The Closer

[kafka]

I really liked this show during it's first season and, tonight, Kyra Sedgwick is back for Season Two on TNT. The always wonderful J.K. Simmons will return as well.

I think "Brenda" is one of the more interesting female characters on television. She's simultaneously tough, assertive, no nonsense, annoying, entertaining, vulnerable and, even occasionally, shy at times. Kyra deserved the Golden Globe nomination. Let's see if she can do it again this year.

[kostgard]

I'm looking forward to the premiere tonight as well. I caught the bug again this weekend watching the marathon on Sunday.

And I agree - Brenda is a great character and Kyra does a great job with her. I usually hate crime procedurals (because I'm so sick of them) but I love this one.

[Karrit]

I am with you both, K and K about The Closer. I am excited that there is a new season, because I thought I read somewhere that it was not renewed. Was it always on TNT? I assumed it was a network show.

[kostgard]

It was most definitely renewed. In fact the new season started this past Monday with fantastic ratings, so I'm guessing that it will around as long as the ratings hold up and Kyra Sedgwick wants to do it.

It did start out on TNT. I'm actually thinking that these little cable network-lets have better programming than the major networks. This show is a prime example - I hate all the crime dramas on CBS and I am sick to death of them in general, but I love this show.

[kafka]

kostgard said:

In fact the new season started this past Monday with fantastic ratings, so I'm guessing that it will around as long as the ratings hold up and Kyra Sedgwick wants to do it.

Kostgard, would you happen to know how it did or where it ranked in the top 100? As for the episode itself, I liked it although I guessed who it was midway through. But for me, the fun of this show isn't the guessing or finding out who did it; it's seeing the interaction between Brenda and her team. I love all the guys from the hot assistant; to the un-PC, cranky Lt. Provenza (just like something out of Barney Miller); to the guy who used to hate her but then grew to respect her and support her agst others.... Damn, I love all of them. And the black lady looks a lot like an African-American Angelina Jolie. Maybe it's just me.

I cracked up when the forensics chap gave her some sweets and pled with her to have it. "Do it for us. Please. We're begging you!!!!!!!" Hilarious.

Karrit, do you get the show in London?

[kostgard]

I don't know where the show ranked, but it got 8.2 million viewers, which fantastic for a cable show.


I pretty much figured out that it was the guy with the sick kid, but I enjoy watching it unfold, and like you, I love the team.

And the black lady looks a lot like an African-American Angelina Jolie. Maybe it's just me.

It isn't just you. I think she's gorgeous and she has great hair.

I cracked up when the forensics chap gave her some sweets and pled with her to have it. "Do it for us. Please. We're begging you!!!!!!!" Hilarious.

I loved that too. Tau has been one of my favorites since the beginning. Him and Provenza - though really, I love them all.

I just like how complex Brenda is. She is supremely confident on the job because she knows how good she is, but she's awfully shaky and insecure in her personal life. She'll cut people off at the knees at work and tell them exactly what she thinks of them, yet she's worried about what her "Mama" would think of her if she had her boyfriend move in with her. You just don't see much of that on TV, unfortunately.

And speaking of Mama, she will be appearing in an upcoming episode. I can't wait to see that.

[kafka]

kostgard said:

I don't know where the show ranked, but it got 8.2 million viewers, which fantastic for a cable show.

Wow, no kidding. I think there are established shows on the networks which don't do that well.

It isn't just you. I think she's gorgeous and she has great hair.

And eyes too!

I just like how complex Brenda is. She is supremely confident on the job because she knows how good she is, but she's awfully shaky and insecure in her personal life. She'll cut people off at the knees at work and tell them exactly what she thinks of them, yet she's worried about what her "Mama" would think of her if she had her boyfriend move in with her. You just don't see much of that on TV, unfortunately.

I agree with all that. She's capable of being a complete B**** and doesn't give a damn who hates her or what they think of her. AT WORK. But a guy likes her and wants to move in with her, and she wants to reach for chocolate to steady herself. She doesn't even know the gender of "Cat," let alone bother to give it a name, yet she doesn't want it to be alone when it wakes up at the vet. She will stand up to FBI bullying, but cowers before her mother.

And speaking of Mama, she will be appearing in an upcoming episode. I can't wait to see that.

No way! That will be wonderful to see. Do you know who will be playing the redoubtable Steel Magnolia? 'Cuz you just know that she will be a perfect, pearl-wearing Southern Belle!

ETA: Your Avatar gives me the willies! Heh.

[kostgard]

I've heard that Mama is being played by Frances Sternhagen, probably best known as Carter's "Gamma" on ER. She's done a lot of stage work - including Steel Magnolias. Should be interesting.

In last season's finale, someone filed an anonymous complaint (although not really - it was totally Captain Taylor) again Brenda, accusing her of "behavior unbecoming an officer." This was backed up by complaints from the DA's office and the FBI for her "unprofessional" behavior. So Pope wanted Brenda to apologize to the DA, the FBI guy, and Captain Taylor in an effort to smooth everything over and make the complaint go away. Brenda's "apology" was so beautiful I have to quote it here:

I'd like to start with you, Ms. Powell. I'd like to say how sorry I am that I was unable to ignore your general level of incompetence in the wrongly obtained conviction in the case of Bill Croelick. And I'm sorry if you felt hurt and defensive about putting a man on death row for the wrong crime, and I certainly hope that that will never, ever happen again.

Agent Jackson, I deeply regret that the FBI handed over two million dollars to a man on a terrorist watch list without the capacity to trace it, or managed to follow him for months without knowing his wife was having an affair with a doctor, and I hope you do much better in the future.

Captain Taylor, I suppose I should apologize to you for not having been born in Los Angeles, but having seen you work up close now for several months, I can honestly say that try as I might, I can't think of any fair and reasonable system on earth where I wouldn't out-rank you.

There. I hope that clears everything up.

Such a beautiful smackdown. And it is why Brenda is awesome (and the way Pope just hung his head in defeat after she delivered that "apology" was hilarious).


Oh - my avatar is from my favorite cheesy/stupid 80s movie, Better Off Dead. It made John Cusack my first crush ever.

[Deleted]

I've heard that Mama is being played by Frances Sternhagen

She's a great actress, but she seems too old to be Brenda's mother. I think Tess Harper would be perfect.

[Karrit]

Karrit, do you get the show in London?

Kafka-yes, it is on cable. Stumbled across it one night and was hooked.

I've heard that Mama is being played by Frances Sternhagen, probably best known as Carter's "Gamma" on ER. She's done a lot of stage work - including Steel Magnolias.

Ah, to me Frances is Cliff Claven's mother in Cheers...and of course Charlotte's MIL from hell in SATC.