TNT closes deal to renew 'Closer'

Series continues to deliver solid numbers

By STEVEN ZEITCHIK

TNT has renewed Kyra Sedgwick police drama 'The Closer,' cable's most-watched series with nearly 8 million viewers, for a fourth season.

TNT has renewed "The Closer" for a fourth season, coming off a July performance in which its four airings claimed the top four spots among the month's most-watched cable programs.

The show, in which Kyra Sedgwick plays an offbeat LAPD investigator, continues to rack up impressive numbers in its third season.

A June debut that averaged 9.6 million viewers kicked off a season in which it has averaged 7.8 million viewers for its first seven episodes. Figure is up more than 15% over the average of 6.7 million viewers last season and is easily the best in all of cable.

While the show skews fairly old -- only about 25% of its aud is comprised of 18-49ers -- it typically draws more than 2 million viewers in the advertiser-friendly demo, making it cable's top summer drama performer in this category as well.

Perhaps the more interesting storyline will come when TNT makes a decision on its other two Monday originals.

"Saving Grace," the Holly Hunter cop drama with a spiritual twist, has performed solidly in its first two weeks in the 10 p.m. slot behind "The Closer," making it a prime candidate for renewal.

And "Heartland," the Treat Williams medical drama, looked like the summer's first casualty when TNT moved it out of the post-"Closer" slot to make room for "Grace," putting it on in the normally soft 8 o'clock hour.

But it has, in some weeks, pulled in more than 3 million viewers since moving to its new time, potentially giving the show new life.