Lee Thompson Young on watching Sasha Alexander & Angie Harmon work.

“This is really a treat for me as an actor, to watch Rizzoli and Isles playing off of each other, and I’ve developed this analogy in my mind that it’s like watching Charlie Parker and Miles Davis having a little improv session, because their styles are so different.”

“They’re almost like polar opposites,” he adds. “And yet they find this rhythm together so they can play back and forth, and it’s like a master class. I feel like INSIDE THE ACTOR’S STUDIO every day. I’m like,’ “Wow, how did she get there?’ It’s really a pleasure to watch the chemistry between the two [Harmon and Alexander].”

Source

Episode 308 SPOILERS

Daniella Alonso will debut in her recurring role as Riley Cooper, a new neighbor of Jane's who captures the attention of Angela, Frankie, and Frost. "I can't share details because there's a twist to my character," Alonso teases. "It's been a blast to be on the show... I've been working with everybody!" [Soap News]

Jane moves to a new apartment after the stalker incident in episode 307 "Crazy for You".

Rizzles alert: Jane and Maura lying on the same mattress with glasses of wine. [Absolutely Angie]

Maura speaks Serbian.

Frankie has an interview with Cavanaugh about moving to detective.

Official TNT Synopsis:
A bride is killed right before she walks down the aisle, and Jane and Maura must figure out if the groom’s ex-girlfriend is a suspect, or if there’s a deeper connection to the bride’s European roots. On the home front, Jane has a new neighbor who captures the attention of Angela, Frankie and Frost.

Janet Tamaro - Hoyt, Maura fencing, 15 episodes

Question from Bay Keech:
Hi there, I have a question. Would Jane have to deal with Hoyt again after his death in season two?
Janet's response:
One of the challenges of this show (because each episode is "closed-ended" and must stand on its own) is it's difficult to circle back and reference episodes new viewers may not have seen. I do my level best to keep our returning fans happy, but I also to try not to exclude new fans. So the short answer is probably not.



Question from Tish Buford:
Jane had asked Maura once in a previous episode if she played sports. One of Maura's answers was fencing, by any chance would we ever see Maura perform fencing in an episode?
Janet's response:
Just after I read this question, Sasha Alexander (who plays Maura Isles) asked me the same thing!! So, yes, I suspect we’re going to see Maura fence.


Question from Melanie Reber:
Janet, Can you please tell us fans why there is so little of Rizzoli & Isles each season? I as well as others (I'm sure) would like to know why the girls don't get as many episodes as other TV shows?
Janet's response:
Many cable networks order anywhere from 6 episodes to 15. TNT orders 15 "Rizzoli & Isles" episodes, which is a heck of a lot better than 6. Thanks for your interest, though. Glad to know you’d like more.



Source: TNT

Norman Buckley, Betty Buckley's brother, Directing episode 311 Rizzoli & Isles

Norman Buckley began directing episode 311 of Rizzoli & Isles today. Buckley has directed numerous television shows including Pretty Little Liars, The Client List and Gossip Girl. His sister is acclaimed Broadway star Betty Buckley.

From IMDB:
The OC episode "The Metamorphosis", directed by Buckley, was selected as one of the five best episodes of the series by Entertainment Weekly magazine.
The Gossip Girl episode "The Handmaiden's Tale", directed by Buckley, was selected as one of the top ten TV episodes of 2007 by Newsweek Magazine.



From the set of Rizzoli & Isles:

Janet Tamaro - song titles, the boys, and Maura's bedroom - Creator's Corner

Question from Kristen Cohn:
I've noticed several of the episodes names share their names with song titles. I'm thinking it's on purpose, but I'm not sure.
Janet's response:
Yep, it's on purpose. I decided after the pilot and the first episode to start naming episodes after song titles...because I could...;-)
----
Question from Nathalia Conti:
Relevant question: are we going to see Maura's walk-in closet and shoe collection this season?
Janet's response:
It's a VERY relevant question. Don't tell anyone, but I'm hoping we'll be able to build Maura's bedroom in Season 4. If you look behind the curtain here at Oz, you'll see that there currently IS no bedroom...so don't look until we have something to show you...ssshhh...it's our little secret.
----
Question from Alyssa Benalfew:
Will we see more Jane and Frost or Frost and Frankie interaction? Jane and Frost have nice moments and Frost and Frankie look like they could be great friends.
Janet's response:
I completely agree, and yes, we will see more of this adorable threesome. Frost and Frankie also do some very funny stuff together in upcoming shows. I personally love the ongoing brother-sister, towel, sibling-rivalry, "I love you but you annoy the heck out of me" relationship between Jane and Frankie.
----
Question from Victoria Baljo:
When you developed Rizzoli's character, did you use one person in your life to model her after or more than a few??
Janet's response:
Tess Gerritsen created Det. Jane Rizzoli for her books. I identified with the fictional Jane in Tess's books, but when I created the TV "Jane Rizzoli," I think without intending to, I imbued her with many of my own traits – and with many traits I see in Angie. Tess, who is a wonderful writer and a master of suspense and mystery, will tell you her books aren't funny. I can't live without humor and did not want to spend all the hours I spend working on this show without the relief of humor. I try to balance the show with enough of it to satisfy myself, my audience, and my great cast while still constructing a good mystery and serving all these wonderful characters.
Obviously, Jane isn't real, and Jane isn't me or Angie, but I've had to drop certain expressions I gave to Jane in dialogue because now I sound like I'm copying a fictional character...who says what I write for her to say ... I've got some Maura ticks, too. I'm constantly referencing studies, facts, figures and any research I can remember plus how did we live without GOOGLE? My children and husband are very nice about it, but I believe there's some secret eye-rolling that goes on ...

