The Closer

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The Closer
The Closer.jpg
Format Crime Drama
Created by James Duff
Michael M. Robin
Greer Shephard
Starring Kyra Sedgwick
J. K. Simmons
Corey Reynolds
Robert Gossett
G. W. Bailey
Tony Denison
Michael Paul Chan
Raymond Cruz
Phillip P. Keene
Mary McDonnell
Jon Tenney
Gina Ravera
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 103 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 42-60 minutes
Production company(s) Warner Bros. Television
Broadcast
Original channel TNT
Original run June 13, 2005 (2005-06-13) – present
Chronology
Followed by Major Crimes
External links
Website

The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods.[1] Deputy Chief Johnson arrived in Los Angeles to lead the Priority Murder Squad, later renamed Priority Homicide Division and currently called Major Crimes Division,[note 1] a team that originally (seasons 1–4) dealt with high profile murder cases.

The Closer was created by James Duff and the Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. On Monday July 11, 2011 the series began its seventh season, scheduled to be its last, despite finishing its sixth season as cable's highest rated drama.[3]

On December 10, 2010, TNT announced that the upcoming seventh season of The Closer, which began production in the spring of 2011, will be the show's last. The channel said that the decision to retire the show was made by Kyra Sedgwick.[4][5]

On January 30, 2011, the media announced that the final season would add six episodes to the usual fifteen episode order, the final six being the build toward a possible spin-off series.[6] On May 18, 2011, TNT announced that the spin-off, entitled Major Crimes and starring Mary McDonnell as Captain Sharon Raydor, had been picked up for a 10-episode season.[7]

Contents

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of The Closer characters

The cast consists largely of an ensemble of detectives who make up the LAPD's fictional Major Crimes Division. It is led by Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. Some observers have noted strong similarities between Johnson and Jane Tennison, the lead character in the British crime drama, Prime Suspect, played by Helen Mirren, with an article in USA Today calling The Closer "an unofficial Americanization" of the British series.[8] In interviews, Sedgwick has acknowledged that the show owes "a debt" to the British crime drama, and that her admiration for that show, and for Mirren, were factors that first interested her in the role.[9]

Other main characters include Johnson's superior officer, Assistant Chief Will Pope (J.K. Simmons), Robbery-Homicide Commander Russell Taylor (Robert Gossett) and her FBI agent husband Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney). The remainder of the cast makes up Brenda's squad each with expertise in a specific area such as crime scene investigation or gang activity. The first departure from the cast occurred in Season Five when actress Gina Ravera (Irene Daniels) left and her character was transferred to another division in the LAPD.

Actor Character Rank Unit Seasons
Kyra Sedgwick Brenda Leigh Johnson Deputy Chief Major Crimes Division[note 1] 1–present
J. K. Simmons Will Pope Assistant Chief for Operations; Interim Chief of Police (Season 7) Los Angeles Police Department 1–present
Corey Reynolds David Gabriel Detective Sergeant Major Crimes Division 1–present
Robert Gossett Russell Taylor Commander Robbery-Homicide Division 1–present
G. W. Bailey Louie Provenza Detective Lieutenant Major Crimes Division 1–present
Tony Denison Andy Flynn Detective Lieutenant Major Crimes Division 1–present
Michael Paul Chan Michael Tao Detective Lieutenant Major Crimes Division 1–present
Raymond Cruz Julio Sanchez Detective Major Crimes Division 1–present
Phillip P. Keene Buzz Watson Civilian Surveillance Coordinator Major Crimes Division 1–present
Jon Tenney Fritz Howard Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation 1–present
Gina Ravera Irene Daniels Detective Priority Homicide Division 1–4
Mary McDonnell Sharon Raydor Captain Force Investigation Division 5-present

Mary McDonnell, a recurring cast member in seasons five and six, joined the cast full-time for season seven, continuing her role as Captain Sharon Raydor.[10]

[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 explores 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] Cultural impact

Both gender researchers and members of the media have claimed that the series has "expanded the vocabulary of what is acceptable for women as seen through the lens of popular culture."[11]

“We’ve certainly seen women in powerful positions before," says author and gender researcher Maddy Dychtwald, pointing out Angie Dickinson in 1974's “Policewoman,” and “Cagney & Lacy” from 1981. But those women were largely token in a sea of dominant males, and most important, strove to be like the men that surrounded them.” In contrast, Dychtwald says the former CIA interrogator played by Kyra Sedgwick, “retains (and revels in) her femininity, keeps her composure, can handle the two 'sexist pigs' who bait her due to their jealousy and insecurities, and not lose her head.”[11]

Media experts have also noted that the series has helped to redefine the place of basic cable channels alongside network programming:

Beyond gently tweaking the popular image of women in power, "The Closer" has helped redefine the power balance between basic cable and broadcast networks, says Fordham University media expert Paul Levinson. Just glance at the equal number of recent Emmy nominations for basic and premium cable shows is confirmation, he adds. Beyond that, says More Magazine Entertainment Director Kathy Heintzelman, the off-season placement—the show launched in the summer and continues to air its seasons in counter-balance to the traditional network schedule—has helped redefine viewing habits. “It’s helped people get used to the idea that summer is a time to watch original series on televisions,” she adds.[11]

[edit] U.S. television ratings

Viewer numbers (based on average total viewers per episode) of The Closer on TNT. The debut of The Closer was seen by more than 7 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research and was the top-rated premiere episode ever of any original scripted series on basic cable. The second (8.28) and third season (8.81) premieres broke the previous record.

