If making it in Hollywood means having a show written with you in mind, actress Rashida Jones has arrived.
That's exactly what happened to the 39-year-old two years ago when a curious email from her former "The Office" co-star Steve Corell and his wife Nancy turned up in her inbox, suggesting she'd be perfect for their latest project - "Angie Tribeca".
"It really started with the name, 'Angie Tribeca,'" Nancy Corell tells Headlines & Global News. "Steve and I came up with that and thought, 'Hey, that would be a good name for a character on a TV show.' Then we thought what kind of TV show would that be and went from there."
The result: an unlikely hybrid of the 1980 comedy blockbuster "Airplane!" meets "Law & Order: SVU," something that appealed to both parties.
Is this show is like "Brooklyn Nine Nine" turned up to 11?
No, it's really not! I mean, I love that show - I have so many buddies who write on that show and are on that show, but that to me is a show that has a lot of heart. And it's about the relationships between the people. This is a show about jokes, that's designed for you to laugh, and hopefully you do. I think the comparisons end at the police comedy-ness of it.
Do you think playing a cop will change your relationship with the LAPD or how they see you?
Umm, let's hope I'm not interacting with the LAPD at all! Maybe I'm not doing such a good job with my life! I mean, obviously, it's a tricky time for cops in this country, and there are some that are heroes and some that need to re-prioritize and be checked. The question is how is the LAPD going to interact with me after they see the show? I hope they feel like they can enjoy it and relate to it, but maybe not too much - hopefully.
Steve and Nancy Carell are the creative forces and executive producers. You've worked with them before, so what's it like having them as bosses?
Well, Steve is a better real boss than a fake boss - but that wouldn't be hard to do with Michael Scott! They're so great. I mean, obviously their comedy instincts are so on point that I just trust them. They are our fearless leaders, and also I think we have a similar taste in that the things that tickle them tickle me, just the dumber the better almost.
How difficult was it to keep a straight face around all of these hilarious comedic actors?
It's definitely hard! You know, the thing is - this show is so choreographed, there are so many things that have to happen in the right place in frame, and so many gags and things - there are like animal trainers, grabbing something out of the back of my jacket and things are rigged, and so like, we have to try to - I try to be professional, but I'm not always successful. Sometimes I'm very, very, unprofessional when it's totally not appropriate to laugh! That's OK though, that's part of the job too.
Do you have a trick to stop yourself from laughing?
Hmmmm, no. My friend is always like, "Just think of me dying!" And no, no never! He's trying to help me, but that would never work for me. Unfortunately for me it's like a church giggles thing, where the more inappropriate it is, the harder it is for me to keep a straight face.
There's also a K-9 detective. Is the dog a prima donna?
Offset, he's demanding. He asks for treats all the time. And he's got a handler, which is like; he's got an entourage (laughs). No - he's such a cutie! He's such a good dog and so well behaved! Probably more than... me! (laughs).
You know they say never work with animals or children.
It is tricky. We have a lot of animals and children on this show. But I've watched Jagger [the dog] grow as an artist - he was a puppy when we started, on the pilot, and he was so cute but puppy-ish and wanted to go play. Now he's really, he's about to get some sort of promotion.
Can you talk about some of the crimes you investigate?
They're pretty wacky, you know. They're not wacky crimes I guess, they're wacky worlds. Like we have a crime which happens in the world of ventriloquism, we have a crime that's... Well, we have one where we go undercover as chimney sweeps to rob a bank, we go undercover at a Quinceañera, so it's really like, the opportunity for comedy are the worlds themselves are kind of funny. But you know, crime is not funny, and I will stick by that story! [laughs]