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First up this week, congratulations to our leading lady and my partner in crime, Kyra Sedgwick, for her third Emmy nomination. Everyone at The Closer is already so proud of Kyra that it’s hard to know how much higher she might climb in our esteem, but it’s good to know that other people share our admiration for her incredible work.
This Monday’s episode, "Speed Bump," explores the justice system’s response to people with no power whatsoever. I refer to those poor parolees for whom the doors of prison open into airless halfway houses and the Sisyphean struggle of rebuilding an entire life while clutching a resume featuring crimes against the state.
Don’t get me wrong. I am an advocate for our overworked and underappreciated law enforcement agencies, and my sentiments are always, first and foremost, with the victims they work so hard to represent. But our prison system (especially here in California) doesn’t work very hard to reintegrate prisoners into society once they have done their time. Hapless and sometimes utterly unsupported, it is no wonder most of them end up back in prison.
This week’s episode concerns an old case first investigated by Lt. Andy Flynn. Nearly a decade ago, a young girl was strangled during sex; the man who murdered her was convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter; freed early for good behavior, the young girl’s killer himself ends up a victim. How hard must PHD work to uncover the truth behind the hit-and-run homicide of an alcoholic parolee on a margarita binge? Especially one who robbed sympathetic parents of their only child?
We should not measure our justice system by its efficiencies alone, but also by its equal application under the law. The intractable problem of economic imbalance is quite nearly impossible to correct. Murder, however, should be (relatively) easier to solve. Enter Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
Finally, the entire Closer family thanks you for once again making us the number one scripted show on cable for the fourth year in a row. Our hope, as always, is to remain worthy of your time and attention.
Gratefully yours,
James Duff
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Jul 20, 2008 9:09 PM
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Thank you for giving is such a kick-a** show!!! The characters are terrific and all the actors have such great chemistry with each other. The writing is perfect. It should be nominated for "best ensamble cast" as well as best drama. Can't wait for the wedding episode and when Brenda's parents come back as well!!
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Jul 21, 2008 5:30 PM
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James, this is non-show related. Take a trip down memory lane to your teen years at Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas. Remember Debbie K. or Nancy H.? This is Debbie. Nancy notified me that you are the same James Duff we hung out with. Just had to contact you and congratulate you on your success.
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Jul 22, 2008 12:34 AM
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First off, I wanted to join you in congratulating Kyra Sedgwick on her beyond well deserved Emmy nomination! Every second that she is on screen, she proves just why she is worthy of every word of praise and every strong and positive accolade that comes her way; she is brilliant, and she makes it look so easy to be that way! 
Secondly, I wanted to congratulate you on the show and its top spot honor in the cable television rankings. It is because you and your 'Closer family' produce such an incredible, intelligent, challenging, emotional, enjoyable show that the show finds such acknowledgement! In three seasons and two episodes, the show has not taken a bad step in a world where drama and strong continuous character development seems impossible to uphold in the case of most shows. I think is is quite possible that The Closer is only getting better, and as a viewer desperately seeking that kind of unfaltering entertainment, I appreciate that -so- much.
While the top ranking thing is obviously an awesome honor, I have to tell you that there is one better out there that you've achieved: The Closer is the only show that has my father tuning in with child-like excitement over every episode, with interest never waning, four seasons FAR beyond a new record for him. There is no other television drama out there that has ever been this 'can't miss' for him, and in the long, dawg days of summer when he's prone to be restless and bored, sharing this with him every Monday night and seeing him so entertained throughout that hour is an awesome thing.
Last but not least, a note on last night's episode, "Speed Bump"...fabulous! This episode featured a very strong case that asked viewers to look deeper and subtly exposed the failings of the post-justice system in the way that I think you were going for. I love it when television leads me to consider something without banging me over the head with it. "Speed Bump" did a great job of exploring the situation in more shades of gray terms than one might paint it otherwise, with quick judgement. It was thought provoking---and then, entertaining. It will be hard to forget the brawl that Brenda set off in the interview room! Well done!
What hit me even more in this episode was the personal development, though---it has been a long time since we've seen Brenda kind of pull her head up out of the work and take notice of Fritz like she did last night. Okay, true that Fritz kind of spent an entire day laying on the floor, waiting for her, immobile, but---the connections between addiction for the victim and the way it made Brenda consider Fritz in the end---brilliant. I think it caused Brenda to both give credit to Fritz's strength (rather than to focus on the flaw of the addiction itself) while she also took a moment to consider his vulnerability, at the other side of the sobriety coin. Thank you for that. The story, mildly hinted at and then explored at the end of last season, continuing on, of Fritz's alcoholism is an arc that I've been fascinated by from the start, especially the way that it might fit in and/or affect this twosome, and the element was perfect. It has been a while since we've seen them this strong as a couple, and I appreciated the bonding on the homefront!
Thank you for letting them have some fun, for reminding us that Brenda is not -always- all work and no play  and for that most perfect scene at the end. Bravo!
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Jul 22, 2008 1:30 PM
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Congrats to Kyra again for another well deserved nomination. Also to you, Mr. Duff for continuing with your blog here on tvguide.com, I am always intrigued by how the story develops from paper to screen.
I have to echo paintedwhispers sentiment about how the writing has made subtle nods to Fritz's painful past in AA, and Brenda's intially anger has transformed into one of understanding and respect for his struggles and being able to overcome them.
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Jul 22, 2008 2:28 PM
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Loved all the wonderful Brenda-Fritz scenes in Speed Bump. They're the best TV couple out there at the moment. I love what you're doing with them this season, keep it up!
Beside this one, I also enjoyed reading your blog on TNT site. Very funny. Thanks for keeping in touch with the fans and sharing any background info about the episodes.
And congratulations to Kyra, she has to win this year.
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Jul 24, 2008 8:25 AM
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The first couple episodes of this season were rather ho hum--though I did enjoy the cat fight between the homeless shelter workers. Very funny. The latest episode Cherry Bomb(?) was superb. Provenza's character is so well done --every gesture, facial expression is played for maximum effect, but everyone in this ensemble is a delight. My female co-workers and I agree that "Fritzi" is our dream man. If only there were such a guy out there. Did anyone else notice in that first episode when Gabriel was trying to carry something for Daniels? And then in the second episode she said she was working late because "there's nothing to go home to" ? What happened? Is/was Daniels pregnant? Did they break up? Trouble in paradise? Hmm.
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Jul 29, 2008 12:34 PM
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