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The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who arrives 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]

Characters

Main article: List of The Closer charactersThe 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.

ActorCharacterRankUnitSeasonsKyra SedgwickBrenda Leigh JohnsonDeputy ChiefMajor Crimes Division[note 1]1–presentJ. K. SimmonsWill PopeAssistant Chief for Operations; Interim Chief of Police (Season 7)Los Angeles Police Department1–presentCorey ReynoldsDavid GabrielDetective SergeantMajor Crimes Division1–presentRobert GossettRussell TaylorCommanderRobbery-Homicide Division1–presentG. W. BaileyLouie ProvenzaDetective LieutenantMajor Crimes Division1–presentTony DenisonAndy FlynnDetective LieutenantMajor Crimes Division1–presentMichael Paul ChanMichael TaoDetective LieutenantMajor Crimes Division1–presentRaymond CruzJulio SanchezDetectiveMajor Crimes Division1–presentPhillip P. KeeneBuzz WatsonCivilian Surveillance CoordinatorMajor Crimes Division1–presentJon TenneyFritz HowardSpecial AgentFederal Bureau of Investigation1–presentGina RaveraIrene DanielsDetectivePriority Homicide Division1–4Mary McDonnellSharon RaydorCaptainForce Investigation Division6-7

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

Episodes

Main article: List of The Closer episodesEach 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]

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]

U.S. television ratings

Viewer numbers (based on average total viewers per episode) of The Closer on TNT. The Closer was seen by more than 7 million viewers on its debut according to Nielsen Media Research and was the top-rated premiere episode ever of any original scripted series on basic cable. The second season premiere broke the previous record as it drew nearly 8.28 million viewers—and is the biggest audience of all time for a scripted series premiere on cable.

SeasonSeason PremiereSeason FinaleDateViewers

Total

(in millions)Viewers

Households

(in millions)DateViewers

Total

(in millions)Viewers

Households

(in millions)1June 13, 20057.03[12]5.26[12]September 5, 20056.39[13]4.61[13]2June 12, 20068.28[14]6.04[14]September 4, 2006[note 2]7.60[15]5.45[15]3June 18, 20078.81[16]6.38[16]September 10, 2007[note 2]9.21[17]6.84[17]4July 14, 20087.81[18]5.91[18]September 15, 2008[note 2]7.63[19]5.00[19]5June 8, 20097.14[20]5.35[20]August 24, 2009[note 2]7.40[21]5.50[21]6July 12, 20107.66[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]

DVD releases

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

SeasonEpisodesOriginal AirdateDVD Release Date113Summer, 2005May 23, 2006215Summer/December, 2006May 29, 2007315Summer/December, 2007July 1, 2008415Summer 2008/January 2009May 26, 2009515Summer/December, 2009June 29, 2010615Summer 2010/January 2011June 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, as Sedgwick was shockingly snubbed of a nomination at the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards.

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)
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Kyra Sedgwick | Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson

Kyra Sedgwick, whose career has included critically acclaimed roles on stage, film and television, returns to her Golden Globe®-winning role as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson on TNT’s blockbuster series THE CLOSER.

On the big screen, Sedgwick most recently appeared with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the football comedy The Game Plan. She also co-starred in and co-produced the independent film Loverboy. Sedgwick’s other recent big-screen credits include Cavedweller, which she developed and produced …quot; and for which she received a 2005 Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress; Nicole Kassell’s award-winning The Woodsman, a dark drama co-starring Kevin Bacon that won the Jury Prize at the Deauville Film Festival, had its world premiere in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and was showcased in Cannes as part of the 2004 Director’s Fortnight line-up; and Rebecca Miller’s Personal Velocity, which won the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.

Among Sedgwick’s long list of feature film credits are Phenomenon, opposite John Travolta; Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July; the Merchant-Ivory production of Mr. and Mrs. Bridge; Singles; Lemon Sky; Hearts & Souls, with Robert Downey Jr.; and Montana, with Stanley Tucci, Robin Tunney and Philip Seymour Hoffman. She also co-starred in Fisher Stevens’ Just a Kiss; Behind the Red Door, opposite Keifer Sutherland and Stockard Channing; and Secondhand Lions, co-starring Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment.

For television, Sedgwick co-starred opposite William H. Macy and Helen Mirren in TNT’s Peabody Award-winning drama Door to Door. Other credits include Something the Lord Made, Twelfth Night (or What You Will) and Losing Chase, which she executive produced and in addition to starring opposite Mirren and Beau Bridges.

