The Closer will officially get a spinoff — Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell as Brenda Johnson’s nemesis, Capt. Raydor — as TNT’s breakthrough hit comes to an end with its seventh season next summer, Turner networks announced at its (problem-plagued) upfront presentation to advertisers Wednesday morning in New York. The cable group also unveiled sneak peeks at some of its upcoming new shows: TBS’ The Wedding Band, a promising comedy about just that starring Brian Austin Green, Lost‘s Harold Perrineau (he gets to be funny!) and The Office‘s always-hilarious Melora Hardin; TNT’s big-budget, Steven Spielberg-produced Falling Skies, a drama about a world that must rebuild post-alien-invasion, starring Noah Wyle; wisecracking-lawyer dramedy Franklin & Bash, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and and Breckin Meyer; and the possibly awesome, possibly baffling Perception, a drama about a hallucinating neuroscientist who solves crimes, played by a scruffy Eric McCormack.
TNT’s extensive development plans include: Scent of the Missing, about a search-and-rescue officer who works with her Labrador retriever; Old West drama Gateway; a dramedy about a southern family who takes in their widowed daughter-in-law and her exceptionally smart son, produced by Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Shaun Cassidy; and Mitch Albom’s drama set in a Detroit radio station. TBS’ pipeline includes An American Couple, a comedy about a newly engaged couple set in the Illinois suburbs, and a cop show spoof, both executive-produced by Conan O’Brien.
Read more:
EW’s 2011 Upfronts Coverage
What is the most exciting new show of the fall season?
What about the Dallas update?
I guess they decided to not go with Dallas. Which is disappointing I was looking forward to that.
I am very much interested in Falling Skies. The story looks intriguing.
Come on TNT, if you can develop a gem like the Ray Romano dramady. How can you not imagine or help develop a series spin off of Lt Provenza and Lt Flynn. They are comedic gold and would be awesome to watch. WE WILL MISS the CLOSER and brenda lee and cast. Dont know how my life can continue without them, so why not a spin off with those two characters. They have shined brilliantly on their own when given a chance. Please, please allow some of your writers to entertain the idea. You will strike Plantinum with those two characters. Please consider for our sakes and yours. TNT does know drama and now comedy. You steal many hours of viewing from non cable viewers. Please use the idea, develop it and strike GOLD. Thank you
I also would love a spin off with Lt Provenza and Lt Flynn. I can not stand Capt Raydor, the character or the actress. I am very disappointed with TNT. It looks like I won’t be watching the Major crimes
I don’t watch The Closer, but I am overjoyed to see Mary McDonnell back on TV. So say we all!
Mary McDonnell is a great actor and character supreme actress. But Im sorry if there is no brenda lee johnson, Kyra Sedgwick and company it wil not suceed. Good luck Mary. i and my family wont be watching. Where is Lt Provenza/Lt Flynn characters?
If he’s “scruffy” on his new show, maybe Eric McCormack will go back to using the voice he had on Lonesome Dove. I missed it during Will & Grace.
Oh, come on! Mary McDonnell, who played a character everybody hated, gets the spin-off?! Yuck. Anybody else in that large cast, I’d watch. My personal pick would be J.K. Simmons, who is great in everything he does (Law & Order, Spiderman, Farmer’s Insurance (the AutoBoatHomeHelicopter), you name it. He’s wonderful!
Everyone hated? Hardly. Closer’s rating started going up as soon as MM joined the cast, and TPTB obviously saw a goldmine in her because they kept increasing her role and fleshing out her character. She has done almost the impossible and that is turning the antagonist that no one was supposed to like into a well loved character and the reason a whole new fan base is now watching The Closer. I can’t wait to see what will happen next and I’m so glad Captain Raydor is going to be given more depth. MM is amazing and Raydor is a mystery worth exploring.
scent of the missing- the title alone screams engaging. ugh.
Sure hope Provenza & Flynn are included in the cast of Major Crimes. J.K. Simmons would also be a plus.
I’ll love the spinoff it the origianl cast(excldudingBrenda)remains intact…I watched it every week plus tvodit to rewatch mainly because of the supporting cast. Brenda was a lying bitch that weaved circles around. BRINGTHEM ALL BACK!!
I love the Closer because I love murder mysteries. However, Brenda Lee REALLY got on my nerves about that stupid cat to the point where I changed the channel (it was one of the reruns). The other thing was the whining when she didn’t get her way…annoying. I don’t like Mary McDonnell…I never did. I was dissappointed when she made her appearance on the show.
Thanks for letting me vent.
PS: Where are the Terms of Serivce and Privacy Policy posted…does this mean you can sell my email address?
Where is the schedule for new TNT programs?
LL
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i think just might work. i cant wait see the last six last one call the last word. k