Crossover November: Should ‘Major Crimes,’ ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ finally team up?

There are many things that we appreciate about “Major Crimes” and “Rizzoli & Isles” individually as shows, but there is one thing above all else that still has us raising an eyebrow: How in the world have these two shows not done some sort of crossover at any point in the past? Heck, what about “The Closer” and “Rizzoli & Isles”? It’s baffling, especially since there was a perfect opportunity for one when Jane and Maura went to Los Angeles!

While our opinion on this subject probably looks pretty clear already to those reading this particular Crossover November article, this is a subject that we are still excited to dive into a little bit further in terms of pros and cons.

Reasons for a crossover – Where do we start? Okay, how about the fact that they are both hit shows on TNT, they get good ratings, and they are each crime dramas with a little bit of humor mixed in here and there. Now, how about the fact that they both film in Los Angeles? There is little reason for the shows to not at least consider this, since the end result of it would be more or less an opportunity for each series to get more publicity, especially in an era where we don’t always see them marketed much in mainstream publications.

Also, to us it would be great to get Sharon and Jane in a scene, or see what sort of wisdom Maura could impart on some other members of the team. Could Jane be a good teacher to Rusty? We already know that it is really easy to send Jane and Maura to LA, even if it’s not exactly Jane’s favorite spot in the world. Make it happen! The great thing about is that since these shows are mostly procedural, you can do an episode with some “Rizzoli & Isles” characters in Los Angeles, and then one where maybe Sharon or Andy heads out to Boston.

Reasons to avoid it – Maybe you hate crossovers? The only other one we can think of is that it is a logistics challenge, and it may be a little expensive to go back and forth between the two shows and figure out a way to make things work. Sure, maybe it would be hard to fit the long-term stories in there that tend to make up five to ten minutes’ of each show’s run time an episode, but couldn’t you find a way to just shelve them for a week?

Tell us: Do you think these two shows crossing over is a great idea? Share now in the comments / the poll below, and head over here to get some further TV scoop on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: TNT.)