CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC wants to keep the Tuesday, 10:00/9:00c hour repeat-free for the entire 2003-04 season. To that end, the network has scheduled the midseason drama "Line of Fire" to take over for "N.Y.P.D. Blue" in the slot come December 2.

"Fire" will run for nine weeks, at which point "Blue" will return for February sweeps. ABC has committed to 13 episodes of "Fire," meaning four episodes of the drama will be left when "Blue" resumes its run. It's not clear if the Rod Lurie-produced series will then move to a new time slot for the remainder of its run.

Here's how ABC describes the series (via press release):

From executive producer Rod Lurie ("The Contender"), "Line of Fire" delivers a gritty look into a world that few could imagine. This fast-paced drama takes viewers into the war between the FBI and a powerful organized crime family, a war in which brains, brawn and intimidation are often the tools of both trades. These titanic organizations exist side-by-side, completely aware of each other but unable, or perhaps unwilling, to completely destroy the enemy that stands in their way.

"Line of Fire" is from executive producer/writer Rod Lurie, who also directed the premiere episode. Marc Frydman ("The Contender") and Jeff Melvoin ("Early Edition," "Northern Exposure") are executive producers. "Line of Fire" is from DreamWorks Television in association with Touchstone Television.