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EXCLUSIVE: TNT is not ready to close the book on The Closer. We hear that the cable channel is contemplating ways to extend the hit crime drama starring Kyra Sedgwick, including ordering additional episodes with Sedgwick and continuing the show without her, with another character (Mary McDonnell’s Capt. Sharon Raydor, perhaps?) stepping up on the existing series or launching a new spinoff series.
Among the scenarios currently discussed at TNT is super-sizing the 15-episode seventh and final season to 21-episodes with an order for 6 extra episodes. That, of course, is contingent on a deal with Sedgwick, whose contract is up at the end of Season 7. Additionally, the cable network is eying a possible 9-episode order for a new series, either The Closer sans Sedgwick in the mold of the transition on NBC’s comedy The Office after the pending exit of star Steve Carell, or a spinoff series featuring characters from The Closer in a new setting. (The latter will probably be a little easier to pull off as Sedgwick plays the title character in the original series.) Two years ago, TNT took a stab at launching a Closer spinoff called The Fixer, about a professional fixer and his daughter, which was to feature two characters from the original series, G.W. Bailey’s Det. Provenza and Tony Denison’s Lt. Flynn.
It is understandable for TNT to try to extend its flagship show, which remains the most watched basic cable series of all time and this summer helped launch TNT’s most promising series since The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles. (Some say the network may have jumped the gun too soon with the end-of-series announcement on The Closer in early December.)
Additionally, a potential order for 6 more episodes of The Closer along with 9 for a successor series would make a combined 15-episode run, giving TNT another full season to play with that would include a highly-rated 6-episode conclusion of The Closer starring Sedgwick segueing into the show without her. Sedgwick, who in August won her first Emmy for playing Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson, had said that she wanted to move on after the end of her current contract for The Closer.
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A spinoff series with a different title and centered around another character might be fun, and certianly seems like the best way to go forward. But THE CLOSER needs to have a definative ending WITH Kyra Sedgewick. I’m a huge fan of the show but any attempt to continue it in its existing form without her will be doomed (look what happened to Scrubs 2.0 on ABC last year) and I won’t watch it if it continues in that manner.
Well if you won’t watch it, then forget it.
I love the cast as it is, but even without Kyra I’d watch, as the other dectives have become just as watchable….please keep the series going without Kyra- the others deserve to continue!
Your are so right. Could they work it with guest commanders or something till they find the right person to replace Brenda? Love the cast and the format.
Please, please keep this show going…I love the cast of characters and believe it will be just as good with someone else taking Kyras place…the writers are so good on this show:) I love all of the characters and they are why I watch this show not because of Kyra,
i do not think i could watch The Closer without Kyra Sedgewick ,she really was the show, and i did not like the character of Mary Mc Donnell. so to continue on with her i know i would not watch , lets hope its a good ( happy ) ending and let it go at that.
As much as I would like to keep The Closer on air, continuing with Mary McDonnell as the lead is one way to kill the show for me. It is the quirkiness of Sedgwick’s character that brought me in.
I agree. I can only take small doses of Mary McDonnell. It’s hard to imagine the show without Brenda Lee and her husband. I enjoy their relationship, and her parents are fun. The show would need another quirky charismatic female. I’m hoping Kyra changes her mind.
I agree with the above comment. I didn’t like any of the shows that Mary McDonnell were on. Not that she isn’t a good actor, the part just wasn’t for her. As far as another quirky charismatic female is where I disagree. No one can possibly stand up to Kyra’s Brenda.
I dont like Mary McDonnell in the show at all.
I firmly agree with this writer’s point. The Closer with Mary will not be the same. She has little “flair” for the lead role and the other cast members will suffer. I don’t know ,however if this is Mary’s fault or the writing of her current character’s traits. Kyra will be missed, but the show could very well continue with the others, as long as the research is dine for her replacement. jm
I stopped watching The Closer several years ago because Sedgwick had gone so far over the top with her performance that Brenda Johnson had essentially become a cartoon character, about as layered as, say, Wile E. Coyote. The actor playing her boyfriend should win awards just for being able to maintain a straight face in their scenes together.
Nevertheless, she is the show and the show is her and trying to continue the show as “The Closer” without her would, as Jake points out, make Scrubs 2.0 look like genius by comparison.