Source: Creator's Corner

Sharon Lawrence talks instant chemistry with Sasha Alexander on Rizzoli & Isles

SHARON LAWRENCE
RIZZOLI AND ISLES
by: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?
A) I did the show "Rizzoli and Isles" and I am also on the show "Drop Dead Diva" again this season. I think that airs in August. I'm also in the film The Middle of Nowhere, which was just honored as one of the gala films at the LA Film Festival. It will be released by Participant in October. It won also won Best Director at Sundance for Ava DuVernay, the first African American woman to ever win that award. I also serve Women in Film, the group that's been around for thirty-five years working towards a global vision for women in the entertainment market place.
Q) What can you tell us about your character Dr. Hope Martin on "Rizzoli and Isles?"
A) She is the long lost and long discussed birth mother to Maura Isles. She is not aware that her daughter is someone who has actually enlisted her assistance in a technique to determine a murder victim. She doesn't know that the scientist working right across from in the lab is indeed her daughter. She does feel a real excitement about someone who shares her passion for this work and who respects the techniques she developed as a scientist in the 80s to determine bodies during the Bosnian War. That endeavor in her life is one that I think is very telling. She's reuniting the physical remains of people who have passed with their families. And actually, with her own story, she herself has a huge piece missing. She and Maura share that passion for the work that they do, that analytical sensibility, but they also have a big gap that only Maura knows the truth about.
Q) Were you a fan of the show before being asked to guest star?
A) Yes! And I was really a fan of the fact that it's based on a book written by a woman, Tess Gerritsen, and created as a television series by a woman, Janet Tamaro. I liked it stars two female leads and I think it very accurately shows the complexity that women have. These women are daughters, colleagues, friends and professionals and the show really does capture the modern woman's juggling act. It's very gratifying to serve their vision.
Q) What challenged you about this role?
A) Well, I think the emotional depth of a character who has lost someone is always a compelling thing to play. On "Drop Dead Diva," I also lost a daughter, but there is a much lighter and more soulful well draw from - a sense of completion. She is someone who has been able to move through her grief in a more productive way. This character is someone who is trapped in a way that she doesn't quite understand and certainly doesn't acknowledge. She is someone who lives in her mind the way Maura does. For me, as an actor, one of the challenges and one of the rewards was trying to find the way to create a realistic portrayal of mother and daughter who have never known each other, but yet share similar qualities. We physically resemble each other in a very striking way so that was easy or helpful. Then I worked to find the physical behaviors or quirks that Maura has and included them in my performance.

Q) Was there instant chemistry when you began working with Sasha Alexander?
A) Yes! Unequivocally it was great! She is an amazing actor. What she manages to balance - she's aware that she's only inches away from the woman that gave her away and who she's had all these complex feelings for. Her assumption about this woman is not true and she can't even reach out, touch her and tell her because it's literally an emotional bomb that could go off in their lives. Watching her work is just amazing.
Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film for the show?
A) Some of my favorite moments were around a dinner table with Angie Harmon and Lorraine Bracco, who are hysterical! Sasha is so gracious, graceful and playful and seeing their bond - that was really a delight. It isn't always like that, but this is a very happy group of people.
Q) What do you think it is about the show that continues to captivate so many viewers?
A) I think we can identify them as friends. We can identify them as people who work for a living. We can identify them with what makes them driven in their duty and what parts of their lives they have to work harder at balancing. I think you can't underestimate the chemistry between those two beautiful gals who are just easy and fun to watch, especially what they bring out in each other.
Q) You are a part of the social networking site Twitter. Why is that such an important place for you to connect with fans and promote your work?
A) I don't devote my Twitter feed to just my work. It's really just as much about things I find inspiring, interesting and compelling in life. For me, it's a way to find out things that I am interested in that other people are doing and sometimes pass that on. It isn't just a tool for business.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) I'm grateful that we live in a country where we can tell stories freely, knowing that women in Iran are killed sometimes for expressing themselves through music. We are very fortunate in this culture to have the freedom to tell our stories the way we see fit. I encourage women to understand that everybody's story is vital and valuable. You can put it out there in the world in many forms.

Source starrymag.com

Review: Rizzoli & Isles episodes 303 & 304

It seems that both of these episodes were a huge disappointment to the majority of the rizzles fans. I wasn't in the majority. Don't get me wrong, they were not the best Rizzoli & Isles episodes, by far, but I thought they were okay. They weren't spectacular where I'm chatting about them every day and watching them over and over, but they weren't so bad.

I guess to compare, I felt the same way watching the last two Rizzoli & Isles episodes as I do after watching an episode of Leverage. I like Leverage. It's funny and I like the characters, but I don't watch each episode five to ten times and I don't talk about them with friends. It's a normal television show I happen to watch and like. That's how I felt about the last two episodes of Rizzoli & Isles. (Although I'll admit I did watch them several times.)

That's why I'm reviewing both in one post. Not a whole lot to talk about.

