The Closer: The Complete First Season

Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick, Personal Velocity) isn't about making friends, she's about getting results. Days after her transfer from Atlanta, the LAPD's Priority Homicide Division decides they can't work with the blunt-talking Southern belle. Fortunately, she has former CIA colleague, Assistant Police Chief Will Pope (J.K. Simmons, Spider-Man), on her side. As he explains to Captain Taylor (Robert Gossett), who she has just replaced, "She is not miss congeniality...but she's a closer." Set to the sound of urban blues, TNT's The Closer is Columbo by way of Prime Suspect. In other words, Johnson may be as messy as Oscar Madison, but she's as sharp as Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the first season, she'll solve 13 murders, including those of a reclusive mathematician, a Russian prostitute, and a British butler. She won't get much support from her colleagues, except for Sergeant David Gabriel (Corey Reynolds, Broadway’s Hairspray)--to the consternation of his co-workers, like Detective Lieutenants Provenza (G.W. Bailey, M*A*S*H) and Flynn (Tony Denison, Melrose Place). Johnson also has a friend in FBI Special Agent Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney, You Can Count on Me). With his help, she'll eventually settle into her new environment, especially when she lands a house and a cat on the same day (conveniently left behind by a victim). Just as it takes awhile for the chief to grow on her squad--and to get used to driving in LA--Sedgwick's Golden Globe-nominated performance follows a similar trajectory. Fortunately, "Scarlett O'Hara," as the droll Provenza dubs her, becomes more fully-rounded as the season progresses, aided by a superb SAG Award-nominated ensemble cast. Consulting producer on The Closer is former LA District Attorney Gil Garcetti of O.J. infamy. --Kathleen C. Fennessy