Photos: Jennifer Lopez in ‘Shades of Blue’ on NBC

Jennifer Lopez, Ray Liotta, second from left, Santino Fontana and Hampton Fluker on the set in Harlem on Aug. 12, 2015.

“Shades of Blue” bypassed the traditional pilot process and was ordered directly to series by NBC in February 2014.

“I wanted to change my look completely and be like the antithesis of what people are used to seeing me as,” Jennifer Lopez says.

Jennifer Lopez, with Ray Liotta in Harlem, originally was involved only as a producer. It took some coaxing to get her to take on the role of Harlee Santos.

Jennifer Lopez, center, speaks to director Dan Lerner and costar Drea DeMatteo on the set of the new NBC show “Shades of Blue,” being filmed in Harlem on Aug. 12, 2015.

Before joining the cast, Ray Liotta, with Lopez, made sure his role was substantive.

Director Dan Lerner, center, watches as a scene of the new NBC show “Shades of Blue” is filmed in Harlem.

Director Dan Lerner on set in Harlem.

Ray Liotta, left, Jennifer Lopez and Hampton Fluker.

Ray Liotta gets makeup.

Residents of Harlem watch as the new NBC show “Shades of Blue” is filmed in their neighborhood.

Jennifer Lopez stars in the new NBC show “Shades of Blue,” playing a detective.

Drea de Matteo also plays a cop in “Shades of Blue.”

Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta wait for action cue.

Jennifer Lopez says “Shades of Blue” on NBC is “a character piece about human nature.”