Series synopsis
The Closer is an American crime drama mystery television series that premiered on TNT on June 13, 2005. It ended on August 13, 2012. It was created by James Duff, Michael M. Robin. It stars Kyra Sedgwick, J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds and Robert Gossett.
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson transfers from Atlanta to LA to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Johnson's quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rubs her colleagues the wrong way, but her reputation as one of the world's best interrogator eventually wins over even her toughest critics.
Premise
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson transfers from Atlanta to LA to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Johnson's quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rubs her colleagues the wrong way, but her reputation as one of the world's best interrogator eventually wins over even her toughest critics.
Premise: They'll bring you in. She'll make you talk.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson
- J.K. Simmons as Will Pope
- Corey Reynolds as David Gabriel
- Robert Gossett as Russell Taylor
- G.W. Bailey as Louie Provenza
- Tony Denison as Andy Flynn
- Michael Paul Chan as Mike Tao
- Jon Tenney as Special Agent Fritz Howard
Supporting cast
- Gina Ravera as Irene Daniels
- Raymond Cruz as Julio Sanchez
- Scott Michael Foster as Luke Bower
- Matt McCoy as Kevin Adams
Guest cast
- Phillip P. Keene as Officer Buzz Watson
- Debra Mooney as Elaine Donahue
- Jason O'Mara as Billy Croelick
- Amy Sedaris as Claire Howard
- Molly Hagan as Kathy Reichter
- Jason Butler Harner as Sammy Rawley
- Todd Cahoon as Ryan Hughes
- Sandra Nelson as Mrs. McFadden
- Allison Smith as Ellen
- Hillary Tuck as Kendall Price
- Kevin Rankin as Dean Murphy
- Kerr Smith as Blake Rawlings
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 109 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | June 13, 2005 | September 5, 2005 |
| Season 2 | 15 | June 12, 2006 | December 4, 2006 |
| Season 3 | 15 | June 18, 2007 | December 3, 2007 |
| Season 4 | 15 | July 14, 2008 | February 23, 2009 |
| Season 5 | 15 | June 8, 2009 | December 21, 2009 |
| Season 6 | 15 | July 12, 2010 | January 3, 2011 |
| Season 7 | 21 | July 11, 2011 | August 13, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pilot A seemingly routine murder investigation by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division is interrupted by the arrival of Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, the new head of the LAPD’s Priority Murder Squad. An outsider from Atlanta in her first week of service, Brenda has already begun to face the resistance of long-time high-ranking officers and only her assistant, Sgt. Gabriel, seems willing to try to work with her. |
June 13, 2005 |
| 2 |
About Face Brenda and the team must investigate the murder of high-profile model Heather Kingsley, who dies as a result of nicotine poisoning. As Brenda investigates, she is drawn into the world of celebrity beauty, where illusion is everything, and the standard high. |
June 20, 2005 |
| 3 |
The Big Picture Brenda must fight for justice for two Russian prostitutes murdered by the illegitimate son of a Russian mafia figure. As she does, she confronts her own prejudices, and discovers the justice for these women is scarce in a world dominated by men. |
June 27, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Blue Blood Brenda and her team race against the clock to get to the truth, as things don't add up when an LA cop turns up dead. Meanwhile tension increases between the Priority Homicide Division and the Robbery-Homicide Division. |
June 12, 2006 |
| 2 |
Mom Duty When a juror in the trial of an infamous mobster is found dead, Brenda and the Priority Homicide Division find that their involvement in solving the case may be affecting the jury's final decision. Complicating her personal life, Brenda faces another new challenge: a surprise visit from her mother. |
June 19, 2006 |
| 3 |
Slippin' Things are not as they seem when Brenda and the team investigate the accidental murders of three college students caught in the middle of a gang shootout. Brenda must also continue her attempts at keeping her relationship with Fritz under wraps while her mother remains in town. |
June 26, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Homewrecker Brenda and the team investigate the grisly slaying of a family, and the only survivor is the drug-addled teen son. Meanwhile, a financial crisis rocks the LAPD, bringing about budget cuts and possibly Provenza’s early retirement. Meanwhile, Fritz hopes to move into a new house with Brenda. |
June 18, 2007 |
| 2 |
Grave Doubt The body of a long-dead murder victim is uncovered along with Lt. Provenza’s business card, setting off the squad’s search for his identity and killer. |
June 25, 2007 |
| 3 |
Saving Face At a retired cop’s funeral, Lt Provenza and Lt. Flynn discover something quite unexpected along with the corpse. |
July 2, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Controlled Burn When a massive fire breaks out in Griffith Park, Priority Homicide is on hand to help. Meanwhile, Brenda and Fritz are living in a small apartment and getting on each other's nerves. |
July 14, 2008 |
| 2 |
Speed Bump Brenda and the team must determine if a murder was revenge or mere coincidence when a recently released murderer turns up dead, the victim of a hit-and-run. As usual, Brenda's personal life isn't much better: she must deal with a recently incapacitated Fritz. |
July 21, 2008 |
| 3 |
Cherry Bomb Brenda suspects something more than suicide when a high-school girl is found hanged in her bedroom, and the investigation uncovers a ruthless sexual game being played at a private school. |
July 28, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Products of Discovery While investigating the homicide of an entire family, the team once again finds themselves entangled in an FBI case. They also find themselves distracted by an unusually surly Provenza. |
June 8, 2009 |
| 2 |
Blood Money Brenda and the team are called in to investigate the questionable disappearance of a shady financial investor. The team is a mess with Daniels now in another division, Gabriel doing double duty, and Provenza with behavior more curious than usual. In the meantime, Brenda and Fritz deal with a sick Kitty. |
June 15, 2009 |
| 3 |
Red Tape Sgt. Gabriel comes under investigation for shooting a homicide suspect when the facts don't add up. The internal investigation gets in the way of the original murder investigation, leaving the entire team tied up in knots. |
June 22, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Bang After a man is murdered while taking pictures of the stars from his balcony, the squad suspects the crime is somehow connected to the woman with whom he was having an affair. But their investigation is hindered by a missing murder weapon, as well as the difficult adjustment of moving into a new office. |
July 12, 2010 |
| 2 |
Help Wanted Capt. Raydor (special guest Mary McDonnell) accompanies Brenda on an investigation involving the disappearance of a nanny working for close friends of the mayor. Meanwhile, Raydor’s real purpose in taking part in the investigation could have big career implications for Brenda. |
July 19, 2010 |
| 3 |
In Custody While investigating a suspicious suicide, the squad wades into a nasty child-custody dispute between a dying man and his meth-addicted ex-wife. Meanwhile, Pope applies for the police chief job, but Brenda might have something to say about whether or not he gets it. |
July 26, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Unknown Trouble Brenda and the squad investigate the owner of a hip-hop record label when one of his rap artists and six innocent bystanders are gunned down. The case hits home for Gabriel who knows two of the victims from church. Meanwhile, Chief Delk is getting ready to announce the department’s new organizational chart just as Brenda becomes the target of a civil suit against the police department. |
July 11, 2011 |
| 2 |
Repeat Offender Brenda has to figure out how house sitting led to the death of a young lady. As the fallout from the civil lawsuit continues Captian Rader has to broaden her investigation to include the LAPD while the realignment within be in LAPD gets started. |
July 18, 2011 |
| 3 |
To Serve with Love Flynn and Provenza get into the usual trouble moonlighting as process servers when a man dies shortly after they serve him. |
July 25, 2011 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | TNT |
|---|---|
| First aired | June 13, 2005 |
| Last aired | August 13, 2012 |
| Runtime | 46 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Monday at 21:00:00 |