Previewing Rizzoli and Isles

This summer TNT has launched 100 Days of Drama with new episodes of favorite shows on the network as well as two new shows. Last month Memphis Beat premiered to a lukewarm response and tonight sees the start of the network’s other offering Rizzoli and Isles which hasn’t fared much better in the entertainment department.

Rizzoli and Isles follows Boston police detective Angie Harmon (Agent Cody Banks) as the first half of the title. While Sasha Alexander (He's Just Not That Into You), who despite being the other half of the title rarely appears onscreen without Harmon, plays her medical examiner buddy. It is your token opposites attract friendship with Harmon playing the tough as nails tomboy to Alexander who dresses up even to clean. Though it is unclear why Alexander is so obsessed with fashion because she is also p0rotrayed as someone with a mild case of Asperser’s who enjoys the company of the dead to that of the breathing.

Tonight’s episode involves a serial killer that Rizzoli had a run in before he was caught whose M.O. pops up again years later. The episode also has Rizzoli pull off the dumbest move I have ever seen a cop make in the history of television. On the second episode, another serial killer may possibly have returned, this time being the Boston Strangler. Yes, the Boston Strangler may have returned despite the man convicted of the crime died a long time ago. The second episode also sees the introduction of Donnie Walberg (New Kids On the Block) as Rizzoli’s new boss and probable love interest, or so Isles thinks.

On the scale of TNT cop shows, Rizzoli and Isles is darker than The Closer but doesn’t get as dark as Dark Blue, which makes for a bland combination. An things get even more clichéd with the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Rizzoli (Chazz Palminteri and Lorraine Bracco), the latter of which is so over the top to get her baby girl hooked up with someone, she suggest putting on makeup before going to a murder scene because you never know who you will meet. Though Lee Thomson Young (Smallville’s Cyborg) is mildly entertaining as Rizzoli’s new partner who has adverse reactions to grizzly crime scenes (Isles’ attempt to cure him of his phobia is particularly entertaining). But I really do not seeing the show appealing to anyone is going through procedural withdrawal this summer and just new episodes The Closer just is not enough.

Rizzoli and Isles airs Mondays at 10:00 on TNT. You can download Rizzoli & Isles on iTunes.