BRATT

E-RING: Scott Garfield/NBC/UNIVERSAL

E-Ring

CONCEPT Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper are military men in this Jerry Bruckheimer action drama set in the Pentagon.

THE SCOOP The apolitical series covers everything from genocide in Rwanda to spies in China. The pilot was reshot, adding Melrose Place's Kelly Rutherford as a Defense Department attorney and ditching Bratt's wife (24's Sarah Clarke) and child. ''I regret to see them removed in the sense that it showed [viewers] just how dedicated and right-minded — as opposed to right-wing-minded — he is as a person,'' Bratt admits. Of course, now he can have hottie love interests! ''That was the main push behind the decision,'' he says, laughing. ''Let's call a spade a spade. We're about to install the revolving door in my apartment.''

BOTTOM LINE Hopper took a pay cut to be involved, Ray director Taylor Hackford helmed the pilot, and Bratt has charisma to spare. But they should rethink the apolitical part — this drama feels oddly toothless.