Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson’s days at the Los Angeles Police Department are numbered. TNT announced that its tentpole crime drama The Closer will come to a close after its seventh season, scheduled to premiere next fall and conclude in the early 2012.
According to the announcement, the final decision came down to none other than Kyra Sedgwick, who has a producer credit for the series in addition to the lead role.
The Closer has been a critical and ratings success for TNT, ever since its debut in 2005. Its impressive mix of cop show action and character development allows it to reach across the gender gap, consistently setting viewership records for TNT and cable shows in general. Sedwick’s portrayal of Brenda Johnson has earned her dozens of TV award nominations and an Emmy win in 2007. She was quoted in the network’s statement:
“I cannot fathom how difficult it will be to say goodbye to the incredible family we’ve created on The Closer… I want to thank TNT and Warner Bros. Television, as well as the incredible fans of THE CLOSER, for all of their unwavering support over the last seven years.”
The show has distinguished itself in a field crowded with paint-by-numbers crime procedurals. While it doesn’t stray too far from the heart of similar cop shows like Law & Order: SVU, the real draw has been the series’ focus on its ensemble of characters. The pilot episode established Johnson as both a feminine fish-out-of-water transferring from the Atlanta Police Department to LA, and a hold-no-punches grande dame in investigations and interrogations.
Johnson’s relationship with her high-profile investigative squad and Assistant Chief Pope (played by J.K. Simmons of Spider-Man and Law & Order fame) receive almost as much attention as the prerequisite murder of the week. Other highlights include series-long love interest, FBI agent Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney, to be seen in Green Lantern), and on-again, off-again antagonist Captain Raynor (Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica).
As a big fan of the series, I’m happy to hear that it’s ending. That may sound strange, but hear me out: too many great shows are either canned prematurely (Terriers and Lone Star were some lamentable casualties this year) or forced to go on long past their peak until they stagnate. Scrubs, Stargate SG-1 and Law & Order: SVU all fall into this category, in my opinion, having become pale imitations of what made the shows great in their best seasons, usually the third or fourth.
I’m always pleased when producers realize that their show has had an excellent run and choose to end on a high note on their own terms. Lost and Battlestar Galactica probably could have continued for at least three more seasons each, but instead wrapped up and delivered complete, satisfying series (though the Lost finale is certainly debatable). I applaud TNT and Kyra Sedgwick for having the foresight and decisiveness to give a great show a proper conclusion.
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The Closer is currently wrapping up its sixth season, and airs Mondays at 9 on TNT.
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I like the charm and intelligence of this series. I’ll miss seeing it, but I agree that it’s better to go out on top. The entire L&O franchise is exhausted. Some of the CSI’s are showing their age. The Closer has a knack for creating quirky characters without them really being caricatures or knock-offs. The antics of Flynn & Provenza will be missed…
How sad. I love this show and the characters.It will be missed.
What I find saddest is to compare it to the drek that is, and has always been, L&O SVU. I have to laugh at some of the idiotic dialogue – “freeze” – and factual errors. Just an awful show.
@ Anna Mated: that is so true! L&O and other stuff is just not of the same quality as The Closer.
The show is actually very popular in Holland too, where I live, and I absolutely LOVE Kyra Sedgwick as deputy chief. The rest of the division as well of course. So even we have the possibility to watch more episodes, we’re always delayed here on your schedule in America, it’s a sad thing that it ends. But, it’s better to stop on the highest level of success rather than to continue forever and ever like CSI or L&O SVU…
I love this serie and can not stand the others crime series. I hope the producers and writer will start something with similar quality.
Kyra se sale del roll de Brenda en las fotos publicitarias, eso no me parece bien. La simplicidad y falta de vanidad de la criminologa es la mejor parte de la serie.
The best to the show team.
I’m not gonna lie…I watch it only for MARY McDONNELL.
She makes for a great sometimes-nemesis to Brenda. She and Kyra Sedgwick have great chemistry (as do all the regulars).
we are heartbroken the closer will end. we love them all and they have a certain chemistry with each other that cannot be matched.
sincerely,
carolyn & bob
Please don’t go, this is my favorite show. I’ve been watching the show since it’s debut. I just love the closer entire cast.
