Next on the fresh July 13 episode of The Closer: Team Brenda is on the scene after an online matchmaker is murdered before he can complete arrangements for a cable-network TV-show pilot. Also, viewers will get the extreme pleasure of watching Pope rotate with Brenda’s squad as they go about their detective duties.

A sneak peek follows the jump.

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET.

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The members of Team Brenda are taking a walk down memory lane, so to speak, on the latest new episode of The Closer, tonight’s (July 6) “Half Load.”

Details and a sneak peek follow the jump…

The action is set in motion when someone murders a person who used to belong to a gang, but Brenda’s squad soon learns the victim probably wasn’t the intended target of the violence. Other clues then point the detectives in another direction.

That would be Father Jack (a character some viewers will remember from the third-season episode “Grave Doubts,” played by Mark Rolston, pictured at left in the top photo), the Crenshaw Community Center, and local residents who believe the LAPD couldn’t care less about preventing crime in their neck of the woods. Of course, Brenda can’t be having that, and she becomes determined to show the naysayers that she fights crime no matter where it occurs.

Check out a preview clip below.

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

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How cool was it seeing Battlestar Galactica veteran Mary McDonnell facing off against Kyra Sedgwick on the last episode of The Closer called “Red Tape“? Waaay cool — those claws definitely came out!

Fortunately, there’s more gooey guest-star goodness coming up on “Walking Back the Cat,” tonight’s (June 29) fresh episode of the crime drama. Just follow the jump for details.

The episode focuses on a murder and drug trafficking at dance parties that cater to gay attendees. The members of Team Brenda are temporarily deputized into the FBI when a missing person case turns into a murder, allowing Brenda to work with her husband Fritz again. Of course, however, she continues her track record of irking colleagues since her investigative tactics are notoriously unique and bull-headed.

Some viewers will be extra psyched that Stargate Atlantis alum David Hewlett guest stars on the episode. Also of note is the front-and-center elevation of long-time peripheral character Dr. Morales, the coroner played by Jonathan del Arco. Apparently, his inside knowledge of the gay community as a homosexual will help Brenda et al with their case.

For more about del Arco’s welcome prominence for once during an episode, read the interesting interview with him over at TV Guide magazine’s website. The actor talks about not only tonight’s episode, but his activism in the organization GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Educational Network), which helps young people with issues related to anti-homosexual bullying in schools.

The customary sneak peek is below, as well, and it features Hewlett’s character with Team Brenda, Fritz, and Will Pope in the Murder Room.

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

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Oh, no. It’s a bad news, good news situation on “Red Tape,” tonight’s (June 22) brand-new episode of TNT’s crime series The Closer.

More information after the jump.

The bad news is that poor Sergeant David Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) will find himself in a pickle after he shoots a murder suspect. On the other hand, the good news is that the woman tasked with investigating the situation, one Captain Sharon Raydor, is played by fantabulous guest star Mary McDonnell. The Battlestar Galactica and Dances with Wolves veteran is set for multiple episodes, so sit back and get ready for the ride to come.

And viewers can be assured a great ride is on the way because Captain Raydor and Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) are destined to butt heads. There’s nothing like a rivalry between two professional, accomplished, and dedicated women to start the blood racing and put the drama in “dramatic.”

Or, who knows? Maybe the crime fighters will turn out to be best friends, or at least civil to one another, which I wouldn’t mind at all.

Now that you know to get very excited, continue below to check out the best, most intense Closer sneak peek ever. I hope we don’t lose Gabriel because he was my first favorite character on the show before I learned to love everybody on Team Brenda equally.

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

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Talk about being timely. “Blood Money,” tonight’s (June 15) fresh episode of The Closer, revolves around a filthy rich dude in the money business — what else? — who’s in deep you-know-what for suspected swindling.

When said financier is apparently abducted, the members of Team Brenda quickly realize that he may have actually staged his own kidnapping to avoid the heat from investors who believe he ripped them off.

More details follow the jump.

Viewers also learn (although I’m telling you early right now) that Detective Irene Daniels (Gina Ravera) has left the squad after receiving a promotion to another division, leaving her ex, Sergeant David Gabriel, to take on the task of forensic accounting for the case.

And in minor subplots, Lieutenant Provenza’s odd behavior continues, while Brenda and Fritz cope with their cat Kitty’s ongoing medical problems. Remember back when Brenda first arrived at what would become her new home and found Kitty living there? She couldn’t stand the cat then, which makes it so much sweeter how obviously grief-stricken she is over the pet’s condition now. Aw!

Continue below for the “Blood Money” sneak peek, featuring the typical Murder Room discussion and assorted side chats, as well as the not-so-usual giddy side of Provenza. The unfamiliar woman in the middle of the clip is guest star Paola Turbay (pictured immediately above), who plays new cop character Detective Mikki Mendoza. And, yes, she will reprise the role later this season.

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

Post from: Grrl TV

I know, I know — there’s been an awful lot of news related to The Closer lately. But this has been a pretty big week for series star Kyra Sedgwick.

Yesterday, June 8, the same day as her show’s very successful fifth-season premiere, Sedgwick made her way to California, where she received the 2,384th star on the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Even better, her brand-new shiny honor is located right beside that belonging to her husband, film star Kevin Bacon, which is just too cool. What a great way to start a new season for her!

