SHADES OF BLUE (NBC): A corrupt division of NYPD cops, lead by Ray Liotta, justifies their activities by keeping the really bad guys out of their community while accepting graft from the illegal enterprises they allow to operate, thus doing a service to those they are sworn to protect. Jennifer Lopez is a member of the squad who's caught in an FBI sting operation while shaking down a small time crook and rather than risking exposure and possible jail time, she's blackmailed into becoming an FBI informant. Her squad is a close knit family an appears to care for each other in a very personal way: They attend her daughter's school band concert. In the pilot episode, she covers up her partner's accidental fatal shooting of an unarmed black man and they get away with it. This whole scenario left me rather cold: didn't hate it, but not really sure I liked it either because none of the characters are particularly likable despite their misguided belief they are actually doing their community a valuable service and that Lopez's character is a devoted and loving mom. Given the current climate regarding questionable police shootings and other practices, this may be rather very poor timing for a show about crooked cops. Then there's Lopez's Emmy-begging performance. I couldn't decide if she was doing a good job or just emoting the crap out of every scene. Liotta is OK and Drea de Matteo didn't have much to do in the opener. Score: 6.5. I cannot render a decision at this time pending further examination of the evidence in this case. We are adjourned. (Did you actually hear the gavel bang?)
Review of Shades of Blue
