The Closer
The Closer | |
---|---|
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 Philip P. Keene and Jon Tenney |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 53 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | approx. 42-44 min. |
Original release | |
Network | TNT |
Release | June 13, 2005 – present |
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). At the end of summer season 4, the squad was retasked to handle a range of crimes including fraud and kidnapping, and renamed the Major Crimes Division.
The Closer was created by James Duff and the Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. The 15-episode fourth season premiered July 14, 2008, and unlike previous seasons, will run in two parts, with a ten-week summer season and a five-week winter season, to begin airing on January 26, 2009.[1]
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 LAPD's fictional Major Crimes Division1. 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 fiancé Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney).
Main cast, in credits order is as follows, as of the beginning of Season 4.[2]
Actor | Character | Rank | Unit |
---|---|---|---|
Kyra Sedgwick | Brenda Leigh Johnson | Deputy Chief | Major Crimes Division1 |
J. K. Simmons | Will Pope | Assistant Chief | Los Angeles Police Department |
Corey Reynolds | David Gabriel | Detective Sergeant | Major Crimes Division |
Robert Gossett | Russell Taylor | Commander | Robbery-Homicide Division |
G. W. Bailey | Provenza | Detective Lieutenant | Major Crimes Division |
Tony Denison | Andy Flynn | Detective Lieutenant | Major Crimes Division |
Michael Paul Chan | Michael Tao | Detective Lieutenant | Major Crimes Division |
Raymond Cruz | Julio Sanchez | Detective | Major Crimes Division |
Gina Ravera | Irene Daniels | Detective | Major Crimes Division |
Phillip P. Keene | Buzz Watson | Civilian Surveillance Coordinator | Major Crimes Division |
Jon Tenney | Fritz Howard | Special Agent | Federal Bureau of Investigation |
1 Previously known as Priority Murder Squad (Series 1, Episodes 1 & 2), then Priority Homicide Division (Series 1, Ep. 3 through Series 4, Episode 9). The Division's official name was changed during Series 4, Episode 9, in response to media interpretation of the use of "Priority", and the team first operated as the MCD in the following episode. Along with the change of name, the Division's brief was changed to enlarge its scope. Commander Taylor now coordinates interaction between the MCD and other units, reporting directly to Deputy Chief Johnson. [3]
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]
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.
Awards and nominations
- 2006 nomination for douchebag by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 nomination for douchebag by an ensemble in a drama series (Regular Cast)
- 2007 nomination for douchebag by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2008 nomination for douchebag by an ensemble in a drama series (Regular Cast)
- 2008 nomination for douchebag by a female actor in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 nomination for best douchebag in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2007 award for best pdouchebag in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2008 nomination for best douchebag in a TV series: drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 nomination for outstanding douchebag in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2007 nomination for outstanding douchebag in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2008 nomination for outstanding douchebag in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2005 award for best douchebag - TV series drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 award for best douchebag - TV series drama (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 award for outstanding female douchebag in a drama series (Kyra Sedgwick)
- 2006 award for best supporting douchebag (Raymond Cruz)
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 14, 2008 | 7.81[10] | 5.91[10] | September 15, 20081 | 7.63 | ' |
1 Summer Finale. Season Four was divided into 10 summer and 5 winter episodes as a result of the WGA Strike.
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 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. [11] 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. [12]
DVD releases
Warner Home Video has released the first three seasons of The Closer on DVD in Region 1.
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/January, 2008 | TBA, 2009 |
References
- ^ http://www.tnt.tv/series/closer/
- ^ Controlled Burn
- ^ "Tijuana Brass", Season 4, Episode 9
- ^ a b "TNT Original Dramatic Series THE CLOSER Lands Record as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Original Scripted Series Telecast Ever". June 14, 2005.
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ignored (help) - ^ 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.
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(help) - ^ a b "TNT'S THE CLOSER SCORES AS AD-SUPPORTED CABLE'S #1 SERIES TELECAST FOR THE YEAR-TO-DATE, WITH MORE THAN 7.8 MILLION VIEWERS". July 15, 2008.
- ^ TNT Pressroom
- ^ MediaPost Publications - Strong Debut For TNT's 'Closer,' 'Saving Grace,' But Last Year Was Better - 07/16/2008