Back in July, TNT announced that The Closer would be back for a seventh season of 15 episodes. The series has been the top performer for the cable channel and the most-watched TV show on ad-supported cable television.
Now, TNT has announced The Closer is coming to an end. The press release notes that the decision came from series star Kyra Sedgwick.
Here’s the official press release…
TNT Announces Final Season of Landmark Hit THE CLOSER
TNT’s long-running, breakout hit THE CLOSER will wrap up its phenomenal run with a final season in 2011. The difficult decision to conclude the series with season seven was made by Kyra Sedgwick, the Emmy-winning star of THE CLOSER.
“It’s impossible to fully express our appreciation to Kyra Sedgwick, series creator James Duff and all of the other talented people who brought THE CLOSER to TNT viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “THE CLOSER was a pivotal series in setting a new course for TNT’s original programming, while also serving as a prime example of the storytelling strength possible on cable television.”
“I cannot fathom how difficult it will be to say goodbye to the incredible family we’ve created on THE CLOSER,” Sedgwick said. “I will always be grateful to James Duff for his love and friendship, as well as for creating such a rich and complex character who I have loved living with year after year. Mike, Greer, Rick and all of our outstanding cast and crew are forever in my heart. 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 CLOSER proved to be a resounding success after its debut on TNT in 2005. The series – which is produced for TNT by The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television – was created by Duff, who serves as executive producer with Greer Shephard, Michael M. Robin, Rick Wallace and Sedgwick. In its seventh and final season in 2011, THE CLOSER will reach its 100th episode. Production of the 15-episode season will start in spring 2011.
“Kyra Sedgwick has distinguished herself not only as an extraordinary actress, but as a remarkable set leader and presence on THE CLOSER,” said Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television. “The series has literally changed the face and course of both TNT and Warner Bros. Television, and we will always be grateful for all that she has contributed toward that success.”
“Kyra blazed a new trail in the television landscape with her performance as Brenda Leigh Johnson,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “Like her many fans, we will miss her terribly, and we will be forever grateful for the time we got to spend with her.”
THE CLOSER is currently in the midst of concluding its sixth season. This past summer, the series was the foundation of TNT’s strong Monday night lineup, which featured the introduction of the new hit series Rizzoli & Isles.
THE CLOSER and Rizzoli & Isles currently rank as basic cable’s top two series of all time. In 2010, both series averaged more than 8 million viewers, marking a first for a basic cable network. THE CLOSER also kept up the pace by growing its deliveries compared to season five.
What do you think? Are you sorry to hear The Closer is ending? What would you like to see happen in the series finale?
Image courtesy TNT.
Rather than diminishing with age The Closer just kept getting better. I am sorry to see it end but cannot imagine it without Kyra. I would like her to be pregnant in the end…time for her to focus on Fritz!
please don’t remove my SHOW
let brenda leave town, have her husband get a big promotion and they move. get a new woman to come in and replace her. the detectives are great and i will miss them as much as brenda. they are a great team. and should continue. plus i enjoy the comic parts.
I love The Closer – I am going to miss the show dearly. There goes another GOOD series.
I didn’t finish my comment about The Closer – I love the team – they are great – expecially Brenda’s hubby – he is a doll. What I would like to see happen in the last show is to have Brenda break the news to Fritz that she is going to have a baby & then it ends with a great big smile on his face with his arms around Brenda. That would be a great ending since Fritz has always mentioned children. Thanks for a great show – I will miss it – miss it – miss it –… Read more »
Why…why…why?? In ‘The Closer’ series, the big secret is finally out. People WANT to see wrinkles, grey and gosh…that purse! We are tired of sex, skin and simpering. We are college educated professionals in our eighties, who critique a lot of shows that fill our days because of limited mobility. I wish I had a venue like “dear Abby’, to spout off about what the public wants and rarely gets. Don’t forget, we BUY!
My husband and I love watching this show together. The whole cast work well together, and they are all so funny! This show is a modern day Murder She Wrote. We can’t believe it will be going off the air. There aren’t too many good programs on, and we will really miss it. We hope Kyra reconsiders.
My family and I will miss the show very much. We agree with many of your other viewers who say “the show must go on”. You guys are talented, figure something out.
come back please !!
I HATE to see this show end. I love the show & like Vicki I arranged my Monday night so I could watch it and I also would record it just in case I fell asleep during the ads. I love the entire cast & wish the show would go one even if Brenda Lee isn’t there. PLEASE reconsider and bring it back!
I so don’t want the closer to end!! I love the whole cast. What makes the show so great is the whole cast , not just Brenda. I wish the show would go on with out Brenda. It won’t be the same but it might be just as good. Maybe Brenda could make cameo appearacnes. She could return to Washington DC.
I love the show and ever thing was arranged around my Monday nite, so I could watch the closer.
Thank you, Thank you very much
I was devastated when I learned that the series was ending. As a mom and with my daughters age 28 & 24, we find that Monday night is mother & daughter bonding evening as we watch “THE CLOSER”. We love this show and will miss it. It has brought such joy as we all sit together and watch it. Thank you.
I am so sad to read that The Closer will end in 2011. I look forward to summer just to watch The Closer. Many of my relatives and friends love the show too. I don’t understand why such a successful show will not continue. I hope Kyra will rethink her decision as we love her and her show.
Sincerely,
Susan
First of all a huge “THANKS” to everyone involved in the show. I have bought all 5 seasons available to the viewing public. Producing the final shows will be very important. It is hard to say which show is my fave, they all are. The one thing I would love see in the final year is the one where the Lawyer got his client to lure the women into their house. He would leave the window open & lure the lawyer in , & he would then rape & murder them. Sitting in the hallway with the entire team watching… Read more »
Yes, Brenda must outwit her nemesis!
I just saw at the checkout that they’re ending the show. I’m devastated. I will miss it so much. How about just starting with Brenda being out of town for something and let Capt. Raydor take over. She’s been being nicer to people. I think it would also make for a good dynamic. They could eventually just write Brenda out if they need to. Will miss seeing Kyra in that role every week, but still don’t want the show to end. Shame on you Kyra, for taking away a show that so many, many people are fans of.
I feel the same way. The show can, and should go on without her! CAPTAIN RADER
I am 65 yrs old. This is my favorite show. I will surely miss it.