Follow the jump to take a look at the festivities in a few choice photos, the second including Bacon and the first featuring the cast of The Closer, who apparently turned out in full force for their leading lady (I believe Tony Denison, aka Lieutenant Andy Flynn, is the one you can’t see immediately to the right of Sedgwick). That speaks volumes about their regard for her as a person, which is good for fans to know.

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET.

Post from: Grrl TV

If my many recent blog posts on The Closer haven’t made it clear that the TNT show’s fifth season opens tonight at 9pm ET, let me publish one final reminder. After watching the premiere episode called “Products of Discovery” in advance, I have no trouble assuring viewers that the series is still in top form, despite the changes that TNT has advised are coming up this summer.

Tonight’s premiere features a particularly disturbing case involving the early-morning mass murder of four family members: mother Cynthia Rivera, her young children Lucia and Miguel Rivera, and her mother Diana Alvarez. As is standard procedure in such crimes, Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and her team of detectives immediately cast their collective eye on the man of the household, who’s not exactly an upright citizen, as the killer.

Since I don’t want to spoil the subsequent developments in the case that fans enjoy experiencing fisthand, let me just say that solving the evil crime involves noticing a most unbelievable and simple error, as well as some typically gutsy and insightful collaboration by the Major Crimes unit. The scene where Team Brenda gets their guy is as gripping as they come on the show, and that’s saying a lot.

The notable guest star for the episode is seasoned actor Lee Tergesen, an alum of hard-hitting series like HBO’s stellar prison drama OZ, the venerable and gritty cop show Homicide: Life on the Street, and TNT’s own short-lived crime drama Wanted (I was so bummed when the network canceled that after only one season). All you need to know about his latest gig on The Closer is that there’s not a drop of love lost between his character and Brenda.

Some of the changes viewers can expect this season include the exit of a former regular cast member, a significant lifestyle change for grumpy but always lovable Lieutenant Provenza (G.W. Bailey), economic hardship for another Major Crimes unit member, and a bit of adjustment to married life on the part of Brenda. So far, she and new hubby Fritz (Jon Tenney) are doing just fine, though.

A special treat tonight during the season premiere is the opportunity to interact with series co-creator and co-executive producer James Duff as he and other TNT staff live-tweet the episode at the The Closer’s dedicated Twitter website @TheCloserTNT. I’ll be there, getting in on the action from my main Twitter account @tvjots, so please join us and other fans to help take the premiere to a whole ‘nother level of entertainment. See ya there!

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET.

Post from: Grrl TV

For four years on The Closer we’ve had the same central Primary Homicide team, led by lead character Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick). But, it looks like that’s going to change when the hit crime drama’s fifth season begins tomorrow, June 8, at 9pm ET, with the premiere “Products of Discovery.”

Pictured above are the Season Five regular cast members: from left to right, Corey Reynolds (Sergeant David Gabriel), G.W. Bailey (Detective Lieutenant Provenza), Tony Denison (Lieutenant Andy Flynn), J.K. Simmons (Assistant Police Chief Will Pope), Sedgwick, Robert Gossett (Commander Taylor), Raymond Cruz (Detective Julio Sanchez), Philip P. Keene (Buzz Watson), Jon Tenney (FBI Special Agent Fritz Howard), and Michael Paul Chan (Lieutenant Mike Tao).

Fans who’ve been watching the show for a long time should have no problem spotting the missing team member in that group. If you need a hint, though, or the entire answer, follow the jump to be majorly spoiled.

If you continued this far then you probably didn’t realize that Team Brenda is now strictly a one-woman unit. Apparently, Gina Ravera’s character Detective Irene Daniels has exited the show after a stint that began during the very first season. Maybe Daniels got that job transfer instead of her ex Sergeant Gabriel after all.

Hopefully, Ravera will at least return briefly as a guest star in a future episode. Her role was never that large or integral, but she was a constant, welcome presence, and she will be missed.

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

Post from: Grrl TV

We are just days away from the Monday, June 8, fifth-season premiere of The Closer called “Products of Discovery.”

During the episode, which features guest star Lee Tergesen (OZ, TNT’s Wanted), Team Brenda investigates the quadruple murder of a family and soon learn the case is related to an ongoing FBI investigation.

Follow the jump for a revealing Murder Room sneak peek that features the return of one of Brenda’s favorite people (Not!) and an extra sour Provenza. Can you spot which longtime team member isn’t present?

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

Post from: Grrl TV

Lucky us. Season Five of TNT’s crime drama The Closer is just a couple of weeks away. The action launches on Monday, June 8, at 9pm ET, with the premiere episode “Products of Discovery.”

Follow the jump for spoilers and a few preview photos.

According to the official description, Team Brenda unexpectedly gets involved with an FBI investigation when the detectives are called to the scene of a quadruple murder. If killing four people at the same time isn’t twisted enough, the fact that the murder victims are all family members certainly is. Moreover, the FBI case may have directly contributed to the killing spree, as well.

Apparently, Provenza will also suddenly turn into a sourpuss after a period of atypical joyfulness, which I don’t mind one bit. I’m always happy to see the lieutenant, no matter how grumpy he is or not, just like it’s always a pleasure whenever OZ alum Lee Tergesen guest stars on a show.

So, obviously, there’s much to look forward to when Priority Homicide — or whatever the division is called these days — returns in just two weeks. Now keep scrolling down for the pics!

Kyra Sedgwick

Corey Reynolds, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond Cruz, and Tony Denison

G.W. Bailey, Guest Star Stephen Martines, Robert Gossett, and Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick, Corey Reynolds, and an unidentified guest star

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET this summer.

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