Episode 303:

•  I love Jane and Maura. Whether they're friends, co-workers, family, or anything else. I love the chemistry, the banter, the teasing, the way they turn to each other in times of need. I love that Maura has become part of Jane's family. I simply love it every time Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon are on screen together. Period. 
• There were a lot of great one-liners in this episode, and I found myself laughing quite a bit.
• Dennis was a nice guy. If he shows back up I wouldn't complain. I like that he was into art like Maura. She hasn't really had anyone to share that with. 
• I love Rondo in this episode. I love that they're touching on his back story. It will be nice to see that unfold.
• I like Casey. I like that he and Jane have a history and also that the storyline is progressing slowly. You know what else I like? That Angela calls him Charles. I don't know why but I do.
• I really loved that Maura was waiting for Jane at the end. I did a screen shot titled "She Waits" for that. (It's a song by Zero 1 that went through my head at the time.)
  

Episode 304:

• Again, Jane & Maura together in a scene is always great. Some cute interactions in this episode. I like how Maura kept trying to get Jane to do something active.
• Love the dog! For those that may not know she's actually Lorraine Bracco's dog and really does do those tricks.
• I like that it was Maura that brought the dog back. Nice scene between her and Casey. Naturally the first thing she wants to do is to help him, and then she tells him to talk to Jane. She wouldn't promise not to tell. Love her.
• Maura and Angela should have at least one good scene per episode. Love them together.
• Speaking of Angela, her blogging was awesome. And Angela's Guardian's, so funny. Anyone shipping Angela and Cavanaugh? I wouldn't be surprised... It could happen. "Not one word Rizzoli." Too funny.

Crime wise Rizzoli & Isles will never be Criminal Minds (my favorite crime show.) When I want a great crime show I have that to turn to. The homeless vets were sad and I liked Rondo's involvement. The dolls were creepy, but the killer was predictable. Luckily, I don't spend the time trying to figure out who did it cause I'll find out in the last five minutes anyway. I enjoy the interactions, not only between Jane and Maura, but also Frost, Frankie and Korsak. I think Angie's comment about how they could have a Frost and Frankie sitcom was dead on. They've been funny together.

I do want to know what the hell Jane does besides piece together information that everyone else gathers for her. lol Has anyone else noticed that? Even Korsak seems to be taking orders from her when he's her superior! She stands there and says "look for..." "do we have..." and everyone gives her the answers. I want that job!

All and all two okay episodes. I'm really looking forward to episode 305. Maura's family is probably my favorite storyline in the series.

Sharon Lawrence talks about working with Sasha Alexander

With "Throwing Down the Gauntlet" airing tomorrow night, the interviews with Sharon Lawrence, who plays Maura's biological mother, have begun to appear.

Here are the two most recent interviews:

Were you already a fan of Rizzoli & Isles? What attracted you to playing a role on the show?

Sharon: Yes, I was very interested in the launch of it because for years I've worked with an organization called Women In Film. We are a support network for women in the executive and creative positions in the industry. So the fact that it was a show sourced from material written by a woman and then created as a television series by a woman and it stars these wonderful actresses and is about women in the workplace, I was very interested.

What can you tell us about your character?

Sharon: I play Dr. Hope Martin who is the birth mother of Maura Isles. She is someone who we find out from Maura, not only shares the DNA of our leading lady but shares a passion for science. She herself is a pathologist and works to develop techniques to identify the remains of victims of the Bosnian wars. So she has dedicated her after the loss of a child to connecting those who have passed with their families and their stories. I think it may be a window into the psychology of loss. Especially women, are so committed to connecting, that even in the midst of their own sense of loss they may find healing in helping other people. Particularly to fill the gaps of the mystery of a story. 

So, does Hope know that Maura is her daughter?

Sharon: This whole relationship is still a mystery to Dr. Hope Martin. She is not aware that the woman just inches away from her across the lab table is indeed the daughter that she thought died at birth.

Are you in one episode or is it a longer story arc?

Sharon: It's a longer story. There are three (episodes) at this point.

Can you share any behind the scenes tidbits from the set?

Sharon: Sasha Alexander is such a great actress and such a lovely person. She has a great sense of balance in her life. I felt really compelled to find the resemblance (between the characters). I mean, we look alike which was helpful and kind of stunning how much we did favor each other but the physical behaviors is what I found really interesting. To observe her as an actor and try to incorporate that into some of my own characterizations. It was also really fun to watch Angie Harmon and Lorraine Bracco together. They're a scream. They should just take it on the road. They are really entertaining.

Source tv spoilers 

PCM also did a great interview with Sharon Lawrence where she talks more about working with Sasha Alexander and Bruce McGill.

Rizzoli and Isles Episode 305 SPOILERS - TV Guide

More photos from this episode here >>
  





TvGuide.com:

How does Maura track down her birth mom on Rizzoli & Isles? — Jessica
ADAM: With a case, of course! Maura reaches out to her mom, Dr. Hope Martin (guest star Sharon Lawrence), who just so happens to work in the same field. But don't think she tells Hope up front that she's her long-believed-to-be-dead daughter. "It's drawn-out," Lawrence, who will appear in three episodes, tells us. "Hope has a daughter from her marriage. There's a lot to play. Maura's too smart to throw in a bit of information that could blow up in everybody's face, so it'll take a bit."