That said, the sprawling supporting cast on the show is one of the most fun on TV – I would’ve set my TiVo to watch a spinoff with G.W. Bailey and Tony Dennison. So keeping that cast together as some kind of comic/kooky version of the Major Case Squad would be a blast – just don’t give them a closer.
I must admit the Younger Franco made me laugh on Scrubs.
I think “The Closer” could go on, as it is the writing and plots that make me like the show. While Kyra is terrific, as previously noted, some of the stuff about her private life is over the top, so I think the show could go on with a new lead detective.
I would agree. It’s the writing that makes the show original and while Kyra’s character would be missed, it’s the interplay between Brenda and the supporting characters that I enjoy and would continue to watch it for because of that writing and the originality of it.
With a new lead detective — presuming they were original enough a character who worked well (and I don’t know if Raydor would work, but it would be interesting to see since Brenda didn’t start off well with her team either) — I’d certainly continue watching it.
I like the idea of a 9-episode order for a spinoff series with characters from The Closer in a new setting.
A series of movies with Kyra and other actors would be nice to see too.
The Closer is Kyra Sedgwick and I think after seven years it deserves to end while it’s on top.
A network trying to milk a turnip, let the series walk in the sunset. These networks who try to spinoff characters into a series don’t necessarily work. The Closer is Kyra Sedgewick and I don’t feel any of the other characters could carry their own show.
These networks who try to spinoff characters into a series don’t necessarily work.
Ok you may be right they don’t always work but therer have been some extremely successful spin offs I would like to remind you of. The Jefferson’s (All in The Family) Mork and Minday (Happy Days), Maude, Good Times, the Star Trek Franchise, NCIS, All The CSI shows….I think I could go on for awhile. I say hey give it a shot the actors are great and the writing is awsome. I will be sad to see Brenda leave but will be watching to see what happens next.
So many of us really enjoy the CLOSER and were upset it was going to end. TNT is smart to continue a show that has been successful. I know more people who are watching now then ever before. It is well written with a comedic flare. Its one of the few cop shows that I realy look forward to watching. I like Capt. Radar but I don’t think she could carry the lead. I have a feeling if they offer Kyra enough since she drives the show she’ll stay.
Please, oh, please TNT, give me my Flynn and Provenza spin-off!
That would definitely have to be a comedy.
without kyra the show will not be worth watching
I started watching The Closer because of Mary McDonnell. So if she gets a more prominent role that’s just more ratings for the show, considering that a majority of new viewers coming on board are Mary McDonnell fans.
I would like to see the series continue with another “closer” lead detective….a woman…just not Mary Mc. She was portrayed as such a foil to Brenda that I could not help but dislike her…and thus would have a tough time changing my opinion of her in the series. However, I lover the writing, the other characters…particularly Provenza and Flynn. However, it was the chemistry of ALL of the characters that makes it work….some serious, some funny.
I think a spin-off would appear a tad desperate – they rarely ever maintain the loyalty the original cultivates. Who needs “The Closer -Lite?” While the supporting cast is fantastic there’s a reason it went for seven years: Kyra. She’s the star and everyone else are support. Let it lapse with dignity and cheer the fact that the entire team hit the lotto! That is a miracle in itself.
I always thought a Provenza / Flynn spin-off would be awesome.
Provenza retires, but to pay his ex-wives opens a private eye co, and uses Flynn to siphon off (and solve) cases from LA PD
These two on a spin off would be great!!!
I would hope that Sedgwick is open to the additional six episodes because it seems to me that the best way to spin other characters from the show off into their own series would be to use one or two episodes of the series as a backdoor pilot ala how NCIS was spun off from JAG (and NCIS:LA spun off from NCIS). Sure, they could do a backdoor pilot as one of the episodes in the initial 9-episode order — and I would hope that they’d do so — but fifteen episodes would certainly give them more room to pace it out.
Amen girl!!!! I’ve been hoping for that for a while
When The Closer ends, it needs to end with Brenda. It should not end with Captain Raydor taking over and it’s all because she is not “The Closer”. It would be a horrible move for James Duff and crew to do that and I think he is smart enough not do take that route. There should be a spin-off with Provenza and Flynn. They are the two most likely characters from The Closer that could carry a show on their own. That is not saying that the other characters are not talented because they truly are, the show has so many wonderful actors tackling these roles and that is one reason the show is such a hit. But, the two actors playing Provenza and Flynn (Bailey and Dennison) have made such strong impressions on the viewers. They have both proved to be remarkable characters who can not only show the humor of a situation, but they can also show the dramatic side.
