TNT Names Date for Closer Return

TNT network has announced its hit summer tv series The Closer will start its third season on June 18th at 9PM. The series, which stars Emmy-winner Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson of the LAPD, is among the most highly rated original programs on basic cable.

The Closer stars Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson, an Atlanta transplant homicide detective who is expert in getting that final "aha!" how-done it connection and confession from suspects. Johnson runs LAPD's priority homicide team, which handles, obviously, big profile murder cases. The show has been a ratings success and earned Sedgwick several award nominations.

The Closer also stars a large SAG-nominated ensemble cast which includes Oz and Law & Order alum J.K. Simmons as Chief Pope, Johnson's ex-lover and current boss; and Jon Tenney as Fritz Howard, her current boyfriend, and FBI agent. Johnson's right hand man Sgt. Gabriel is played by Corey Reynolds. Other notable character actors include Anthony John Denison, G.W. Bailey (Police Academy) , and Michael Paul Chan. The first season focused on the team gradually coming to accept Johnson as their boss, though by the second season, they had all thoroughly bonded

Along with The Closer, TNT will be launching a new medical drama Heartland, which starts Treat Williams as a transplant surgeon. TNT tried to follow The Closer with another medical drama, Saved, which starred Tom Everett Scott as an emotionally messed up paramedic. The show wasn't as successful as The Closer. Williams most recently starred Everwood as a doctor on Everwood, a WB series, was cancelled when the network merged with UPN last summer.

Other shows returning this fall include FX networks' Rescue Me, the Denis Leary series about life of firefighter Tommy Gavin living with the scars of 9/11. That series will add Jennifer Espisito (Spin City) this season as a female fightfighter assigned to Tommy's 'house.' Leary has been Emmy nominated for writing and acting in the show.

On the lighter side, the USA network, Monk and Psych will also be returning, both in July. Monk stars Tony Shaloub as a detective with OCD. Psych stars James Roday as a PI/slacker who solves crimes with his powers of observation, which he masks as psychic abilities. Shaloub has won the Emmy for his role in the series which will resume it's airtime, 9PM on Fridays. Psych, which also stars Dule Hill and Corbin Bernsen, follows at 10PM.