Review: Rizzoli & Isles "Dirty Little Secret" episode 302

This was an episode that I had high expectations for. I knew Jane and Maura were going to make up some how in episode two and I also knew there was going to be a car accident and Maura was going to be injured. So, from that little bit of information I was expecting a very intense, emotional, heartfelt episode. I got that in the last twenty minutes. Because of that, this review is starting at the end.

The last twenty-thirty minutes were wonderful. I have no problem admitting that I've watched from the gals leaving Boston through the end about a half a dozen times. Part of it I know is because that's what I was expecting the episode to be, but also because it was good.

I loved how the accident was done. Completely out of nowhere, just how car crashes happen. When it turned serious at the lake I loved Maura's "Please. Trust me." Jane does, without question. It was good to see that their trust in one another was as strong as ever.

I felt bad for Jane. It's one thing to be used to watching autopsies and quite another to have to cut into your best friend's leg. I liked how Maura remained very steady during that scene. The pain must have been excruciating yet she had to make sure Jane would do it. It's been commented on that if you watch the "I'm not okay" part without sound... well just go watch, you'll see. ;) Seriously though, very well cut together and performed I thought. If I had a wish list it would be that the scene when Maura is lying in Jane's lap delirious from the pain was longer. Now I'll admit that probably has to do with the Xena & Gabrielle flashback I had to a beautiful scene in the sixth season episode The Abyss. (pictured) Injured Gabrielle, delirious, head on Xena's lap... Sound familiar? I think what I missed from Jane and Maura was more from Jane. Her chance to talk to Maura, maybe even apologize, something more then simply the "wake up," and the smile at Maura's delirium. Again, Xena could have influenced my opinions a little but not entirely.

Jumping to them restrained in the car. I liked that entire scene. I thought Sasha played out-of-it Maura very well. Jane was actually going to fake a conversation with her mother for Maura. Very sweet, especially under the circumstances. Then, she took the time to tell Maura "good job" on the Morse code. When your thrust into a situation like that, the petty fighting and anger disappears. Underneath, the foundation of their friendship is obviously very strong.

[Possible SPOILER for future episodes. Skip the next paragraph to not be spoiled]



I've heard the bickering will continue in the next episode. If that's true I find it interesting since their apology and especially the "I missed you" at the end of this episode was so heart felt. I've always said that an "I'm sorry" helps start the process of forgiving but doesn't necessarily instantly make everything okay, so maybe that's what's happening in future episodes.


[SPOILER FREE BELOW ]

The ending was fantastic. Who didn't get choked up when Jane told her mom that she had a doctor too? Both Jane and Maura did and you could tell that by "I missed you" they were both ready to break down. Emotional, heartfelt, very well acted. We all needed that hug. :)

The crime wasn't anything special. I thought the resolution was a bit weak mainly because the focus was on Jane and Maura, and honestly what reason could the bad guy have for putting them back in the car to drown. To make it look like an accident? They were restrained! Kill them right away, bury them, get rid of the car. There's also the fact of bad guys leaving victims alone to get out of the restraints instead of watching and making sure they die. However, I'm not complaining. I don't watch for the crime. It was all a way to get Jane and Maura in that car accident and to put them into even more jeopardy to strip away the hurt and anger. I get that and I'm completely okay with it.

It was nice seeing Frankie continuing to work towards detective. I don't know how it really works. I honestly thought when he passed his detective exam he was a detective. Maybe someone in the know would be willing to comment below and let me know. :)

Love Mama Rizzoli. Only a few scenes but so memorable. I simply love her. Making sandwiches for her girls and using that great mom guilt was so funny. Then the phone call in the car and Maura's re-wording of the book title. Priceless.

The bickering was funny. Maura's commanding "you stay" to Korsak and then chastising Frankie was total transference of anger. The TP was hysterical. Loved Maura's smirk after Jane walked out. Jane and Korsak a couple? Too funny. Basically the first 30-40 minutes were a completely different feel. Obviously done to give even more impact to the second half. I think there were missing scenes from what was in several of the promos. What happened to "How were we ever friends?" Unless Jane wasn't talking to Maura. Hmmm... could be.

After watching this episode a number of times (in it's entirety not just the last 20 minutes) I can honestly say I like it. It wasn't perfect but I can forgive the not-so-good things since we have Jane and Maura's bickering, angst, emotional making up, and more rizzles.

Review: Rizzoli & Isles "What Doesn't Kill You" episode 301

It's been a while so let me start with reminding everyone that I don't recap the episodes, I simply talk about them. I assume if you're reading this you've already seen it. Most likely more than once. :)

I loved this episode! It was everything a season premiere should be. Picking up where season two left off was definitely the way to go. Lots of fans thought that's how the beginning of season two should have gone after Jane was shot at the end of season one. That didn't happen but "What Doesn't Kill You" had too in order for the rift between Jane and Maura to make sense.

