Summertime in televisionland is often a time to experiment with new TV shows, giving them a trial run in the hope they can catch on--ala “Survivor”--for a more permanent spot in the fall schedule. Jim Lucas likes that game plan--because he is part of such a summer show.

Lucas, an assistant to the administrator of the Farm Service Agency and director of FSA’s Service Center Implementation Team, appeared in an episode of “The Wire,” a new series on HBO airing on Sunday nights and then repeating several times on following weeks. He played the role of a judge or “juvenile master” in episode six, titled “And All The Pieces Matter,” in the 13- episode series. That episode aired for the first time on July 7.

Lucas explained that production of the summer series--which is a drama about law enforcers and the criminal element as they attempt to stay one step ahead of each other during a number of narcotics and homicide investigations--began in late February and was shot entirely in the area of Baltimore, Md.

He said that a friend, who had already gotten a part in the show as a police officer, told him about the mini-series. So, after finding out who was handling the show’s casting, Lucas sent in a head shot and a bio sketch. “To my surprise,” he recounted, “I got a call to audition for the role of a judge.”

He did what is called a “cold read” of dialogue, on camera, in front of the casting director and an assistant. “This is where they determine if they want to use you or not,” Lucas explained. If a would-be actor makes it through that reading, then the next step is a “call back,” which is a second reading--of the same lines of dialogue--in front of the casting director again, as well as the producer and director.

“I’m told that most actors audition 10 to 12 times before being selected,” Lucas observed. This was his first auditioning for HBO--and he got the job after those two readings. “I guess,” he quipped, “they were desperate.”

Lucas described “the shoot” as “most interesting.” The show’s production company first faxed him a copy of the six-page script, which he had to commit to memory. Then, on the day of the shooting, his first stop was to go to “base camp” which contains all the production equipment, including wardrobe, catering, crew equipment, and trailers for both actors and make-up artists.

“I took annual leave that day and arrived at the base camp at about 2 p.m.,” he said. “At ?wardrobe’s’ request I brought some of my own suits with me to wear underneath the judge’s robe they fitted me with--even though in the end we didn’t use the robe at all.” He then settled into his own individual actor’s trailer, where he had several hours to review his lines, take a nap, and otherwise chill out until the cast members moved to a dining area and ate dinner together.

“Then,” he advised, “I was limo’d back to my trailer where I waited another hour until it was time to go to makeup--and then go make a shoot.”

The scene in which Lucas participated was shot in the Baltimore County Courthouse, eight blocks away from “base camp.” “We had to wait until all the county workers had gone home before we could start to shoot,” he explained. It took the production crew about two hours, until 8 p.m., to get the shots set up correctly. Then each actor did one rehearsal before taping.

“You may not realize,” Lucas pointed out, “that typically an actor does his or her lines a minimum of three times, since production requires a long shot, a wide shot, and a close-up of most lines of dialogue in a script. Then the editors decide later what is actually used--and seen--in the final product.”

Lucas’s part consisted of nine lines, in which he had to decide the sentencing of a juvenile charged with some minor offenses. “So my demeanor had to be very serious, I had to listen intently to both the prosecution and defense, and then had to render a solemn and wise decision from the bench,” he said. “And,” he then laughed, “you bet I did!”

Judge Judy, eat your heart out... •