A&E is in production on "Steven Seagal: Lawman," a new Real-Life series that will chronicle martial arts expert and international film star Steven Seagal's extraordinary life in law enforcement, it was announced today by Robert Sharenow, Senior Vice President Non-Fiction & Alternative Programming, A&E Network.

Seagal's movies have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. He is an expert martial artist, with a 7th-degree black belt in aikido. Along with Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris, he's considered one of the film industry's greatest action stars. But it turns out that Steven Seagal isn't just an action hero in the movies. For almost 20 years, Seagal has been working as a fully-commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana. In fact, in addition to going out on patrol, Seagal is an expert marksman who has worked with their SWAT team and has instructed Jefferson Parish officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat.

"I've been working as an officer in Jefferson Parish for two decades under most people's radar," said Seagal, "I've decided to work with A&E on this series now because I believe it's important to show the nation all the positive work being accomplished here in Louisiana - to see the passion and commitment that comes from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in this post-Katrina environment."

"Steven is a hero both on and off camera and helps fight crime because he cares about the community," said Sharenow, "It's such an amazing revelation that this larger-than-life star has been doing real police work for nearly 20 years."

Until now, Seagal has never sought publicity for his work with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. However, over a span of almost two decades, he has regularly gone out on patrol and worked major cases. The series will allow fans to ride shotgun with Seagal as he and his hand-selected elite team of deputies respond to crimes-in-progress. Then, when Seagal goes off-duty, the cameras will continue following him as he pursues his many ventures - including musical performances and philanthropic efforts - in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.

"Steven has a very close relationship with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and I'm proud to have him as part of our team," said Sheriff Newell Normand, "I cannot tell you how honored I am to not only be affiliated with Steven, but with A&E and all their support in highlighting the efforts, the trials and the tribulations of the men and woman of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office."

Steven Seagal is best known for playing the invincible action hero character that defined his career in such films as Above the Law, Hard to Kill, Under Siege (1 & 2) and blockbuster hit Exit Wounds. His familiarity with his signature roles stem from a long personal history with Eastern culture in both studying martial arts as well as practicing Buddhism. He is also a recording artist and guitarist, is founder of Steven Seagal Enterprises that markets his own all-natural energy drink "Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt" and is a dedicated philanthropist and activist for environmentalism and animal rights.

Steven Seagal: Lawman is produced for A&E Network by Granada America and Steamroller Films. John X. Kim is the Executive Producer, Lucas Platt is the Co- Executive Producer, and Anna Geddes is the Series Producer for Granada America. Steven Seagal and Phillip B. Goldfine are Executive Producers for Steamroller Films. Joe Halpin and Binh Dang are Producers for Steamroller Films. Executive Producers for A&E are Robert Sharenow and Neil A. Cohen.

Along with Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris, he's considered one of the film industry's greatest action stars.

While I like his movies for what they are, putting Steven Seagal(and even Chuck Norris) with Stallone and Schwarzenegger is kind of insulting. Seagal and Norris are tier 2, at the most. While Willis, Stallone, Schwarzenegger would be tier 1.

In order to come to the reasonable conclusion that Arnie has no charisma, one must only watch the Conan movie in which he is trapped in the fighting pit and gets his ear chewed on.

"OW OW MAH EAYAH MY EYAH!!!"

It's painful. Arnie had a lot of high budget movies that carried his sorry ***, a very impressive physique, and sometimes good costars to carry him.

Arnold became a Republican governor.

Oh c'mon, how can you say Kidnergarten Cop was high budget?

It was in the same awesomely bad category as most of Joe Pesci's movies (The Super comes to mind).

And Aikido, while impressive in a demonstration, lends itself to to situtions only where the defender can anticipate an attack or is simply a better athlete.

I'm sorry, but any non-Greco wrestler would pose serious problems for an Aikido practioner, especially one who is physically conditioned. Luckily, Segal actually is rather athletic and also has his size advantage.

Nevertheless, it'd be far more entertaining if he practiced combative Capoeira. Now THAT would be entertaining to watch him use as a law enforcer.

I should be known that in the Aikido world Segal is generally viewed as a great embarrassment and he's not considered to be very good.