Jenny from the block is returning to the small screen. Jennifer Lopez, The multimillion selling recording artist and American Idol judge, will star in her first ever scripted drama series when she appears in NBC's police drama 'Shades of Blue' which airs in 2016.
J. Lo is no stranger to the television world. Before her successful music career, she got her big break on the sketch comedy and variety show 'In Living Color' more than 20 years ago. Aside from her American Idol duties and short cameos on How I Met Your Mother and Will and Grace, her last appearance on TV was in CBS's 'Hotel Malibu' which aired in 1994 for one season.
The 45 year old Lopez will play Det. Harlee Santos, described by the network as a single mother who is league with a 'tight-knit group of dirty cops.' Santos' love for her daughter will be a motivating factor for her as well.
In a promotional video for the show, Lopez explains the predicament her character will face: She is 'trapped by the FBI into informing on her 'brothers' and will 'have to walk the fine line between love, loyalty, honor and betrayal. At certain times, doing the wrong thing is the right thing,' she added.
The first season will span 13 episodes and follows a group of detectives who resort to sometimes questionable means to try to keep their city safe. Fellow American Idol veteran Ryan Seacrest is producing the show along with Lopez. Academy Award Winner Barry Levinson will handle directing duties.
Joining J. Lo on the show will be veteran actor and Goodfellas star Ray Liotta as Lt. Bill Wozniak and Sopranos alum Drea De Matteo as Tess Nazario, a fellow cop and mother of three.
