Another troubled heroine emerges

As summer approaches, a new genre of character – the female social misfit in a position of authority – continues to grow with “In Plain Sight,” debuting at 10 p.m. Sunday on USA.

“In Plain Sight” is a star vehicle for Mary McCormack (“The West Wing”), who plays Mary Shannon, a marshal in the federal witness protection program.

Stationed in Albuquerque, N.M., Mary and her partner, Marshall Mann (Frederick Weller), work to protect witnesses in pending cases, both from others and themselves.

Mary joins such “misunderstood” cable heroines as Kyra Sedgwick’s Brenda Johnson on TNT’s “The Closer” and Holly Hunter’s Grace Hanadarko on TNT’s “Saving Grace.” She lacks Brenda’s Southern sweetness, but her inability to play well with others is trumped by Grace’s smoking, drinking and adultery.

Mary is a consummate pro on the job, at least with her charges, if not always with her co-workers. She’s sleeping with one marshal, Raphael (Cristian de la Fuente), but doesn’t want anything more serious. At home, she’s the stable one, with her flighty mother, Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren), and her on-the-run sister, Brandi (Nichole Hiltz), freeloading off her. No wonder she’s got a little attitude.

Each episode shows Mary and Marshall (yes, Marshal Marshall) dealing with a new witness or witnesses, some former criminals, some others caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most have trouble balancing giving up their old lives with staying alive.

Unlike USA’s hits “Monk” and “Psych,” “In Plain Sight” is darker in tone, more the flavor of last summer’s rookie drama “Burn Notice.” It needs to be to compete with the above-mentioned TNT series and whatever original programming FX is airing this summer.

“In Plain Sight” is an enjoyable diversion from the reality-TV wrecks that the networks will be airing this summer.