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[12] 5.26[12] September 5, 2005 6.39[13] 4.61[13]
2 June 12, 2006 8.28[14] 6.04[14] September 4, 2006[note 2] 7.60[15] 5.45[15]
3 June 18, 2007 8.81[16] 6.38[16] September 10, 2007[note 2] 9.21[17] 6.84[17]
4 July 14, 2008 7.81[18] 5.91[18] September 15, 2008[note 2] 7.63[19] 5.00[19]
5 June 8, 2009 7.14[20] 5.35[20] August 24, 2009[note 2] 7.40[21] 5.50[21]
6 July 12, 2010 7.66[22] 5.72[22] September 13, 2010[note 2] 7.20[23] 5.43[23]

At the end of Season Three, The Closer became 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 finale 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.[24] Season Four's premiere slipped slightly from the Season Three opening, with live + same day ratings showing a 3% decline in audience from the previous year's opener.[25] For its Season Six premiere, on July 12, 2010, the show reached an estimated 7.66 million viewers.[22][26]

[edit] DVD releases

Warner Home Video has released the first six seasons of The Closer on DVD in Region 1.[27]

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 2008/January 2009 May 26, 2009
5 15 Summer/December, 2009 June 29, 2010
6 15 Summer 2010/January 2011 June 21, 2011

[edit] Awards and nominations

Up until the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011, Kyra Sedgwick had made history as being the only female actor in the history of television to be nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award every year that the show aired in the eligibility period. However, that came to an end in 2011.

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)
  • 2009 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2009 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Regular Cast)
  • 2009 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Drama Series (Regular Cast)
  • 2010 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2010 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Regular Cast)
  • 2010 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Drama Series (Regular Cast)
  • 2011 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2011 Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Regular Cast)

Saturn Awards

  • 2006 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2007 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2007 Nomination for Best Actress on Television (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2008 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2008 Nomination for Best Actress on Television (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2009 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2009 Nomination for Best Actress on Television (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2010 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2010 Nomination for Best Actress on Television (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2011 Nomination for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
  • 2011 Nomination for Best Actress on Television (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)
  • 2008 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2009 Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2010 Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2010 Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Beau Bridges)
  • 2011 Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Mary McDonnell)

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)
  • 2009 Nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2010 Nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2011 Nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)

Satellite Awards

  • 2005 Award for Best Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2006 Award for Best Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2007 Nomination for Best Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
  • 2008 Nomination for Best Actress in a TV Series: Drama (Kyra Sedgwick)

PRISM Awards

  • 2008 Nomination for Best Drama Episode ("Till Death Do Us" Parts 1 and 2)
  • 2011 Nomination for Best Drama Series Episode ("Old Money")
  • 2011 Nomination for Best Performance in a Drama Episode (Anthony John Dennison)

Imagen Foundation Awards

Writers Guild of America Awards

  • 2008 Nomination for Best Episodic Drama (Michael Alaimo, for the episode "The Round File")

Gracie Allen Awards

  • 2006 Award for Outstanding Female Lead in a Drama Series (Kyra Sedgwick)

People's Choice Awards

  • 2009 Award for Favorite TV Drama Diva (Kyra Sedgwick)

NAACP Image Awards

  • 2010 Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Corey Reynolds)

GoldDerby SNUBBEE Awards

  • 2011 Nomination for Outstanding Snubbed Lead Actress (Comedy or Drama) (Kyra Sedgwick)