Sedgwick’s theater credits include The Culture Project’s New York production of The Exonerated, Nicholas Hytner’s Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center, Ah Whilderness! for which she won the Theater Award, and David Mamet’s Oleanna, which garnered her a Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle Award and a Drama League Award.

Sedgwick can next be seen in the futuristic thriller Game, starring Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall and John Leguizamo, set to be released in September.

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J.K. Simmons | Asst. Police Chief Will Pope

J.K. Simmons has appeared in diverse projects spanning feature films, television and stage performances on and off Broadway. Before achieving success in acting, Simmons studied to become a composer at the University of Montana.

Simmons’ feature film credits include Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Hidalgo, The Ladykillers, The Mexican (with Brad Pitt), For Love of the Game, The Gift, Off the Map, Thank You for Smoking, The Astronaut Farmer, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Rendition and Juno. Most recently, he appeared in The Vicious Kind, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, New in Town with Renee Zellweger, and I Love You, Man with Paul Rudd. Simmons’ upcoming films include An Invisible Sign of My Own, Men Who Stare at Goats, and Jennifer’s Body, the new script from Diablo Cody (Juno).

In addition to feature films, Simmons has appeared in several guest-starring roles on award-winning TV series including Arrested Development, Nip/Tuck, ER, Spin City and Law & Order. He also played Vern Schillinger in Tom Fontana’s Oz for six seasons on HBO.

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Jon Tenney | FBI Agent Fritz Howard

Jon Tenney’s professional career includes extensive work on stage, as well as in feature films and television. He launched his TV career with a guest-starring role on Murphy Brown and has been a series regular on several shows, in addition to appearing in recurring roles on CSI and Will & Grace.

Tenney also has been successful in film, beginning with his debut in Watch It, opposite Tom Sizemore, John C. McGinley and Peter Gallagher. He went on to appear in Fools Rush In, co-starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, and Showtime’s original feature Twilight of the Golds, co-starring Jennifer Beals, Faye Dunaway and Brendan Fraser. Tenney recently starred opposite Albert Brooks in the independent film Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World and the Showtime movie Homecoming. He has also appeared in Crime & Punishment, Equal Justice and The Division, and had roles in the critically acclaimed films Tombstone and Oliver Stone’s Nixon. Tenney will next be seen starring in Legion opposite Dennis Quaid, Paul Bethany and Tyrese Gibson, as well as the Sony Screen Gems Thriller The Stepfather with Sela Ward, Penn Badgley and Dylan Walsh, and the film adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest.

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Corey Reynolds | Sgt. David Gabriel

Prior to THE CLOSER, Reynolds made his Broadway debut playing “Seaweed” in the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray, a performance that garnered Reynolds nominations for the Outer Circle Critics Award, the Drama Desk Award and the prestigious Tony Award. After seeing Reynolds star-making turn in Hairspray, Steven Spielberg personally cast Reynolds in his feature-film debut in The Terminal with Tom Hanks.

Reynolds was born and raised in Richmond, Va., beginning his professional career at age 16 performing around his hometown. He went on to perform in the national and international tours of the Broadway musicals Smokey Joe’s Café and Saturday Night Fever, as well as regional performances of Parade and Avenue X.

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Robert Gossett | Commander Taylor

Robert Gossett was born in the Bronx, New York, and, after high school, landed his first professional gig in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Mercer Arts Center in Greenwich Village.

He went on to perform in Lloyd Richard’s Broadway production of Fences, Hal Scott’s A Raisin in the Sun and Donald McKayle’s The Last Minstrel Show. Other notable theater performances include Manhattan Made Me, Sons and Fathers of Sons, A Soldier’s Play and Colored People’s Time, all of which were performed with the famed Negro Ensemble Company of New York.

Gossett’s awards include the NAACP Theater Award for Best Performance by a Male and the Dramalogue Best Actor Award for his performance in Indigo Blues, directed by his wife, Michele Gossett. He also earned the LA Weekly Theater award for Washington Square Moves.

In film, Gossett has starred in Irwin Winkler’s The Net, alongside Sandra Bullock; Time Hunter’s The Maker, with Matthew Modine; Arlington Road, with Jeff Bridges; White Man’s Burden, with John Travolta; and The Spring in Her Step. Gossett will next appear with Heather Locklear and Billy Ray Cyrus in the film Flying By, which is slated to be released in 2009.

