TNT�s The Closer Ends Season as Ad-Supported Cable�s Top Original Series of 2005

September 07, 2005

TNT�s hit original series The Closer, starring two-time Golden Globe nominee Kyra Sedgwick (The Woodsman, Something To Talk About, TNT�s Door to Door), finished its first season Monday, Sept. 5, as ad-supported cable�s top original series for the year to date among persons 2+, households and adults 25-54, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. In addition, the series� finale delivered more than 6.3 million viewers, making it The Closer�s most watched episode since its premiere. TNT recently renewed The Closer for a second 15-episode season, set to begin in 2006.

"With The Closer leading the charge this summer, TNT has firmly established itself as one cable�s top player in the original series arena," said Steve Koonin, executive vice president and chief operating officer for TNT and sister network TBS. �We are extremely proud of this top-notch series and the critical praise and enormous popularity it has garnered, and we look forward to an even bigger, better season when the series returns next year.�

For its 13-episode first season, The Closer averaged a 3.7 national household rating (4.5 coverage rating), with 5,451,000 persons 2+; 4,005,000 households; and 2,380,000 adults 25-54, which makes it ad-supported cable�s #1 original series for the year to date. It also averaged 1,935,000 adults 18-49, to make it ad-supported cable�s #1 new original series for the year to date.

The special 70-minute finale of the series Monday, Sept. 5, at 9 p.m. scored a 4.2 national household rating (5.1 coverage rating), with 6,3910,000 persons 2+; 4,614,000 households; 2,340,000 adults 18-49; and 3,017,000 adults 25-54. Among adults 25-54, The Closer finale�s delivery is the highest the series has ever received, while delivery of persons 2+, households and adults 18-49 is the series� best since the June 13 premiere.

The finale of the series outdelivered such prime time broadcast programs that night as NBC�s Las Vegas and Medium, FOX�s Nanny 911 and all programs on The WB and UPN among adults 25-54, persons 2+ and households.

The Closer premiered Monday, June 13, scoring a 4.8 U.S. household rating and delivering 5,259,000 households, making it the current record holder as ad-supported cable�s top original scripted series telecast ever. The premiere episode also delivered 7,027,000 persons 2+, making it ad-supported cable�s most watched series telecast for the year to date.

In The Closer, Sedgwick stars as feminine yet forceful, offbeat yet indomitable CIA-trained Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD unit charged with cracking sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Brenda has a great talent for knowing a person�s secrets and obtaining confessions, with skills that stem from understanding her own imperfections and neuroses. No matter the personal costs, she does whatever it takes to find out the truth.

Co-starring in The Closer are J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Law & Order, Oz) as Brenda�s boss, 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 Captain Taylor, head of the robbery homicide division; G.W. Bailey (M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere, Police Academy) as Detective Lt. Provenza; Jon Tenney (You Can Count on Me, Get Real) as FBI Agent Fritz Howard, a close friend of Brenda�s now living in Los Angeles.; Tony Denison (Melrose Place, The Amy Fisher Story) as Detective Andy Flynn; Raymond Cruz (Collateral Damage, Training Day) as Detective Julio Sanchez; Michael Paul Chan (Robbery Homicide Division, The Insider) as Detective Mike Tao; 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., Two Soldiers). Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles district attorney from 1992 to 2000, is a consulting producer on the series, while Detective Mike Berchem serves as technical advisor.

Turner Network Television (TNT), television�s destination for drama and one of cable�s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including Into the West, an epic six-week television event from DreamWorks Television and master storyteller and executive producer Steven Spielberg; the detective drama series The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick, and the action-packed crime series Wanted, with Gary Cole; powerful one-hour dramas, such as Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER, NYPD Blue, Charmed, Judging Amy and Angel, with Alias and Las Vegas joining the line-up in September and Cold Case coming in October; broadcast premiere movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is also available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.