New Closer, Saved

Brenda Probes the Death of a Paparazzi Photographer in TNT’s The Closer
while Wyatt’s Nemesis Becomes the Boss on Saved Monday, July 17

Kyra Sedgwick (Something to Talk About, TNT’s Door to Door) Stars in The Closer at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do, Boiler Room) Headlines Saved at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

TNT’s hit Monday night line-up continues with the network’s original series – The Closer and Saved – on Monday, July 17, 2006 This week, The Closer’s lead character, Brenda Leigh Johnson (Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Kyra Sedgwick) investigates the apparent suicide death of a paparazzi photographer at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). And on Saved at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), Wyatt Cole (Tom Everett Scott) faces his worst nightmare when his nemesis from a rival emergency services company becomes his new supervisor.

The Closer’s premiere episode on Monday, June 12, scored ad-supported cable’s largest audience delivery ever for an original scripted series telecast, beating its own record set with the premiere episode of season one. This season of The Closer currently ranks as ad-supported cable’s best-ever season for a scripted original series. Meanwhile, SAVED scored big in its premiere, ranking as ad-supported cable’s top new original scripted series debut of the year.

The Closer – “Out of Focus” Directed by Michael M. Robin, Written by Hunt Baldwin & John Coveny

Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Sedgwick) is called in to investigate the death of a paparazzi photographer who appears to have killed himself by jumping from a hotel window. Her team of investigators soon discovers that a popular celebrity was staying at the hotel and may have been the target of the photographer’s prying camera tactics.

Meanwhile, Fritz (Jon Tenney – You Can Count On Me, Get Real) has been getting calls from a female colleague at the FBI, stirring up feelings of jealousy in Brenda.

The Closer’s Screen Actors Guild Award’s-nominated ensemble cast also features J.K. Simmons (Law & Order, Spider-Man) as Assistant Police Chief Will Pope; Corey Reynolds (The Terminal, Tony nominee for Hairspray) as Sgt. David Gabriel, Brenda’s right-hand man; Robert Gossett (Arlington Road, The Net) as Commander Taylor, head of the Robbery Homicide Division; G.W. Bailey (M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere, Police Academy) as quick-witted veteran Detective Lt. Provenza; Tony Denison (Melrose Place, The Amy Fisher Story) as Detective Andy Flynn; Michael Paul Chan (Robbery Homicide Division, The Insider) as technology-minded Detective Mike Tao; Raymond Cruz (Collateral Damage, Training Day) as Detective Julio Sanchez; and Gina Ravera (The Temptations, Soul Food) as Detective Irene Daniels.

The Closer comes to TNT from The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television and is executive-produced by Greer Shephard (nip/tuck, The D.A.), Michael M. Robin (nip/tuck, The D.A., NYPD Blue) and James Duff (The D.A., The Agency) and produced by Andrew J. Sacks (The D.A, Adaptation and Two Soliders). Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles district attorney from 1992 to 2000, is a consulting producer on the series.

Photo: J.K. Simmons, Jon Tenney and Kyra Sedgwick TNT's The Closer Photo: Andrew Eccles

Saved – “Cowboys and Independents” Directed by Alex Zakrzewski, Written by Kira Arné

Lifeshield becomes a living hell for Wyatt (Scott) after corporate-minded Kroll (Curtis Caravaggio – Earthsea) is hired as the new medic supervisor. Kroll proceeds to whip Lifeshield into shape, but Wyatt stubbornly resists the efforts to clean up and acknowledge authority – even risking his job to save an accident victim’s life by unauthorized means.

John “Sack” Hallon (Omari Hardwick – Beauty Shop, Sucker Free City) is thrilled when his son is accepted into the elite Westbrook Academy, but the school’s pricey tuition means serious financial hardship, leading Sack to seek supplemental income, including making nice with Kroll to win more overtime.

Alice (Elizabeth Reaser – The Family Stone) has difficulty dealing with her boyfriend’s daughter Hailey (Victoria Tennant – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), after the girl tries to drive a wedge between Alice and Lanier (Andrew Airlie – Fantastic Four, The 4400).

Meanwhile, paramedic Angela de la Cruz (Tracy Vilar – The Steve Harvey Show, ER) and newbie EMT Harper Sims (Michael McMillian – What I Like About You, Firefly) are called before the EMS Board to testify as to what happened with the patient who supposedly had a DNAR legal order. Angela is concerned that Harper’s by-the-book attitude will lead him to reveal that Angela did not confirm the order existed before allowing the man to pass away peacefully at home.

Saved comes to TNT from Fox 21, Imagine Television and Sarabande Productions, with Sarabande’s David Manson (Nothing Sacred, Thief) and Imagine’s Brian Grazer (The Da Vinci Code) and David Nevins (Arrested Development) serving as executive producers.