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Tony Denison | Detective Andy Flynn

With Broadway credits under his belt, Tony Denison made his momentous television debut starring in producer/director Michael Mann’s critically acclaimed drama Crime Story. As Ray Luca in the one-hour television drama series, he received a fistful of kudos, including Time magazine recognition as television’s best villain of the 1980s.

Since then, Denison has appeared in more than two-dozen motion pictures, with Columbia Tri Star’s Art of Revenge, Joel Bender's Independent feature Deadly, Little Vegas and The Effect opposite Charles Dutton being the most recent. Following Crime Story is an impressive list of dozens of television appearances that include notable guest-starring roles on such shows as CSI, Criminal Minds, Boston Legal, The District, J.A.G., Cold Case, The O.C., ER, NYPD Blue and Charmed.

Tony landed the role of recurring character Paul Harper in the one-hour television drama series The D.A., and audiences again were charmed by Denison in the series regular role of Head Coach Mike George in ESPN’s first scripted series, Playmakers. 2006 found Tony doing double duty, landing the plum recurring role of the Dad in Prison Break, as well as starring in THE CLOSER as Det. Andy Flynn.

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Raymond Cruz | Detective Julio Sanchez

Raymond Cruz has appeared in more than 30 feature films and has worked extensively in television, playing a wide range of characters. His work in films includes roles in Havoc, with Anne Hathaway; Training Day, with Denzel Washington; Collateral Damage, with Arnold Schwarzenegger; Alien 4: Resurrection, with Sigourney Weaver; and Clear and Present Danger, with Harrison Ford. Other notable films include The Last Marshal, The Rock, The Substitute, Out for Justice and Under Siege.

On television, Cruz has had recurring roles on My Name is Earl, Breaking Bad, Day Break, The Division, 24 and Nip/Tuck. He has also guest starred on numerous hit shows, including CSI, CSI: Miami, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Star Trek, Boomtown and The X-Files. He recently won an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work on THE CLOSER.

Cruz also has an extensive stage background and is a recipient of the Drama Critics award.

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Michael Paul Chan | Lieutenant Mike Tao

Michael Paul Chan’s professional acting training at the American Conservatory Theatre started him on a journey that has taken him all over the world.

China, Thailand, Israel and the United Kingdom are just some of the locales Chan has worked in the past several years. His varied interests and travels have served him well in his acting career, as his roles most often cross both cultural and class backgrounds.

Chan’s film credits include The Insider, with Al Pacino and Russell Crowe; Spy Game, with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt; U.S. Marshals, with Tommy Lee Jones; Falling Down, with Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall; and the critically acclaimed adaptation of The Joy Luck Club.

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Phillip Keene | Buzz Watson

Phillip P. Keene has played videographer and surveillance expert Buzz Watson on TNT’s THE CLOSER for the past four years. His previous television experience includes hosting the series Home and making a guest appearance on the ABC limited series, The DA. He made his feature debut in the Tony Alda film, Role of a Lifetime.

Keene, who is fluent in Spanish and German, earned a degree in history/art history from UCLA and a pilot’s license before deciding to go into acting, taking classes from Howard Fine, Heidi Davis, Margie Haber and Tony Sepulveda. His hobbies include surfing, collecting Pan Am memorabilia and renovating older homes.

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Recent Role: Detective Lt. Louis Provenza on The Closer Gender: Male Born: 8-27-1945 Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas, America Birth Name: George W. Bailey AKA: G W Bailey Bailey started acting in the 60s working at local theater companies. In the 1970s he appeared on hit shows like Starsky and Hutch and Charlie's Angels. In 1981 he was cast as pool-hall con artist Private Rizzo in CBS's M*A*S*H. In the later eighties he became famous as Lieutenant Harris in Police Academy and then later in 1987's Mannequin.

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Recent Role: Capt. Sharon Raydor on The Closer Gender: Female Born: 4-28-1952 Birthplace: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (USA) Birth Name: Mary McDonnell AKA: Mary Mcdonnell Mary McDonnell was renowned for her stage work on the East Coast, working with the Long Wharf Theatre Co., amongst others. It wasn't until 20 years after working on the theatre stage that she had her break through role in Costner's "Dances With Wolves." She has since received two Academy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.

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