama ratings competition, and starts 2012 with a show that's already attracting attention. "Dirty Mama" (Wed., 10 p.m.) is a police drama whose principal cop combines the slovenliness of Colombo with the extra-legal tactics of Dirty Harry.
Policewoman Akane (Karina) is working traffic when she is suddenly promoted to criminal investigations, which has been her dream. However, the bulk of her job is babysitting the infant son of her supervisor, single mother Takako (Hiromi Nagasaku), also the department's ace detective.
In episode 1, Takako and Akane started looking into a case involving a woman, Sachiyo (Naomi Nishida), who also has an infant son. In episode 2, Takako, who sympathizes with Sachiyo, finds a letter that may help her case.