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So Long 'til December
What a year it's been for the Closer family!
Thank y’all so much for your continued support and interest. As our regular season ends tonight (we're still editing and working on our two-part December special), we can look back at our summer (and ahead to this evening) and answer a few lingering questions.
For example, in "Ruby," the story of a little girl murdered and raped by a serial child molester, many of you noted that though the confession was written with one hand, the suicide note was composed with the other. How did this happen? What did it mean? Was our villain summarily dispatched by the LAPD?
Actually, the mystery is more mundane. Our guest star in that particular episode, the talented Heath Freeman, is ambidextrous! We didn’t notice it at the time, but many of you picked up on it right away. We should have been more vigilant.
Why didn't Fritz tell Brenda he was an alcoholic before? And how long has this twist in our story been planned?
On the first day of shooting, in the first scene of The Closer committed to film (like other television projects, we often shoot out of sequence), Jon Tenney's character, Fritz Howard, waits downstairs in a hotel lobby bar for a catch-up drink with newly installed LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. Jon elected to have a mineral water and suggested to me that, just perhaps, Fritz didn't drink (which would help explain his character’s loss of 30 pounds). I went with Jon’s suggestion. And for three seasons, we held off discussing Fritz’s bout with alcoholism based on my personal experience with a friend who married a man who had kept a previous substance-abuse problem secret; it finally came to light when a related bankruptcy threatened his new wife's credit rating. Yes, these things happen. People who watched the premiere should have no problem guessing the end, since The Closer tries very, very hard to match its endings to those of its beginnings.
In so far as the trial in our two-part finale goes, yes, LAPD officers often sit at the prosecutor's table during jury trials of the criminals they arrested. The investigating detectives often have a perspective on witnesses that DAs find invaluable.
Lawyers, in California anyway, are not allowed to approach the witness any closer than from the podium from which they ask questions. This explains our stationary lawyers. Our consulting producer, Gil Garcetti, former district attorney for the county of Los Angeles, was immovable on this point.
We stopped shooting the last Thursday in August, but that doesn't mean The Closer family has completely dispersed. Kyra Sedgwick has gone back to New York briefly in order to accompany her son to his first day at college: a bittersweet end to one phase of motherhood. She'll be back in L.A. next weekend for her second Emmy ceremony, since she is once again nominated for best actress in a dramatic series.
G.W. Bailey has been escorting the Sunshine Kids all over Los Angeles — taking them to Disneyland, Wicked (the musical), the beach and the set of The Closer. For those of you who don't know, G.W. is the president of the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which organizes and provides field trips for kids fighting cancer. Aiding G.W. in this endeavor, one way or another: Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Gina Rivera, Phillip P. Keene, Mike Robin, Andy Sacks (our line producer), Robert Gossett, J.K. Simmons, Tony Denison, Corey Reynolds, not to mention the never-ending efforts of Det. Mike Berchem, my writing partner and our technical adviser.
Last week, the Sunshine Kids arrived at The Closer set via police motorcade and were sworn in as deputies. They had a fun morning in Brenda's office and then went to the beach. This is, after all, L.A. Our crew also gave a big assist. Most of you probably know that G.W. was one of my acting teachers in high school. He continues to inspire children. And me.
Kyra's work for the Sunshine Kids has moved others to get involved. There are worse things one could do with their off-season. She also has a Disney movie opening shortly: Game Plan, starring The Rock. It looks like a ball! Her husband, Kevin Bacon (kiddingly known around our set as Mr. Sedgwick), who's now directed two episodes of our show (did you like the confession in the elevator: Kevin shot it!), is also lighting up local screens. Not only is Death Sentence in theaters right now, but Rails and Ties will open in early October.
Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, two of our coexecutive producers from the writers’ room, have a pilot for TNT that they will be shooting with Greer Shephard and Michael Robin next month. Currently titled Truth in Advertising, it promises to be a fantastic show. Personally, I must hope the pilot gets picked up to series and runs for eternity, because they are such good friends and have worked so hard to make The Closer what it is today. But they are irreplaceable, and that means I must spend a great deal of the next two months searching for new voices to add to those of Adam Belanoff, Mike Berchem, Steven Kane, Michael Alaimo, Duppy Demetrius and Ken Martin, just in case Hunt and John’s much deserved success prevents their return for Season 4.
Among other firsts this season, I finally directed an episode of our show (at the insistence of my producing partner, Mike Robin): the second half of our Christmas two-parter, "Next-of-Kin." Scheduled to air in early December, "Next-of-Kin" takes our protagonist back to Atlanta in search of a runaway fugitive. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but it involves Brenda, her parents, Fritz, Provenza and Flynn driving back to Los Angeles form Georgia in an RV with an occasionally violent suspect and some missing Perry Como holiday CDs.
So even though we say goodbye to our regular season tonight, we'll be back for some "season's greetings" this December.
As for Corey Reynolds, my new neighbor, well, he's popping by my house sometime in the next few minutes for coffee and a bit of chitchat. We will no doubt scratch our heads in wonder at just how lucky we are to have an audience like you. And, also, think about how sad it is that we are done for the year. Each one seems to pass so quickly.
But while we’re off the air, we'll be thinking up brand-new episodes and more fun and interesting cases for the crew at Priority Homicide. In the meantime, from Kyra and Mike and Greer and the rest of our cast and crew, as well as our good friends at TNT and Warner Bros. Television, we say thank you so very much for your kind support, and we'll be back to visit at Christmas. And all summer long in 2008.
