I’ve gotten into an interesting habit on Mondays, at least during the summer. I get some dinner, or buy some groceries, go to my mother’s house and we watch some Star Trek that she’s TiVoed (oh Capt. Kirk, how lovely you and your intrepid crew are) and we talk about the generalities of life that have pissed us off over the past week. At least until 8 o’clock.
That’s when The Closer starts and we have some fun watching Brenda Leigh Johnson (played so well by Kyra Sedgwick) deal with life in L.A. in her very Southern way. I think of it kind of like Columbo (who my mother also loves), but more modern and with sugar instead of cigars. Brenda does get those little epiphany moments, just like good ol’ Peter Falk in a trench coat, but she’s got that modern pizzazz.
Over time Mom and I have fallen in love with Fritz (Jon Tenny), Brenda’s FBI Special Agent beau. We’ve laughed at the overt chauvinism of Lt. Provenza (G. W. Bailey) and his partner in crime, Lt. Flynn (Tony Denison). We’ve watched Sgt. Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) grow as a person and a politician. And get involved with Det. Daniels (Gina Rivera).
We’ve cringed over Chief Pope’s (J. K. Simmons) divorce and the fact that he loves Brenda but knows he has no chance with her. He did already break her heart once after all.
We both love Lt. Tao (Michael Paul Chan), especially since he’s the link to the forensics side of the show, and we’re suckers for that CSI type stuff. And Tao did such a great job in the last episode too. Made us proud. And Det. Sanchez (Raymond Cruz), who we’ve decided wants Det. Daniels, but just couldn’t get there with her. I’ve got to say his street smarts with the gangs is a little bit of a turn on for me. But I don’t let my Momma know.
And Buzz (Phillip P. Keene), the communications guru that helps Brenda. But her life is not all wine and roses, for even in a wonderful supporting cast there’s a rotten tomato. Cmdr. Taylor (Robert Gossett) is a great foil of L.A. snobbery for Brenda’s Southern charm.
This season it’s been interesting dealing with Brenda’s family. She and Fritz are engaged (recently) and have been looking for a house. Brenda has also recently told her parents that she’s engaged while they’ve been down from Georgia visiting. Her parents are a hoot (but I’m glad mine aren’t that way) and hopefully next season we’ll see more from the Johnson family tree, since she’s got brothers.
It’s only two episodes until the finale and I’ve got to say it’s been a fun summer so far with Brenda Leigh.
Any other Closer fanatics out there?
Raising my hand proudly! Yes, the chocoholic blonde [with early onset menopause – ahhh] and her gang are my favorites! It’s not summer with out Brenda, Fritz and a dead body or two 🙂
I love, love, love this show. I love the new kink in her world of the early onset of menopause because she’s so focused and driven and as any woman of a certain age knows, at this time in life, the body is plotting against your sanity and control at every turn. I’m looking forward to see how she handles it. I would also love to see the family dynamics as well. She seems to totally turn into a little girl whenever she has any interactions with her mom and dad.
I have been seriously HOOKED, like on crack, on this show since it started. I love Brenda Leigh. She makes me happy that a woman can be feminine and smart and polite and the boss – all at the same time and all without having an aneurysm. Though last week, I thought she was going to blow a couple of times.
LOVE this show.
I do love this show too. She plays such a stong character without being a bitch and I have so enjoyed getting to know all the characters on the show.
I love “The Closer”; my husband likes to watch as well. Funny you should post a photo of the original Star Trek DVD collection. As we were watching last Mon’s Closer episode, I expounded to George that one reason the show is SO good is that the characters interact as “real” human beings in their personal and professional lives, “JUST LIKE THE CHARACTERS ON STAR TREK”!
I really appreciated seeing S. Epatha Merkerson in the role of Brenda’s doctor. On “Law and Order” she plays another strong female police officer.
Kay
I haven’t watched this yet, and it looks like I’m gonna have to catch up! But my summer ‘crack’ has been not only Eureka on SciFi, but Saving Grace on TNT. Holly Hunter plays Grace with no apologies and she’s a tough character to like, but every week I get sucked into her struggle. She’s *such* a mess, and yet she has her moments where you really want to see her get it right.