Jennifer Lopez has just signed on to star and executive produce Shades of Blue, a new television drama set to air in 2015 on NBC. This will mark her first television acting role in over 20 years. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lopez will portray a single mother and cop hired by the FBI to work undercover in its anti-corruption task force.
Lopez’s reputation for having a green thumb has made this television venture, which will also be executive produced by Ryan Seacrest, a straight to series order that will begin filming in 2015. This will also be Ryan Seacrest’s first venture into scripted television.
Lopez is beginning to build a reputation as the Spanish Ryan Seacrest. She is a singer, dancer, actor, producer, designer, and judge for American Idol. The 44-year-old Latina began her career as a dancer on the Wayans’ brother’s sketch comedy show In Living Color. She catapulted to fame when she received the role of Selena Quintanilla, the famous Tejano artist who was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23 in Texas by the president of her fan club.
Her casting created controversy when Selena fans up roared and demanded a recast due to the casting of a Nuyorican to portray a Tejano singer. Through the criticism Hollywood stayed by her side and they proved they made the correct decision when the film premiered. Lopez was praised for her portrayal, her movements, accent, and mannerisms were perfected to the point where film critic Roger
Ebert called it a star making performance. Her success was proven once again in 2001 by being the first artist in history to simultaneously have a number one film, The Wedding Planner, and a number one album, J.Lo.