What I really loved about how the arguments between Jane and Maura were written in this episode was that we see that they're both sorry. From Jane's emotional "I shot my best friend's father," to Maura's "The way I reacted, I just bit Jane's head off" show how sorry they truly are, yet when together they get defensive. I really loved Maura's apology when Jane rushed up to her in the hospital. Alas like in real life, hindsight is 20/20. Had Jane simply said, "I'm sorry too," before rushing into the internal affairs investigation it would have nipped the rift in the bud and been over. Three simple words and Jane could have saved everyone a lot of heartache, but where's the drama in that? ;)

Another lost opportunity to make-up was when Jane stood in Maura's office doorway and said "You're back." Twice. This time it's Maura who ignores the chance to mend fences and as we saw lands the gals in a "cat fight." Notice though when Cavanaugh sends Jane to inventory Maura's reaction is also a loud "what?" That leads me to the fact that Jane took the time to get the truth from Constance about Maura's adoption and took Maura to see her grave. They may be fighting but they still love each other.

Speaking of the grave, I have a side-note, does anyone else find that when Maura's crying they start crying? She kills me every time. 

The relationships between parents and children have become one of my favorite parts of the series. They're all complex, brilliantly acted, and have heart and depth to them. The first scene with Maura and Constance was touching. Maura's "Would you have taken me if you'd known I was Paddy Doyle's daughter?" broke my heart. In one sentence we see the insecure adopted little girl. Constance response was spot on. Maura is her daughter.

Angela... I mean who doesn't love Mama Rizzoli! I love that Maura truly has become a part of the Rizzoli family. For Angela to say Maura was her daughter too just confirmed what we already knew. Touching, heartbreaking scene. My personal opinion was Angela should have stayed at Maura's. My Italian mother would have given me a piece of her mind for even daring to tell her to leave her home. Then would have gone on and on about how we shouldn't be fighting, blah, blah, blah... But that was my mom. ;)

I loved the flashbacks. A friend told me she felt the "putting on the wire" one, although funny and enjoyable on it's own, didn't seem to fit the reality of the situation when looking back at the season two finale. I disagree in that we all have times when we're in emotional, tense, stressful situations and it gets lightened with humor, adrenaline, and even some excitement. It's Maura who's very light-hearted in that scene, and it's Maura who's been put through the ringer emotionally before the undercover operation. Although her mother was still in the hospital, at that point Constance had woken up and Maura knew she'd be okay. Also it was going undercover, helping solve the case, there's excitement, nerves and adrenaline that get all mixed together when put in that situation. I noticed Jane stayed fairly serious throughout and I think that was very well played by Angie. That's what kept the scene in reality. I believed Jane understood Maura's behavior having been in that position so many times in her career, and was probably reminded of her own first time.

I'm one of those viewers who watches this show for the relationships not the crimes. The crimes move the story forward, but there are other crime shows that I watch for the crime of the week and how they solve it, along with character relationships (CSI, Criminal Minds) but personally on Rizzoli & Isles I'd be fine if the crimes were the B storyline. There are, however times where I really enjoy the crime solving and this was one of them. I got the feeling early on that it was connected to Paddy and the shooting, so it wasn't just a "crime of the week" it was integral to the personal stories.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this season. If the episodes are like this one it's gonna be a great season!

On a technical note, I have to say that the look and feel of this episode was fantastic. I've since heard that there was a new director. I noticed the difference. Great camera work, angles, pulling focus, lots of movement... Kudos to the Director and DP. It looked really good.

This weeks episode, "Dirty Little Secret," should be intense if the spoilers are any indication.


For over 130 screen caps of this episode check out the Picture Gallery. They're broken up into four parts.

rizzles.xenite.net
sasha.xenite.net

Angie Harmon TV Guide interview - Tension between Rizzoli and Isles

Angie Harmon was interviewed for TV Guide and talked about the tension between Jane and Maura in season three. She's happy, like a lot of people, that the tension between the friends doesn't just miraculously go away. Both Harmon and co-star Sasha Alexander have expressed their support for the friendship to grow back organically.

"If you have a fight with someone you love and care about, [you] don't just reconcile immediately," Angie Harmon tells TVGuide.com. "Things don't just fall back into place. Words are spoken, feelings are hurt and things happen. Fathers that are the head of the Irish mob get shot! That happens all the time! I like the fact that they didn't just make up immediately."

"It's very snarky and bitchy and childish and very funny," Harmon says. "How could you not be? ... There's still a lot of tension in there. I think the initial incident has calmed down, but now there's just that sort of leftover crap that they have to get through."

"I think one of the things that's so admirable about Jane is that she's loyal," Harmon says. "She's on the good side of the line. She's not a mean girl, she's not a backstabber. She's always gonna say what's on her mind right then and there. Even if Maura's going through a hard time in understanding everything, Jane's still gonna help her, even if it's on the sidelines of what Maura wants. What Maura wants is what Jane wants to get for her. I love that about her. I'd like to think that I would do the same thing for my friends, and they would for me."

Read more >>

Sasha Alexander She Mag interview - Season 3 Rizzoli & Isles

Sasha was interviewed by She Magazine for the June issue.

Click to read

Maura Could Consider a Lesbian Tryst - Sasha Alexander - Advocate.com

Great interview with Sasha on Advocate.com.

Excerpts:

The Advocate: All the girls in the office here love Rizzoli & Isles. Let's talk about your character, Maura.
Sasha Alexander: Thank you. Absolutely.

I love that she’s oddly awkward around nearly everybody except Jane [Rizzoli, the police officer played by Harmon]. What part of the character do you identify with?
[Laughs] Well, it’s funny because I so enjoy playing her, and I think as you get down the road of playing a character you start to realize what are the parts that excite you. And for her, it’s, What is she thinking about? She’s got so much going on, and I like the fact that there’s this kind of innocence, this kind of almost naïveté or sort of enthusiasm for all subjects and all things. And I’m kind of like that. I’m really interested in all things of the world, people, and cultures. I like information. I like people who have information. I enjoy talking to people like that, and my parents are like that.

