TNT Gets Summer Off to a Sizzling Start with Outstanding Performances by THE CLOSER and RAISING THE BAR

THE CLOSER Scores as Top Scripted Series Telecast for the Year-to-Date with 7.1 Million Viewers and 5.3 Million Households

TNT's dramatic summer launched last night with spectacular results as THE CLOSER delivered 7.1 million viewers and 5.3 million households, ad-supported cable's biggest audience for a scripted series telecast for the year-to-date. RAISING THE BAR, meanwhile, kicked off its second season with 3.6 million viewers and 2.8 million households, out-delivering the series' first-season average.

"We're thrilled to get the summer off to a terrific start with the return of these popular, acclaimed series," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming, TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "We look forward to continued success next week with the launch of WEDDING DAY and HAWTHORNE, plus the return of SAVING GRACE. Next month, we'll celebrate the return of LEVERAGE and the launch of DARK BLUE."

"These shows demonstrate the network's commitment to working with the very best talent in the industry to create a high-quality lineup that reflects positively on the network's drama brand," Wright said.

The following is a rundown of THE CLOSER and RAISING THE BAR's performance:

Last night's season-five premiere of THE CLOSER was watched by 7,139,000 viewers and 5,349,000 households, ranking it as ad-supported cable's most-watched scripted series telecast for the year-to-date.

THE CLOSER out-delivered its overall fourth-season average among viewers and households, as well as among adults 18-49 (2,249,000) and adults 25-54 (2,938,000).

THE CLOSER scored a 5.4 coverage household rating and a 4.7 national household rating.

RAISING THE BAR launched its second season last night by out-delivering its overall first-season average among viewers (3,568,000), households (2,764,000) and adults 25-54 (1,415,000). The episode was on par with the show's overall first-season average among adults 18-49 (1,134,000).

TNT's extensive roster of original series this summer will continue to expand next Tuesday with the premiere of two new series: WEDDING DAY, TNT's first unscripted drama, which is executive-produced by Mark Burnett, and HAWTHORNE, a character-driven hospital drama starring Jada Pinkett Smith. In addition, next week will also see the third season premiere of the provocative series SAVING GRACE, starring Oscar winner Holly Hunter.

On Wednesday, July 15, LEVERAGE, starring Oscar winner Timothy Hutton and executive-produced by Dean Devlin, will return for its second season, followed by the premiere of DARK BLUE, starring Dylan McDermott and executive-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

TNT, one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; Hawthorne, with Jada Pinkett Smith; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.