‘Rizzoli & Isles’ season 7: TNT boss on decision to end drama

Kevin Reilly is starting to become accustomed to working with TNT and TBS, and there is one thing that he has done almost across the board since signing on: Worked to reinvent a good percentage of what we know the networks for. This is especially true for the former, which he has worked to make more of a destination for prestige programming rather than crime shows or shows based mostly on one quirky character, a strategy that was also at one time employed by USA.

So was it his decision entirely to end “Rizzoli & Isles” after its upcoming seventh season? Not entirely, but it seems that he was the one who got the ball rolling on it rather than the cast. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he gave some further context into ending the show now versus at some point down the road when it would have felt like it was ending with a whimper rather than a bang:

“If I came in and said, year two of Rizzoli & Isles, we’re pulling the plug on it, I would have probably gotten some [feedback]. They have not said no to me on anything and I don’t think they would have said no, but I think they would have gone like, ‘Really?! You want to do that?’ And, honestly, that would have been a stupid move. I’ve got a show that people love, that’s performed really well, why would I do that? Coming to the end of a seven-year run, it’s an easier decision. Everybody involved, from producers to talent, are like, ‘It’s been a good run. We’re going to be one of a couple cable shows that has made it to that 100-plus [episode] number. There have been very few cable shows that have made that many episodes. So let’s go out when we’re strong and not limp.'”

We admire in some ways Reilly’s bravery, since it takes a lot of guts to try and reinvent a network that was already doing a pretty good job. However, at the same time this could come back to bite him in a big way if none of the upcoming shows end up being anywhere near as popular as Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon were for some time.

If you do want to see a trailer of some of what TNT has coming up, head over to the link here now! Also, sign up here to score some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: TNT.)