Think House in stiletto heels with a law degree, and you'll start to get the picture of Fox's relentlessly edgy Canterbury's Law, a lightning-paced legal drama that roars with a feisty thunder.

ER's dynamic Julianna Margulies is in perpetual motion as Elizabeth Canterbury, a barracuda who's always spoiling for a fight in and out of court. This no-nonsense warrior barks orders, taunts adversaries (including the terrific Terry Kinney as the DA) and aggravates authorities while tackling sensational cases with cunning, often desperate tactics — some of which have backfire potential. She would have been right at home on the early (best) days of The Practice.

"Must you antagonize? Must you?" moans her partner (Ben Shenkman), a former prosecutor. Yes, she must. What fun would this show be if she didn't? Any time Canterbury says, "The defense rests," watch out. "Rest" does not come naturally to this woman.

From Rescue Me's Jim Serpico and Denis Leary, Law revels in reckless, rude antiheroics. But Margulies also excels in giving her character emotional depth, with a tragic backstory and a rocky personal life involving a long-suffering husband (Aidan Quinn) and a hot private eye (James McCaffrey) on the side. She's well worth watching, although the too-early scheduling on Mondays will be a challenge.

My enthusiasm for Canterbury's Law almost makes up for my disappointment in Fox's newest midseason comedy, also built around prominent female leads: The Return of Jezebel James, from Gilmore Girls' Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Even without a death slot on Fridays, this strained story would be a tough sell. The not especially comical situation of this sitcom reunites two estranged, unsympathetic sisters, when flighty, fussy yuppie Sarah (an unconvincing Parker Posey) enlists the bohemian Coco (abrasive Lauren Ambrose) to be the surrogate to carry her baby — for which she has yet to find a sperm donor.

Who's Jezebel James? Coco's childhood imaginary friend, a spunky character around whom Sarah, an editor, has developed a children's book. Something tells me I'd rather see a show about imaginary Jezebel than about these sour siblings.

Lorelai and Rory, we miss you!

Canterbury's Law premieres Monday, March 10, at 8 pm/ET on Fox.

The Return of Jezebel James premieres Friday, March 14, at 8 pm/ET on Fox.