[edit] International distribution

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Previously known as Priority Murder Squad (Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2), then Priority Homicide Division (Season 1, Ep. 3 through Season 4, Episode 9). The Division's official name was changed to Major Crimes Division (MCD) during Season 4 Episode 9 in response to the storyline's media misinterpretation of the use of the word "Priority", and the team first operated as the MCD in the following episode. The Division's brief was enlarged (in theory) to include to a wider range of major crimes including grand theft, fraud, rape and homicide in season four episode nine ("Tijuana Brass"),[2] though episodes continued storylines focused on solving murders until late in the sixth season when after the ascension of a new police chief the underutilized squad was assigned a serial armed robbery gang—which in the event, quickly became a murder investigation the next day. Commander Taylor's role was also changed with him reporting directly to Deputy Chief Johnson as he coordinates interaction between the MCD and other units.[2]
  2. ^ a b c d e Summer finales. Seasons Two and Three both aired two additional episodes in December. Seasons Four and Six were divided into ten summer and five winter episodes and Season Five had twelve summer and three winter episodes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Official website/About the Show, retrieved 2011-08-28, "Brenda often closes her cases by eliciting a confession or cornering a suspect through sometimes-questionable methods."
  2. ^ a b "Tijuana Brass", Season 4, Episode 9.
  3. ^ http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5275
  4. ^ Fernandez, Mary Elena (December 10, 2010). "Kyra Sedgwick closes 'The Closer'". The Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/12/kyra-sedgwick-closes-the-closer.html. Retrieved December 10, 2010. 
  5. ^ "Kyra Sedgwick calls time on The Closer". The Spy Report (Media Spy). December 11, 2010. http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/12/12/us-kyra-sedgwick-calls-time-on-the-closer/. Retrieved December 12, 2010. 
  6. ^ Rice, Lynnette; Hibbard, James. "TNT extends 'The Closer' final season to ready potential spin-off -- EXCLUSIVE". Inside TV. Entertainment Weekly. http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/30/the-closer-final-season/. Retrieved January 30, 2011. 
  7. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (May 18, 2011). "TNT orders 'Closer' spinoff 'Major Crimes' starring Mary McDonnell". HitFix. http://www.hitfix.com/articles/tnt-orders-closer-spinoff-major-crimes-starring-mary-mcdonnell. Retrieved May 18, 2011. 
  8. ^ USA Today, June 12, 2006.
  9. ^ OrlandoSentinel.com.
  10. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/News/Mary-McDonnell-Closer-1031538.aspx
  11. ^ a b c Christian Science Monitor, "The Closer opened doors for women--and for basic cable," July 12, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "TNT Original Dramatic Series The Closer Lands Record as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Original Scripted Series Telecast Ever". June 14, 2005. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/pr.aspx?id=20050614tnt02. 
  13. ^ a b "TNT'S The Closer Ends Season as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Original Series of 2005". September 7, 2005. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20050907tnt01. 
  14. ^ a b "TNT'S Hit Original Series The Closer Smashes Record as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Scripted Series Telecast Of All Time". June 13, 2006. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20060613tnt01. 
  15. ^ a b "TNT’s The Closer Ends Season with a Bang as 7.6 Million Viewers Watch Record-Breaking Finale". September 6, 2006. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/pr.aspx?id=20060906tnt01. 
  16. ^ a b "TNT'S Season 3 Premiere of The Closer Is Best of All Time". June 19, 2007. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070619tnt01. 
  17. ^ 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. http://www.turnerinfo.com/newsitem.aspx?P=TNT&CID01=2147654e-9f79-4f08-83af-22628dfd8738. 
  18. ^ a b "TNT'S The Closer Scores as Ad-Supoported Cable's #1 Series Telecast for the Year-to-Date, with More Than 7.8 Million Viewers". July 15, 2008. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080715tnt01. 
  19. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (September 23, 2008). "Monday Night Football, The Closer and Saturday NCAA Football lead Cable Viewing". http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/23/monday-night-football-the-closer-and-saturday-ncaa-football-lead-cable-viewing/5268. Retrieved December 7, 2009. 
  20. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (June 9, 2009). "The Closer Premieres To 7.1 Million, Raising The Bar Just 3.6 Million". http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/06/09/the-closer-premieres-to-71-million-raising-the-bar-just-36-million/20390. Retrieved December 7, 2009. 
  21. ^ a b Cassel, Karen; Sal Petruzzi (August 26, 2009). "TNT Sets Summer Ratings on Fire with Monday-Wednesday Originals Lineup". Turner Network Television. http://turner.tekgroup.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=4620. Retrieved December 7, 2009. 
  22. ^ a b c Gorman, Bill (July 13, 2010). "TNT’s ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ Sets Record with Cable’s Biggest Ad-Supported Premiere, Draws 7.6 Million Viewers". http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/13/tnt%e2%80%99s-rizzoli-isles-sets-record-with-cable%e2%80%99s-biggest-ad-supported-premiere-draws-7-6-million-viewers/56989. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
  23. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (September 14, 2010). "TNT’s ‘The Closer’ and ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ Close Out Summer With More Big Numbers". TVByTheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/14/tnt%e2%80%99s-the-closer-and-rizzoli-isles-close-out-record-setting-summer-as-ad-supported-cable%e2%80%99s-top-two-series/63239. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
  24. ^ TNT Pressroom
  25. ^ MediaPost Publications - Strong Debut for TNT's 'Closer,' 'Saving Grace,' But Last Year Was Better - 07/16/2008
  26. ^ http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18596318.html
  27. ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Closer-Season-5/13422
  28. ^ The Closer クローザー (Japanese)

[edit] External links

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