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January 26, 2000 1:18 PM, EST

“18 Wheels of Justice,” a new television series heavily promoted to trucking audiences, made its Jan. 12 debut on The Nashville Network.

Maybe it’ll get better, but right now this is a cable television show made to order for a smart-alecky reviewer.

The lead actor is Lucky Vanous, whose previous leading role had him exposing his sweaty torso to lustful female office workers in Diet Coke commercials. He plays Chance Bowman, a federal agent who goes undercover through the witness protection program.

The villain of the show is Jacob Carter (G. Gordon Liddy), who rose through the ranks of a New York organized crime family. Does any more need to be said about that?

The only actor of note is Billy Dee Williams, who as Justice Department handler Burton Hardesty seems to have seen this part as a sort of a retirement plan — since he seems unwilling to put any energy into it.

But then again, Williams has read the script of the hourlong action show.

The fact is, Vanous does not reveal himself to be a poor actor. He doesn’t reveal himself to be any sort of actor. The script won’t let him.

For the full story, see the Jan. 24 print edition of Transport Topics. .