And socially?
I think that we all have a little bit of that, that part of us. I am now, in this stage in my life, a much more outgoing person than I was as a child or in my teens. You know, my parents were both immigrants in this country and they spoke another language, and I remember feeling like a little bit of an outcast, like, Don’t speak any languages in front of my friends.

There’s a belief among some critics, especially lesbian critics, that Rizzoli & Isles is a lesbian buddy cop show that just doesn’t know it yet.
[Laughs] I love it.

It’s really not afraid of the lesbian label, that both these fictional characters and the real-life people behind them just don’t fear the interest or speculation about their relationship.
No. I mean, you know, it’s such a strange thing because people are always going to get from any film or TV or book or anything they want, what they want to see. And that is all of our right to do so. I mean, it’s completely subjective and that is, that is art. So that’s one part of it, but I feel like we have a unique situation on our show, which is that the books were written by a woman. The show was created and is executive-produced by a woman, and it’s starring these two women who are very different people, they’re very different characters, and so we have a lot more estrogen on our show than most shows. [Laughs] And I think that it’s a great thing because we have a woman spearheading it and she is writing these characters in a way that is just much deeper. They are, they’re deeper. Their relationship; it could be sexual one day, I mean, they’re not gay in the books. But who knows?

Well, how effortless is the chemistry between you and Angie Harmon?
It’s pretty effortless, I must say. It’s kind of one of those things that clicked from the moment we read together. And it was, it was kind of great, you know? We read together, and then when I — she was cast first — when I left the room they said, “Hang out for a second.” And within a second she came in. She said, “You know what? They want us to do it again. Could you come back in?” I thought, Really? I thought that was pretty good. And we came back in and they stood up and clapped and said congratulations, you guys are it. Like, this was it. So they, even the people in the room, understood it immediately. And I think it, you know, Angie and I are very different people. We’re raised different. In real life we’re very different, but the chemistry just works.

There is some boob-grabbing?
There is boob-grabbing. Yes.

I need to know about that immediately.
I’m going to admit to the boob-grabbing. [Laughs] Um. Yes, there’s a lot of female love. It makes the men very uncomfortable. It’s like a female locker room.

There seem to be subtle winks to the show’s lesbian fans, like Jane goes undercover at a lesbian bar, the episode where you’re in bed and Jane asks Maura, “Are we having a sleepover, or is this your way of telling me you’re attracted to me?” All those little insidery winks that lesbian fans always pick up on.
Well, I think that if Jane were open to it, I think Maura would absolutely experiment because she’s just a little bit more open-minded in that way. But Jane would never. She’s so straight.

Read the full interview

Angie and Sasha on each other & Season 3 of Rizzoli & Isles

Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander did interviews for Digital Media this week. Both spoke about each other and their chemistry. Here are a couple of excerpts with links to the full articles.

Angie talked about Sasha's audition and their friendship:

On working with Sasha Alexander and the chemistry between them, Harmon reveals that a few actors auditioned for the part of Maura Isles, but Alexander “kind of hit it out on the part.” Not only did she get the fact that Dr. Isles was this quirky and socially awkward scientist, but she also got the fact that Maura had friends.

Plus working together with Alexander for the past three seasons strengthened their friendship. “There was an instantaneous recognition and a friendship that’s grown and matured over the years,” pointed out Harmon.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/325472#ixzz1vyj54JOi

Sasha spoke about the chemistry between her and Angie in her interview:

Was the perfect chemistry with Angie instant when you guys began working together? Did it take a bit of time for you all to gel? I mean, it looks flawless.

"You know what it was instant. It really was. We you know we never met before and we went in to do this read together and the moment that we read it you know we're very – we have very different energies in real life and I think that that translates. But the thing that we do have in common is you know I think it would be respect for each other and we both have the same sense of humor. So we definitely can make each other laugh a lot. And I think that those things you know they show on screen and look Angie is you know Angie is a beautiful and stunning woman. You know it's not easy to you know to find a right person to go with her. So I think that we both have really good qualities that kind of complement each other. You know we both look very different and we have different energies but yet I think that it really works. You know we're lucky. We actually, truly, when we do scenes together, I do feel like a certain click and a certain magic that I you know you can't say always happens."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/325383#ixzz1vyiUoTho

Sasha Alexander brings out her inner lesbian on AfterEllen

Dorothy Snarker interviewed Sasha Alexander for After Ellen and Sasha spoke about the show's subtext and her own inner lesbian. It's a fantastic interview. Sasha was open, funny and insightful. There's also some spoilers for season three.

Since the first moments Sasha Alexander’s Dr. Maura Isles and Angie Harmon’s Det. Jane Rizzoli stepped on screen together, the show’s lesbian viewers have noticed something special. It wasn’t just the pair’s striking good looks together, but their genuine chemistry and frequent closeness that made our subtext-loving hearts sing. Rizzoli & Isles has amassed a large lesbian and bisexual female fanbase through its first two seasons. Now, with the show poised to premiere its third season on TNT in three weeks, we’re all anxious to see if our favorite not-gay gay cop show continues to serve up healthy helpings of LLBFF canoodling, Totally Gratuitous, Totally Gay Touching and – of course – eye sex.

