The Closer: Red Carpet Interviews with the Cast
September 15, 2011 by Lauren Tyree
Filed under feature overlay, Television
At a party celebrating their 100th episode and final season, the cast of TNT’s The Closer looked accomplished, satisfied, and ready to move on. Cable’s most-watched television series will end in just a few episodes, launching the spin-off Major Crimes next summer for the female-led-crime-drama fans who’d otherwise be left wanting. On a red carpet in Universal City, Poptimal caught up with a few of the show’s stars to get their thoughts about approaching the end of an era.
Phillip P. Keene has gotten pretty attached to his good-natured tech-expert character; referring to videographer Buzz Watson as “snarky,” he said, “He really has a heart. Buzz has a great sense of humor that masks the pain within.” Keene will miss portraying the continually frustrated surveillance guy, but he’s thrilled about the upcoming final episodes, in which “Brenda’s past comes back to haunt her.” Jon Tenney (FBI Special Agent Fritz Howard onscreen) echoed Keene’s enthusiasm about the culminating installments, grinning slyly about the big reveals in store for viewers. “The last episodes will be very satisfying for our fans,” he insisted. When I prodded him to be less cryptic about the plot reveals, he winked before adding, “I’ll say that just when you think certain things have been wrapped up, they might come back up again in a big way.” If he weren’t so giddy about the audience reaction to The Closer’s impending finale, he might be less anxious to wrap it all up.
Tony Denison, who plays Lieutenant Andy Flynn, spoke about the wide appeal of their project and how his role has changed him over the years. “Our show offers a lot of intrigue on the field and then at the office on the job; it makes for a fascinating story. After being on the show, I walk with a different kind of awareness on the streets. I have a lot of suspicion now. I see guys lurking around a corner and I look and think, ‘What are they up to?’” The character hasn’t completely robbed him of his sense of levity, however. He mentioned his odd-couple chemistry with G.W. Bailey (Lieutenant Provenza) as the thing he’s enjoyed most about working on the set. “We’ve been compared to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, which is a very high compliment, I think.” When asked if he could point out any less-than-ideal qualities in Lt. Flynn, Denison replied, “There’s nothing really bad about him. He may be a little black-and-white in his thinking and actions, but that’s what makes him interesting. There’s not much of a gray area with him. There’s no ambivalence.” He, like many of the show’s cast members, will be resurrecting his character on the much-anticipated spin-off, and he seemed anxious to make the move to another long-term gig. “I wanna break Gunsmoke’s record on Major Crimes!” he smiled.
Mary McDonnell will headline Major Crimes as the formidable LAPD Captain Sharon Raydor, leading her team without the help of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson or her husband Fritz. “We’re shooting in April and airing the show right after The Closer ends next year,” McDonnell explained. “We’ll miss Brenda. She’s a savant. We’re going to have to figure out how to crime bust in a whole different way without that aspect of the story. It’s an awesome opportunity to explore the justice system and learn more about the lives of the ensemble cast. We’re gonna learn a lot more about the guys, as well. But it’ll be different without Brenda.”
Lead Actor and Executive Producer Kyra Sedgwick will have a hard time hanging up her Brenda persona for good, though she was herself responsible for the decision to end the series after seven seasons and thinks it’s for the best. “I feel like it’s been a long time now. I’ve been consistently creatively fulfilled during this process, and it’s been great growing older with my character,” she said. “After the show debuted, I feel like there’s been a big change. There are so many female-headed shows now,” Sedgwick added proudly as her supportive husband snapped photos from the back of the room. “This has all been physically, emotionally, spiritually exhausting. It’s been so great to play a smart woman on television, and I will miss her righteous indignation.” Dedicated fans who plan to tune in through the finale to the next chapter of the story will also need to adjust, but I think it’s safe to bet on a positive response and much continued success for TNT.
The Closer returns to continue the seventh season this November. Final episodes air next summer on TNT.
Images courtesy of Lauren Tyree for Poptimal.com.
