Don’t call it a come back! Wait. That’s technically what it is. I just wanted to write that because it’s a cool phrase but I digress. Anyway, anticipation was high for NCIS: Los Angeles, the new show where LL Cool J plays a former Navy SEAL working undercover. Guess what? So far so good.

NCIS: Los Angeles is only three episodes deep but it has become CBS’s no. 1 program of the year, drawing over 17 million viewers per episode. The network is rewarding the show by picking it up for a full season. LL may not have released an album in a while but in this recession, at least that TV money will keep coming in for him.

As much as I’ve talked about the show before it aired, I still haven’t seen an episode. There’s a lot of TV to keep up with but I promise I will get an episode in this season, especially if the show is that good. Its predecessor, NCIS, does really well for CBS so I’m not surprised.

By the way, this is LL Cool J’s first dramatic role on TV. His acting is always just OK but there’s something about him as a thespian that still works, primarily when he plays the tough guy. Have you seen the show so far? What do you think?

The 90s was a really good time for rappers-turnt-actors to get love on the tube. There have been some hits like the shows featured in our list today, and some misses, like that God awful Flavor Flav sitcom that lasted all of five minutes, but lately it seems all the the rappers have either moved on to dramatic roles or reality TV. Let’s take a trip down memory lane in honor of our favorite sitcoms starring raptors.

Will Smith, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

In West Philadelphia…you know the words. Will Smith set off the trend of giving rappers their own TV shows. The notion was unheard of until he came along, appealed to the masses, and became America’s Dumbo-eared sweetheart.

Queen Latifah, Living Single

Before Sex and the City, fly girls everywhere were planning to move to NYC when they grew up so that they could live the “living single” life. I remember being in elementary and junior high schools (heck, high school and college too) trying to figure out with my girlfriends, which character we were most like. I was always compared to Kadeja because she was the journalist.

LL Cool J, In the House

Even as a nanny, LL managed to melt the hearts of women (and probably men too) everywhere. He’s just got that je ne sais quoi, and it was the driving force of the show. (Make sure to check him out in NCIS: Los Angeles).

Eve, Eve

Eve getting her own show came out of left field (and her acting is another horrible story) but she had the right swag to carry it. She was living the single life in Miami and once again, provided someone that fly girls across America could relate to—a young, hot and successful urbanista. Afterall, she was hip-hop’s “it” girl at the time, so it made sense.

MC Hammer, Hammerman

Hammer has recently joined the ranks of reality TV-dom but who could forget his cartoon? Please tell me you didn’t forget. Yes, we know, it’s a cartoon and not a sitcom but admit that you were feeling it. We know you were. MC Hammer was Hammerman, the superhero whose dance moves were his special powers. He was always teaching kids positive lessons when it came to moral dilemmas. The best thing about it was he did it through music. They just don’t make cartoons like this anymore!

What are some of your favorite rapper sitcoms? Or, what are some of your favorite comedic roles starring rappers on TV?

One of the shows creating a big buzz for this year’s Fall line up is NCIS: Los Angeles, which premiers Tuesday, Sept. 22. I don’t think it’s so much the show that people are looking forward to as it is seeing LL Cool J on TV again.

NCIS: Los Angeles is CBS’s NCIS spinoff. The series is about the world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects, a division of NCIS that works to capture dangerous criminals who threaten U.S. national security.

LL Cool J plays Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former Navy SEAL who works in the undercover unit of NCIS in LA. He’s a tough but thoughtful, eloquent and charming man who speaks fluent Arabic and is an expert on Middle Eastern culture.

I love LL (like a lot of women…and men) but I haven’t been into a police drama since New York Undercover. I think I’ll watch just to ogle LL check out the show. It’s worth a shot. Plus, if I can sit through Real Chance of Love every week, then surely, I can watch NCIS. Aside from the fact that LL is probably about 50 and still looks like he’s 25, another thing to look forward to is that this is his first dramatic TV role. Most people remember him as Marion, the happy-go-lucky nanny/ladies man on In the House. Check out this fun video interview he did with TV Guide about his forthcoming role.

LL Cool J is amazing. I’m not just saying that because I’ve been in love with him since “Around the Way Girl,” either. I honestly believe he’s a wizard who holds the key to eternal youth. The man is gorgeous in shape, and looks progressively better with age, but I digress.

He appeared on the Rachael Ray show yesterday to promote his line of affordable jeans, t-shirts and jackets for Sears. He’ll also make a TV comeback this fall in CBS’s NCIS: Legend, so it’s good to start seeing his face again and be reminded of how cool his personality is (no pun intended). Now that his only son is in college, he’s surrounded by women who sometimes force him to watch chick flicks, but he doesn’t mind as long as he gets to spend time with his family. However, one thing he doesn’t do is cook. In the clip below, he tells Rachael Ray that the last time he cooked for his family was during his last appearance on her show, months ago. Basically, she did most of the work but he got to take home a doggy bag. It’s good to see that he’s such a humble, mellow guy. And that’s why we love him.

LL Cool J will make a TV comeback this fall in the new NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Legend, on CBS. The series is about the world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects, a division of NCIS that works to capture dangerous criminals who threaten U.S. national security.

LL Cool J’s character is Special Agent Sam Hanna, a former Navy SEAL who now works in the undercover unit of NCIS in Los Angeles. His training and experience make him the hard man of the team but his toughness conceals a thoughtful, eloquent and disarmingly charming man who speaks fluent Arabic and is an expert on Middle Eastern culture.

This sounds like a good role for LL, especially since we’ve already seen him effectively play hard but charming characters, like in In Too Deep and Deep Blue Sea. Plus, he’s still in excellent shape. I’m not into TV dramas like this but I’ll check out a couple of episodes for LL.

Will you watch?