Michael Chiklis’ character of Vic Mackey from The Shield may have competition in the corrupt police officer category when Shades of Blue, starring Jennifer Lopez, makes its NBC debut on January 14, 2016. Lopez’s character, Harlee Santos, is not a by the book, ideal cop that would occupy most television series. Her character (from the events of the trailer) is prone to corruption, bribery and other deeds that most idealistic law enforcement officers would frown upon.
In the trailer, Santos is not above shooting her own partner in an attempt to help stage a crime scene. Santos isn’t staging imaginary murders of the homeless like Jimmy McNulty in the final season of The Wire, but Harlee has no qualms about crossing lines or betraying those that are close to her in order to further herself. Ray Liotta plays her direct superior, Matt Wozniak, who Santos has great respect for — and whom she betrays as she is busted by the FBI and becomes a federal informant in the process.
The series, which will consist of 13 episodes, is Lopez’s first small-screen role since the 1990s. No, I’m not including her recurring role as a Fly Girl on In Living Color, though that was clearly one to remember.
