Early Look: Harmon and Alexander Charm in 'Rizzoli & Isles'

The first thing you notice about 'Rizzoli & Isles,' a new cop drama in TNT's cop-drama-heavy schedule, is that you're just dropped into the middle of the title characters' world without much of an introduction. "Show, don't tell" is a maxim that every screenwriter and novelist learns early in their careers; Tess Gerritsen -- on whose books this show is based -- and Janet Tamaro have followed this maxim almost to the point where there's no exposition at all.

And, while the concept behind the show -- a cop and a coroner who are polar opposites but are best friends and a crack crime solving team -- isn't revolutionary by any means, the show's leads, Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, make it work by so thoroughly inhabiting their characters.

Harmon is Jane Rizzoli, a Boston homicide detective who's as tough as they come (her brother accidentally breaks her nose in a driveway basketball game as the series opens, for instance), and is part of a family who worries about the fact that she's decided to devote her life to such a dangerous career... well, at least her overbearing mother (Lorraine Bracco) is worried. Alexander plays Maura Isles, a city medical examiner who dresses impeccably, even when cutting open a body in the morgue, has a tortoise for a pet, and seems to be more comfortable with science and dead bodies than real living humans.

Like I said, a pretty simple concept. Right from the first minute of the pilot, there's a case to solve, one that invokes some unpleasant memories for Rizzoli. The writers are content to let the pair go about their business solving the case, only revealing aspects of the pairs' personalities -- and how the two of them can possibly be friends -- when the scene warrants it. If you're a viewer that's used to a ton of exposition in a pilot, this may leave you a bit cold. But I found the lack of explanation to be refreshing, allowing me to discover what makes the pair tick as needed.

It also allows the writers room to put the cases center stage. In the second episode, for instance, Rizzoli tries to track down a killer who's mimicing the patterns of the infamous Boston Strangler. All the while, she has to deal with her new boss (Donnie Wahlberg), who happens to be an old schoolyard nemesis. In both episodes, the room the cases get allows for some twists and turns in the action. Whodunits these aren't, but at least there's enough there to put the leads in credible danger on a weekly basis.



But Harmon and Alexander really carry the show. You can buy the gorgeous Harmon as the rough-and-tumble cop because she brings a weariness to the role that has allowed her to play up her innate tomboyish qualities while remaining sexy. Think of a more rough-and-tumble version of Sandy Bullock in the 'Miss Congeniality' movies and you'll get the idea. And Alexander brings charm to a character that could easily get lost in a see of Asperger-ish tics and behavor.

The supporting cast -- Lee Thompson Young as Rizzoli's squeamish partner, Bruce McCall as her former, animal-loving partner, Jordan Bridges as the brother who looks up to her, and Chazz Palminteri as Rizzoli's plumber dad -- is mostly top notch. I've never been a fan of Bracco, and she's miscast here as Rizzoli's ever-worrying mother. It's possible that Bracco could be Harmon's mother -- the actresses are 18 years apart in real life -- but their closeness in age is distracting. And, as her wont since 'Goodfellas,' she overplays the role to the hilt. Finally, Wahlberg is an intriguing counterpoint/love interest for Harmon, but since he was cast in CBS's new cop show 'Blue Bloods,' he's not going to be sticking around (IMDb only lists him in two episodes).

So, if you tune into TNT on Monday, June 12 at 10PM ET, will you find a revolutionary show in 'Rizzoli & Isles?' No. But you'll find the leads infinitely appealing. And on TV, that's often half the battle.

(Follow @joelkeller on Twitter.)