Till then,
James
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Sep 10, 2007 1:38 PM
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Everyone involved in the making of this show must have been blessed from above. For the past three seasons you have passed this blessing on to those of us who love The Closer. I absolutely adore Brenda Leigh Johnson, a character who has touched me like no other on television or in movies.
May you all have a restful break with family and friends. I am certain you fine folks richly deserve the respite. And may the blessings continue to rain down in buckets!
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Sep 10, 2007 2:21 PM
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Thank you Mr. Duff for clearing up of some things we were wondering about and the hint on how the finale ends. Very much appreciated by this Brenda/Fritz fan. So excited now. This season of The Closer has been amazing, loved spending the summer with these characters, thank you for giving us such a wonderful show every week. Everybody working on the show certainly deserve a break even though we'll be missing you. Good luck with everything.
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Sep 10, 2007 2:27 PM
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Mr. Duff
I want to thank you again for another amazing season of The Closer. I have sat riveted to my tv for the past 3 1/2 months and must say, this is one of the best written, best portrayed shows on tv right now. I, for one, cannot wait for the "seasonal" episode and since Mr & Mrs Johnson are part of the story, I am sure it will be a hoot!
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Sep 10, 2007 2:47 PM
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Thank yew so much for writing such a smart show! I love everything about this show and can't wait until next year. I wish the DVD's would come out earlier so I could get my Closer "fix" by watching my favorite episodes again. This is the only show on TV that I do not mind rewatching episodes! Your an awesome writer and thank yew!!!!
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Sep 10, 2007 6:50 PM
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Mr. Duff-We should all be thanking you--cast, crew, writers--everyone for delivering another great season of The Closer. The Monday nights have flown by and once again, now, all we can do is sit down and wait for next season....(Thank you also, for the bonus two hours coming in December)
It will truly be a long wait.........(Fingers crossed for Kyra next Sunday!!)
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Sep 10, 2007 8:24 PM
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Mr. Duff,
I've been a fan since the beginning and love this show. I was surprised that you went with PCOS for what's been ailing Brenda. I am disappointed however that it was basically glossed over once you gave her the diagnoses. Thankfully myself and other women who have PCOS have been able to help educate the other fans who were no doubt scratching their heads over that. Thanks for bringing PCOS to the attention of more people. Hopefully it will help get more funding for research and education.
I've got my fingers crossed for Kyra to win the Emmy this year and have plans for if she doesn't. ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) "> 
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Sep 10, 2007 9:59 PM
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Hi
Just watched the finale episode. Thank you so much for a fantastic season. I just discovered the show with this year's premire due to all the positive buzz around it, and it is very well earned. Your show is the only proceedural which is appointment TV for me, and I applaud your efforts to ground it in realism (as discussed in your previous blog.) Moreso, I am thrilled that this show is a character-based proceedural, rather than something like L&O or CSI where the cast is easily replaceable and underdevoloped as people. Brenda's personality, as well as those of the people around her and the interaction between them, is what elevates the show from simply a fantastic proceedural to a fantastic show that I simply cannot miss.
In the words of Brenda, "thank you so much." Enjoy your time off. It's going to be hard to not have the show every week anymore, but I'm going to seek out the previous seasons on DVD soon, and I'm looking forward to rejoining the show both in December and next summer.
Cheers!
P.S.: Saw that your birthday is September 3, so happy belated birthday! Coincidentaly, my birthday is that day too, though severaal years seperate us.
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Sep 10, 2007 10:33 PM
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Thanks to yourself and all your terrific cast and crew for your best year yet. I can't wait for A Christmas Closer.
Alan Hinton
alan0825@socket.net
Moberly MO
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Sep 11, 2007 1:16 AM
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Mr. Duff,
I really want to say thanks for creating a show that - unlike so many others - knows that the audience has a brain - that we don't have to be beaten over the head with portentous foreshadowing or flashbacks to an earlier-dropped clue that you're afraid we might have missed. One that gives us a cast of fully-realized, truly-human characters that have strong, distinct personalities who can range from deathly serious to downright hilarious and give us a reason to root for them, feel disappointed when they let us down, be happy when they are redeemed and genuinely care about what happens to them.
Good luck to Kyra at the Emmys! She certainly deserves another one 
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Sep 11, 2007 1:29 AM
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Best. Season. Ever.
Thank you to all involved for giving us the best drama on TV! Everyone did an amazing job.
Kyra so deserves to win an Emmy on Sunday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her.
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Sep 11, 2007 8:32 AM
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What a great season! Your show has been the only one that I've watched "live" in some time! But I don't know how I'm going to stand it until you return!
I'll look forward to the Christmas special, I guess, and hope for the best!
Thank you and the rest of The Closer cast and crew for a great season - until next time!
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Sep 11, 2007 8:52 AM
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Thank you so much for your blog. I am sure that you are extremely busy but it means alot that you took the time to write us, talking about the process you use to bring this wonderful show to life. The Closerhas really made summer television so enjoyable and I will miss it terribly until it's return. A huge thanks to you, the writers, the cast and crew of yet another amazing season.
.. Good luck to Kyra!
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Sep 11, 2007 9:18 AM
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Thank you again for the BEST show on TV with the BEST cast. The season is way too short for us but I am looking forward to the December show.
Good luck at the Emmys!
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Sep 11, 2007 10:07 AM
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Thank you and everyone involved with the show. My wife and I have been watching from the beginning of the first season, and The Closer is one of our most favorite shows, regardless of the time of year. We are grateful for the top-quality entertainment you bring us.
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Sep 11, 2007 1:53 PM
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