The closer is the best TV show i have ever seen in my entire life! i lovvve deputy cheif brenda leigh Johnson of the LAPD!!! and Fritzy! haha! You can not!!!! CAN NOT end this show so soon!!!
I love this show and seeing it end is bittersweet, but I would rather see it end with class whether than crass. Maybe some specials in the future, I hope so.
Please…give us a spin off with Provensa and his buddy Flynn. The two would make a great pair solving crimes inspite of themselves. Let them leave the force and become private eyes or something. Please, they’re too good to lose.
I love this show as I am from Italy. It plays there to fantastico ratings on RAI. I would love to please Brenda and Rissoli & Isles in a foursome and put that on TV in America. You people, it should end, it shoould go out on top, shut up! The only on top I want Is Brenda on my big johnson and Rizzoli & Isles on each nut!
This is the best show on TV! I watch this every week with my grand-daughter and we are both devastated about the final season.
I discovered this show somewhat late, but have grown to love it, and never tire of even watching the reruns. I will sorely miss Brenda Leigh and Fritz in the new spin off season, but I am grateful tht we will at least have that. Please please please don’t let anything bad happen to any of them
I forgot to mention that Willie Rae and Glen Johnson are wonderful. I suppose they will not be visiting the Murder Room after Brenda is gone
I just watched what I thought was to be the series finale of The Closer. To me it seems as if it were a cliffhanger. What will happen when the closer returns for season 8……
I’ve been with this show since day one and it’s really going to be hard to find a show that leaves me wanting more. I just adore Kyara and her cast, and will miss watching them each week. The whole cast had such a love and bond that translated on screen, and that’s something that I’m going to miss the most.
I am very disappointed how the summer finale ended. I thought this was the series finale. If the last season of the closer just focus on the persecution of Brenda by vindictive lawyer Goldman?, perhaps the 9/12/11 episode should be the finale. The Closer has a way of getting justice for the victims.
I absolutely love “the closer”! I love all the characters on this show!! I can’t believe they’re canceling this show. I cant recall ever missing an episode, I will miss it terribly.
No, no, no!
This royally sucks…
I came late to this show and fell in love with everyone! My sister said “you do realize they are not real people, right?” I said yes, but…
I love the strong character development and the many dimensions while still providing the quirkiness we all love.
So, thank you to all who made this quality TV worth my time. It has been a true pleasure; you will be missed.
I was extremely disappointed. I know they are on top, but this show not once has found me bored and falling asleep in front of the television. They have at least 3 good years to go before saying goodbye. There are so few shows on television that are as diverse and exciting. Kyra has given this character her utmost. Brains, beauty, vulnerability, and a chocolate addiction. Who could ask for more. I am mad and sad that you are leaving us. Hope to see you on another exciting show Kyra.
I LOVE this show!!! For the past week, I have been watching from the very beginning up to the last episode that played this week. I was distraught finding out only hours ago that the show will be ending. This is an awesome show, and is the result of all around good work, quality characters, good story lines, believable everyday struggles, and awesomeness in every episode
I agree completely. I LOVE this show and do not want it to end!!!!!!!!
There are so many different shows out there that I would to see go! This one is NOT one of them! For me, it’s sad and disappointing! What a well written and well acted type of drama that you don’t see much on TV anymore…this one will be greatly missed! As a matter of fact, I am BEGGING my husband to purchase me the whole series on DVD! I get one gift and imagine this is what I am asking for!
Good enough for me!
*love to see go*
I love this show and watch even the re-runs. Too bad they couldn’t reconsider another season!?! There are too many bland formula shows out there and this one will be sorely missed.
As a fan of Law & Order, I’m inclined to agree, it is better for a great show like The Closer to go out on top. L&O really has stalled out after such a long run. Closer has done a great job of being quirky AND suspenseful, with great storylines. I think it will have a great run in syndication.
The characters on this show are great. The subtle backstories on the “minor” characters are what add depth to an already great main plot-line. Why can’t Hollywood have more well written shows. No more reality show garbage. Pay some writers!
I have been so pleased to watch a show with my older grandchildren that does not have excessive nudity or bad language and have the opportunity to help solve the crime with the LAPD. They are a wonderful cast!
It has been a great show. Serious but funny. It would have been hilarious to see Brenda pregnant with all her quirks and imagine the squad trying to satisfy her cravins!
im so sad i love this show so much