Photo from TNT

 Still, when last we saw these two lovely ladies of law enforcement, things were beyond tense. During a stand-off between Maura’s biological father/gangster Paddy Doyle and the police, Paddy shoots FBI Agent Dean (who happens to be Jane’s flower-bringing possible boyfriend) and then Jane shoots Paddy. Or, in other words, it’s complicated. The cast and crew has been back filming in Los Angeles (done up to look like Boston, naturally) since March and are currently shooting the sixth episode of the 15-installment season. From the set in between takes last week, Alexander spoke with AfterEllen.com about our favorite ambiguously gayzzoli duo.

Check out the complete interview here.

Janet Tamaro talks about actor input

Question from H'eather Rizziggleose:
Are the cast members given any input on the scripts? Do they ever ask for different dialogue or disagree with something that's been written?


 Janet's response:
I think of the actors as my partners. We've been doing this together for nearly three years. Because so much time and effort goes into each script (weeks and weeks), by the time they get the script, it's pretty close to what you see on screen. They're very respectful of my/my writers' process – as I am of theirs. If there is dialogue or action that is "bumping" them (Hollywood talk for, "This doesn't make sense"), we will have a conversation and sort it out.

Source: Creator's Corner

Sasha Alexander Interview - TV Choice - minor Spoilers

My comments are in yellow.

From TV Choice:

Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon have brought writer Tess Gerritsen’s smart medical examiner Maura Isles and tough Boston detective Jane Rizzoli to life on the small screen. Now the second series of Rizzoli & Isles heads towards a dramatic climax that threatens the pair’s close friendship…

TVChoice speaks to Sasha Alexander, whose credits include NCIS and Dawson’s Creek, about the show, dead bodies, Sophia Loren and being dubbed in foreign languages…
The first season of Rizzoli & Isles ended in a hail of bullets. Is there another cliff hanger ending to this series?
There is.
What was the reaction to that in America?
People were really shocked because it was intense. But I think that they were mostly worried about, and most interested in seeing during season three, how this will affect Maura and Jane moving forward.
Jacqueline Bissett returns to play your mum Constance Isles in the final episode. What’s it like working with her?
Oh she is so amazing. She is so beautiful and hasn’t had a load of plastic surgery done to her face. I looked at her and said, ‘God you haven’t done anything to yourself.’ She’s just beautiful, smart and really funny. We’ve had a really good time. She hasn’t done a lot of television so it’s been fun to have her around. I like the storyline we’ve had to do, the mother-daughter relationship, which is unique to see on this type of show.

I love that Jacqueline Bissett is allowing herself to actually AGE! She looks beautiful with lines and wrinkles. She actually looks *gasp* real! ;)

The third season of Rizzoli & Isles starts during June in America. Have you any inkling about what’s going to happen?
We have some inkling but not too much.
So they like to keep you in suspense as well?
Yeah. But I will tell you that from Maura’s perspective, I feel like the situation she’s in at the end of season two really changes her. I think it deepens the relationship with Jane. I think that there is definitely going to be love interest involved this year. The crimes are continuing to be very strong and it’s overall really growing in direction. I’m feeling that there is a lot of synergy between all the characters, there’s a lot happening personally and in work.
Although Rizzoli & Isles isn’t as graphic as CSI, did you go to any real autopsies as research for playing Maura?
I did. When I worked on NCIS I went to some autopsies for that. Also, working with David McCallum who plays Ducky, I was able to sit in on a lot of stuff and watch him. So I knew what the job entailed. It was a question of how do I make that my own, and how do I make this feminine, fashionable, educated woman believable as this scientific brainiac?
We do have a real-life detective on the show as our technical adviser, Detective Russell Grant, and he will be there and help me through the scenes in terms of understanding what tools I would use, how I would hold them, what I would do.
I’m actually planning on going back in a month or so to visit a new facility that they have in Los Angeles.

I think it's awesome that she's going back for more research.