I honestly think it is wonderful to extent the season, but when Brenda is done….so should be the show. After all, she is The Closer and no one can fill her shoes or should be allowed to.
Omg, The Closer is my most favorite show on TV! Please pay Kyra whatever is necessary to keep her! That is what it usually comes down to, right? In any case, if she must leave, I choose a spinoff over trying to continue the show without her. There’s only one Brenda Lee Johnson, and although it’s a fabulous cast with great chemistry, she is the show. First I lost Monk, now The Closer. What ever will I do?
I agree with you; I still haven’t gotten over the loss of Monk, the greatest show ever on TV. Then the Closer came on and i couldn’t believe how this woman reminded me of me…..supervising alot of guys telling them what to do on my contracts…what to say, what to check for and approve so I could sign Invoices. I gave everyone orders…..as a civilian and formerly a USAF Captain. I LOVE to see a woman like Kyra telling men what to do and getting things done like only a woman can do. Pay her whatever she wants guys…otherwise I cancel my cable TV…as will many others….my only reason for paying for cable was Monk and Kyra…..and bring back Monk while you’re at it…he doesn’t have to look like a young stud; we’ll take him in his fifties! Or Sixties! Just look at Andy Griffith whom we all adore!
I just discovered “The Closer” a few months ago, when the fifth season DVD set came to me from Columbia House. I was disgusted because I had really intended to send back the card (!) and hadn’t intended to pay that much for a TV cop series I didn’t even know. But I had the DVD’s, what the heck? Wow! As soon as I started watching, I fell in love with “The Closer” and I’ve become a bit obsessed. I was crushed when the news came out that Kyra was quitting. Seems to me, we should all conspire to convince Kyra she doesn’t want to walk away. What can we do?
SBL …it’s not always about the money ( never mind it’s cable) . sometimes one just have to move on, before an actor becomes too locked in /associated with a character …The closer accomplished a nice award- winning run , now it’s time for something new.
This last season, they taunted us with the possibility of Brenda being promoted to Chief of Policy of the LAPD. Why not give her a promotion of some kind overseeing all departments, closing cases in all areas of the police department, and yet overseeing her beloved Priority Homicide Dept. Why not have Brenda run the LA Sheriff’s Dept. Change of scenery and introduce some new characters to clash with.
I love watching The Closer. It will not be the same without Kyra aka Brenda Lee. They should the move major crimes to another state with new characters, including chiefPope. Kyra is the show. When Richie left Happy Days it was never the same and it ended shortly after.
I would watch a show with Provenza and Flynn. What a cool idea of being a retired cop getting cases from LAPD. I would give any spin off of this show a chance, say one season, to prove themselves.
I have been catching up on all the old episodes as well. Now I DVR any episode of the Closer that shows up, just in case I’ve missed it along the way.
Provenza & Flynn spin off. Perfect. “Layover” was my favorite episode. Mary is an excellent actress but no one likes the character she portrays (meaning she did her job very well). Closer, my favorite show on TV since Dynasty, Please give us more.
I agree – the show wouldn’t be the same without Brenda. I DVR the shows every day and just recently saw the one with the lawyer that gets away with rape & murder. I think that was the only criminal she didn’t catch. I would love to see her catch him in another crime before the show ends.
I love The Closer because it is just like good old fashion televison programs. She is so exciting. Everything now is reality tv which is a portrayal poor acting to me. I love The Closer. Please don’t take it off the air. we love brenda lee !!!!!!!!! We need more eposoides for each season. SEDGWICK ONLY
Continuing without Kyra would be a mistake, I love her character, she reminds me we are all human. She’s intelligent, and her personnel life is a mess, as is most people’s lives. I find myself in similar situations, she makes me feel more normal due to the parallel of her character and my life. Brenda’s flaws make the series perfect, after all isn’t that more normal than the shows where all the characters are perfect, totally unrealistic. This show should not be cancelled, it should continue with all the original stars otherwise I know I would not continue to watch the show.
I like the show so much. I just started watching this past year, and find it to be entertaining. Should definitely keep the cast you have—-if it’s not broke—you know the rest.