The Closer

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This article is about the crime show with Kyra Sedgwick. For the sit-com with Tom Selleck, see The Closer (1998 TV series).
The Closer
Format Crime Drama
Created by James Duff
Michael M. Robin
Greer Shephard
Starring Kyra Sedgwick
J.K. Simmons
G.W. Bailey
Michael Paul Chan
Raymond Cruz
Tony Denison
Corey Reynolds
Robert Gossett
Gina Ravera
and Jon Tenney
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 43 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time approx. 1 hour
Broadcast
Original channel TNT
Original run June 13, 2005 – present
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Closer is an American television police drama series. The show, which focuses upon the character of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick), is shown on TNT (Turner Network Television). Since its inception, the show has chronicled the cases of Johnson, who comes from Atlanta to Los Angeles to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases (Priority Homicide Division). Johnson's quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rub her colleagues the wrong way, but her reputation as one of the world's best interrogators eventually wins over even her toughest critics.

The Closer was created by James Duff and the Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. The 15-episode fourth season,[1] will premiere July 7, 2008[2]

Contents

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of The Closer characters

The main cast is led by Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, and consists largely of an ensemble of detectives who make up the Priority Homicide Division. Other main characters include Johnson's boss, Assistant Chief Will Pope (J.K. Simmons), her sometime adversary, Robbery-Homicide Commander Russell Taylor (Robert Gossett) and her FBI Agent fiancé Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney).

Main cast, in credits order is as follows, as of the end of Season 3.[3]

Actor Character Rank Unit
Kyra Sedgwick Brenda Leigh Johnson Deputy Chief Priority Homicide Division
J.K. Simmons Will Pope Assistant Chief Priority Homicide Division
Corey Reynolds David Gabriel Detective Sergeant Priority Homicide Division
Robert Gossett Russell Taylor Commander Robbery-Homicide Division
G.W. Bailey Provenza Detective Lieutenant Priority Homicide Division
Tony Denison Andy Flynn Detective Lieutenant Priority Homicide Division
Michael Paul Chan Michael Tao Detective Lieutenant Priority Homicide Division
Raymond Cruz Julio Sanchez Detective Priority Homicide Division
Gina Ravera Irene Daniels Detective Priority Homicide Division
Jon Tenney Fritz Howard Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of The Closer episodes

Each episode of "The Closer" deals with an aspect of the Los Angeles culture as it interfaces with law enforcement in the mega-city. The show deals with complex and subtle issues of public policy ethics, personal integrity, and profound questions of good and evil. The rather large character ensemble is sophisticated in its own exploration of the human condition, touching on individual faiths, traditional religious influences in the lives and communities of contemporary society, and the breakdown and dysfunction of family systems, work teaming, and government responsibility.[citation needed]

[edit] Episode Notes

  • In the episode Saving Face (3.3) actor Robert Picardo plays the role of a funeral home director. In a comedic moment, he explains to Brenda that his position title is "The Closer", since he is the person to close the casket.

[edit] Production Crew

Created by

Writers:

  • James Duff
  • Mike Berchem
  • Hunt Baldwin
  • John Coveny
  • Adam Belanoff
  • Steven Kane
  • Michael Alaimo
  • Duppy Demetrius
  • Ken Martin
  • Wendy West
  • Rick Kellard
  • Roger Wolfson

Directors:

Executive Producers:

Other Producers:

[edit] Awards and nominations

Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • 2006 nomination for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2006 nomination for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series (Regular Cast)
  • 2007 nomination for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2008 nomination for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series (Regular Cast)
  • 2008 nomination for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)

Golden Globe Awards

  • 2006 nomination for best performance by an actress in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2007 award for best performance by an actress in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2008 nomination for best performance by an actress in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)

Primetime Emmy Awards

  • 2006 nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2007 nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)

Satellite Awards

  • 2005 award for best actress - TV series drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2006 award for best actress - TV series drama (Kyra Sedgwick)

Gracie Allen Awards

  • 2006 award for outstanding female lead in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)

Imagen Foundation Awards

[edit] U.S. television ratings

Viewer numbers (based on average total viewers per episode) of The Closer on TNT.

Season Season Premiere Season Finale
Date Viewers
Total
(in millions)		 Viewers
Households
(in millions)		 Date Viewers
Total
(in millions)		 Viewers
Households
(in millions)
1 June 13, 2005 7.03[4] 5.26[4] September 5, 2005 6.39[5] 4.61[5]
2 June 12, 2006 8.28[6] 6.04[6] September 4, 2006 7.60[7] 5.45[7]
3 June 18, 2007 8.81[8] 6.38[8] September 10, 2007 9.21[9] 6.84 [9]
4 July 7, 2008 ' ' September 29, 2008 ' '

As of the end of Season Three, The Closer is ad-supported cable's most-viewed scripted series of all time, ending the season with a Live + Same Day audience of 9.21 million viewers in 6.84 million households. The third season premiere holds the record for the largest Live + 7 Day audience for a single episode of an ad-supported cable series with 9.55 million viewers in 6.88 million households. Live + 7 Day (DVR) data for the season reflects 30 - 40% audience growth in three key age-based demographic groups. [10]

[edit] DVD releases

To date, Warner Home Video has released the first two seasons of The Closer for DVD. On March 25, 2008, Warner Home Video announced a Third Season DVD release for The Closer. The Closer: The Complete Third Season is scheduled for release July 1, 2008.[1] [2]

Season Episodes Original Airdate DVD Release Date
1 13 Summer, 2005 May 23, 2006
2 15 Summer/December, 2006 May 29, 2007
3 15 Summer/December, 2007 July 1, 2008
4 15 Summer/December, 2008 TBA, 2009

[edit] References

[11] [12]

  1. ^ TNT'S CHART-TOPPING, RECORD-BREAKING ORIGINAL SERIES THE CLOSER SLATED TO RETURN FOR FOURTH DRAMATIC SEASON
  2. ^ Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com
  3. ^ Next of Kin, Part I and II
  4. ^ a b "TNT Original Dramatic Series THE CLOSER Lands Record as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Original Scripted Series Telecast Ever", June 14, 2005. 
  5. ^ a b "TNT'S THE CLOSER Ends Season As Ad-Supported Cable's Top Original Series of 2005", September 7, 2005. 
  6. ^ a b "TNT'S Hit Original Series THE CLOSER Smashes Record Aa Ad-Supported Cable's Top Scripted Series Telecast Of All Time", June 13, 2006. 
  7. ^ a b "TNT’s THE CLOSER Ends Season with a Bang As 7.6 Million Viewers Watch Record-Breaking Finale", September 6, 2006. 
  8. ^ a b "TNT'S Season 3 Premiere Of THE CLOSER Is Best Of All Time", June 19, 2007. 
  9. ^ a b "With 9.2 Million Viewers and 6.8 Million Households Tuning in Last Night, TNT'S THE CLOSER Breaks LIVE + SAME DAY Record For Ad-Supported Cable's #1 Series Telecast Ever", September 11, 2007. 
  10. ^ TNT Pressroom
  11. ^ http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Closer-Complete-3rd-Season.shtml
  12. ^ http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Closer-Complete-3rd-Season-Artwork.shtml

[edit] External links

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