So sad that the Closer will be coming to an end. Not another show like it and never will be again! Hopefully Kiera will squeeze into the new Major Crimes & make that a hit too.
Great cast, great entertainment & will be missed by a lot of people.
Carol, Wisconsin
Mary McDonell is very dry on the show but that is her character and Mary plays her well so expect her to play her new role on Major Crimes very wellalso. They have all through next summer to lead Rayders character into a more likable person. After the last few episodes especially the bean bag gun to the head I am even more sure of that. I hated her and now I like her so they are accomplishing that goal. Mary can do it so give her a chance to bring Major crimes to life. Brenda didn’t do it in a day either-thank you very much?
I am also a Closer fanatic,have seen every episode.Will miss it so much.Will give Major Crimes a look see and then make a decision.Love all the characters,some more than others.I think 1 of the wonderful things was to see a woman with brains and beauty.(Esp.a Southern Woman)
I will miss Brenda and Fritz. I hope it ends in a good way. maybe she will have a baby and he will get promoted. I think I like captain rayder. after the shot between the bad guys eyes, she seems to have won the respect of her fellow officers. I hope the show ends on an up note and not something sad. I will miss brenda’s mom and dad alot.
Mary McDonnel does not have the charisma that Brenda has and I don’t see a show with her as the main character being very funny at all. She is dry and dull. Brenda was funny when she was trying to figure out “who done it”. You could she the lights coming on in her head and when she went off on Provenza and Flynn, it was hilarious.
Me and my husband have not missed an episode of the closer and love the way that last weeks episode is on before this weeks episode just in case you missed it. This is the best show ever. Brenda, Fritzzy, Provenza and Flynn make the show. They are the funniest ever. I will have nothing to look forward to on tv now. Does anyone know what Kyra will be doing now?
I love Mary McDonnell and her work.
This is the way it is…the show will lose viewers and will get new viewers. I’m looking forward to see the spin-off show!!!
I love Mary McDonnell an her work!
This is the way it is…they will lose viewers and for sure they will get new viewers. I’m looking forward to see the spin-off show!!!
I’ll always love The Closer but I think it was a wise decision to quit after the current season. This way they can really write to a great finale which fans would be sattisfied with. And this way the show stops at its best.
And if you don’t want to watch without Brenda you can still finish ”The Closer”, as she is still in every episode this season. She just won’t appear in ” Major Crimes ”, the new show. So if you don’t want to follow the team, just don’t watch Major Crimes.
I don’t want it to continue with Brenda. She makes the show. The writer should know they will lose viewers. I know that Brenda doesn’t go by the law but that’s real. That’s why The Closer is number one to me. Kyra your great! Without Brenda in the show it will die faster than you Close a file. I just hope the writers realize that before the season ends. ;(
I am a “Closer Addict.” I’m retired and watch re-runs every day. Love Kyra– an exceptional actor. She is Brenda. Would like to come back as Brenda in another life.
I get so tired of the good shows just leaving and audiences are left with whole lot of reality nonsense. What happens, do the actors end up making more money than God and therefore jump ship in the name of their “career”? I hope the spin off will be just as good. I’m not all that fond of Mary McDonnell as an actress, but if the shows storyline is as good I will continue to be a devoted fan.
i dont want the show to end. kyra please dont end it.
Mary McDonnell confirmed at a convention that the final five episodes of The Closer will be held back until Major Crimes is ready to air, they will then show the last 5 of TC going straight in then to MC
Can’t the writers ease up on the court issues and that lawyer? That is not entertasining and the message has been receievd…
There will be five in November/December and (I think) another 6 or 7 in the spring and that’s it. Major Crimes with most of the cast of The Closer continuing on.
All publications seemed to indicate that Monday’s episode was the last of The Closer. Wow! Were we shocked and happy to see that Brenda will be with us for another year. I just can’t imagine a week without my favorite smart, funny, powerful police chief and wife, Brenda Lee Johnson. Kiera, please don’t leave us!! Donna, Charlotte, NC