TNT’s long-running cop series The Closer is coming to a close after Season 7, but the story of the LAPD will continue. The network announced a spin-off show, Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell, for a summer 2012 premiere.
The spin-off has been rumored for months, ever since producer and star Kyra Sedgwick announced the end of The Closer last December. Major Crimes will continue right where the original series leaves off, its 10-episode freshman season starting right after The Closer‘s series finale.
Battlestar Galactica and Scream 4 star Mary McDonnell will take the lead in Major Crimes. She’ll be reprising her role as Captain Sharon Raydor, whom she’s been playing since 2009. Raydor may be taking over the LAPD Major Crimes Division after Sedgewick’s character, Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, is promoted or retires.
Major Crimes will be executive produced by The Closer creator and producer James Duff. Notably absent from the announcement was Sydgwick, who’s had a producer credit on the original series for four years. The Closer producers Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin will join Duff.
Mary McDonnell as Captain Raydor on 'The Closer'
News of The Closer‘s planned end was a surprise to many, as the series is still pulling in excellent ratings for TNT. A spin-off will allow the network to hold onto its longest-running IP and preserve the setting and characters that have been developing for the last six years. It may also be TNT’s bid to begin its own multi-entry police franchise, in the vein of CSI, Law & Order and NCIS.
In addition to Major Crimes, TNT announced a new series of mystery TV movies for a Tuesday night slot. The collection of films will be called The TNT Tuesday Night Mystery, and will include six initial adaptations. All six will be movie versions of popular crime novels: Innocent by Scott Turow, Silent Witness by Richard North Patterson, Ricochet by Sandra Brown, Hide by Lisa Gardner, Good Morning, Killer by April Smith and Deck The Halls by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. The film series will begin in November of this year.
Major Crimes is currently scheduled for summer 2012 on TNT. The Closer begins its final season on July 11th.
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Source: TV Line
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The major crime was the 40+ minutes and apple TV season pass I bought for major crimes. Loved the Closer so much I couldn’t help myself even though I knew it was a mistake. I REALLY wanted to like the show but it was flat. I couldn’t finish watching it in one sitting. There was no chemistry among the cast and Raydor was seriously under impressive. What a mistake. This is going to flop.
I will watch Major Crimes one more time because of my love of The Closer, but it needs to be better. I never liked Raydor and still don’t. The Taylor character was always slimy and now, as the person in charge, he is arrogant slimey I will be surprised if this show lasts.
Major crimes lacks the humor that closer has the guys use to be funny plus a crime was solved but now it’s just like any other crime show. I really would perferr the closer.
Major Crimes is NO comparison to the Closer .. I was hooked on closer and I can’t get close to this series
So disappointed
Major Crimes was a dud for our household. Wanted to give it chance as we loved the cast but the new female “lead” leaves much to be desired. Sadly, we are moving on, and not wasting another minute on this show.
Loose Rusty, loose Raydor. She is so flat.
I miss Brenda and Pope. I loved her character and miss the “Thank you’s”. It was a great show and I never missed an episode and love all the reruns still. I love Sharon too and the new show and look forward to each Monday night. I am glad most of the cast is still on. I am still confused about why Fritz is still on there and no one ever ask or mentions Brenda since they are supposed to still be married. Not sure if I like Taylor in charge though???
Major Crimes is a vast improvement over The Closer both in the strong development of multiple characters ~ something always lacking in The Closer ~ and in the absence of the insipid character portrayed by Kyra Sedgwick.
Plot lines continue strong, character development is improved, and Sedgewick is gone. What’s not to like?