Are there any anecdotes from filming you’d like to share?
In the autopsy rooms we have actors playing dead, but it’s not easy, it’s really hard because you can’t move anything. We were laughing not long ago because they had cast one of the dead bodies and he only had nine toes, and the costume person put a pair of flip flops on him. We were like, ‘Why are there flip flops?’
We laugh a lot and there are so many things to get very grossed out about. We’re like two girls in a locker room.
Do you laugh much on set or try to make each other laugh?
Oh yeah. It’s my ultimate goal to make Angie Harmon laugh almost in every scene. Absolutely. If I can’t make her laugh we’re not having a good day, and I think vice versa. We’re like kids sometimes and laugh about really immature things, and it makes the other adults feel rather uncomfortable because we’re being completely, ridiculously silly.
We laugh about all sorts of stuff. I once had to take photographs of a man’s chest. I had to draw on the chest and take pictures, and I realised I had just been taking pictures of the man’s nipples. I would show Angie the photos in the middle of the scene and it would be a close up of this man’s nipples, and we would start laughing. It can be very crass and very silly.
If we were an English show then we could really push the envelope much more with a lot of the comedy and a lot of the grossness because I feel like in the States they have to keep it safe. But in the UK we could really be much more crass and people would just think it’s completely normal and funny. You guys have an amazing sense of humour.
Rizzoli & Isles has been tremendously popular. Is it nice to have a hit show where the two lead characters are female, which is a rarity in television?
Absolutely. There hasn’t really been a show that has had that besides Cagney & Lacey. I think that’s what people have responded to. It’s a male-dominated world this crime genre and to see two very strong female characters, who are very different and represent two very different types of women, in a very positive way, is fantastic. I’m very proud of the fact that it represents women in a very positive light.
A lot of shows are very samey, so it’s nice to have something a bit different…
Yeah I totally agree. That’s what I responded to initially. I liked the characters and that it wasn’t pretentious. It had a murder-mystery feeling about it that I really liked, and then add to that the characters. We know about their lives, we know about them, and then you have somebody to really connect to.
Maura and Jane are from Tess Gerritsen’s books. It was interesting to see how they were going to be adapted for the small screen, and it’s worked really well…
Thank you. I think that they have done a great job. You can never adapt something exactly from a book whether it’s television, movies, or whatever, and be dead on, but you can certainly have your interpretation. Hopefully it is within the tone and the same perspective as the books. It’s always difficult — a book is a book and we’re making 15 episodes a year and Tess has written, what, nine books? So they are going to have to expand on it. But I think we should make a movie and we can take one of Tess’ fabulous books and bring it to the big screen.

Sasha's willing to do an R&I movie! Let's get that info to the people who can make it happen. ;) It wouldn't be able to actually be like one of Tess' novels because the characters are different, but I never got a Xena movie so... ;)

You’re a mum of two (Lucia, five, and Leonardo, 16 months). How difficult is it juggling work, learning scripts, and a new baby?
You do get half a year to yourself, so that helps, but when we are shooting it is challenging for Angie and myself. Angie has three children and they live on the other side of the country in North Carolina, and we shoot in Los Angeles. I live in LA so I’m lucky because my family is here, but it is tough. We work on average 12 to 15 hour days.
We had a favourite moment when Angie and I were shooting a scene where we had to be very dirty in a beaten up car, water was coming in, and we were in a dangerous situation. It was a very unglamorous moment and Angie looked at me and said, ‘Mommy I want to be an actress!’ People don’t realise how unglamorous it can be, and it is a lot of work. It makes the weekends family time. My friends have to understand I don’t really have any time for myself or to go out that much. It’s work and it’s family while I’m shooting.

That scene was leaked not long ago. If you like spoilers and want to read it go here.

You produce as well as act. When you’re away from Rizzoli & Isles do you plunge yourself into other projects or are you taking a little step back because of the baby?
The producing stuff — I have a couple of film projects I have been working on. One that I’m writing. One that I’m doing with my husband, Edoardo Ponti. When I’m not shooting the show I’m working on those.
This past year I didn’t want to do a movie or anything because I had just had the baby and went right back to work about six weeks later, so I really needed a break and I just wanted to be with my baby and family and recover. Six months is a lot of work and when you’re done you just don’t want to do anything. It depends also on the project. If something comes along that’s really exciting and I feel like I can’t not do, I’ll speak to my husband and figure out what makes sense for us because he’s a director. We try to always have one of us at home.

She's writing! Very cool. Hope that project comes to fruition for her. I would love to see her in another movie. Preferably a dark, serious drama or thriller.Sasha tweeted she would love to go darker, so here's hoping.

Talking of your husband Edoardo, isn't Sophia Loren your mother-in-law? Are you always asking her anecdotes about Hollywood?
Ha Ha! Not so much any more, but there are always great stories. How can you not asking about everyone and everything? She was in a very different time and she is fascinated by how quickly we work now. When she did movies she would have months to prepare. It was different. But she has the utmost respect for me and my work and I'm very lucky — she's amazing. I complain to her and she'll laugh and help me out.
You came to England to study with the RSC and Cecily Barry when you were younger. What do you remember about your time in London?
I was in high school so I didn’t venture off a whole lot but I remember it being really cold. I didn’t have one in LA but I remember needing a coat and a scarf. But it was beautiful.
I love London. It’s my husband Edoardo’s favourite city and we love it. We talk about the possibility of moving there some time in the future, so we’re big fans of the UK. I love everything about London — I love the people, the energy, the fashion, the restaurants, the buildings. I always say to people when they go to Europe you have to go there.
Is it true you are learning French at the moment so that you can apply for French citizenship?
Yes. My husband is a French citizen, he was born and raised in Geneva and Paris, and so are my children. After a certain amount of years I could become one as well, and I feel if I’m going to be, then I should certainly speak the language. I’m not sure if they will give me one if I don’t!
You already speak Italian, Croatian, Serbian and English, so when they come to release the Rizzoli & Isles DVDs in those countries you don’t need to get someone to dub your voice, you can do it yourself!
I wish I could because they always choose somebody whose voice is much higher than mine. All my friends in Europe that watch the French one say that the voice really doesn’t have my tone and I heard that Angie’s as well in German is so high, and she’s got a very deep voice, so it’s kind of funny when you don’t get to do it yourself.
I do know the woman in Italy though. I actually chose her, I said, ‘She’s going to do me.’ It’s a very difficult experience. The voice has so much to do with a person’s character. What you hear can entirely change your perspective on the show so it’s interesting to me when somebody is chosen that hasn’t at all got the right tone.