The Closer

Earlier this week, The Closer ended its summer run.

The series won't return until December, but here's a fun casting tidbit to keep fans interested until then:

Beau Bridges will appear in one episode of the Kyra Sedgwick drama, portraying  George Andrews, a former partner of Provenza. The character comes back to help close a case that has been turned over on appeal.

TV Guide first reported this news.

Bridges was last seen as Wisteria Lane's resident handy man on the 100th episode of Desperate Housewives. He earned an Emmy nomination for the role.

Through no fault of her own, Mary McDonnell failed miserably during her time on Grey's Anatomy. Her directionless, poorly written character simply never connected with viewers.

But the talented actress has found a welcome home on The Closer, as fans are clamoring for the next appearance by Captain Sharon Raydor. They won't need to wait long.

McDonnell reprises this role next week, on the episode titled "Strike Three." The Internal Affairs character comes in to investigate another officer-involved shooting.

The Closer is about to get a lot creeper.

Sterling Beaumon is coming to the TNT hit. The actor is best known for having portrayed a young version of Benjamin Linus last season on Lost.

This time, the 14-year-old will take on the role of a meth-addicted drug dealer in a mid-August episode; the same installment will feature guest star Christine Lahti.

Man, we get the shivers just staring at Beaumon...

While The Closer isn't classified as a sitcom, the show certainly has its lighter moments.

Next week, though, all indications point to a particularly hilarious episode of this TNT hit.

On the July 13 episode, titled "Tapped Out," the following developments take place:

• A delusional would-be cop is played by Andrew Daly;
• There's a cheesy cable-TV show about a "pickup artist;"
• And Pope needs Brenda to come to his rescue.

Take our word for it. Tune in.

On the July 13 episode of The Closer, Pope hops aboard the team.

He helps the unit deal with Andrew Daly, who guest stars on the installment as Brenda's latest antagonist.

According to series creator James Duff, Daly - who has appeared in on Reno 911 and HBO's Eastbound & Down - plays a "maddeningly funny detective."

On tonight's episode of The Closer, the show welcomes ex-Battlestar Galactica actress Mary McDonnell to town as a captain who’s investigating Sgt. Gabriel's mysterious shooting.

In a new interview with TV Guide, Corey Reynolds talks about the new installment, while opening up about his character's relationship with Daniels:

TVGuide.com: The promos [for tonight] show Gabriel firing shots into the darkness, and then being offered a lawyer. So it looks pretty grim.
Reynolds: And on top of that, those shots he's firing in the dark come about five minutes after his second Scotch, so.... It's a really complicated issue. Those people who feel that the first two episodes haven't been as edge-of-your-seat as they're accustomed to - and I can't say that I totally agree with them - are in for a very pleasant surprise.

TVGuide.com: You're a part of The Closer's longest-running mystery: "What the heck went down between Gabriel and Daniels?" Are we getting answers soon?
Reynolds: You are going to get some answers this week. I think that ultimately, the maturity level of two people in a professional setting — when it comes to a romantic relationship — isn't always at its highest level. Deep down, I think there was a genuine love between them, but from what I understand in talking to [series creator] James [Duff], there are some political aspirations in play for Gabriel, and I don't think Daniels wanted to go that route with him. She didn't want to live her life under that microscope.

On this week's episode of The Closer, viewers met Detective Mikki Mendoza. She's played by Paola Turbay, an actress that's proving to a sought-after commodity these days.

In a recent interview with TV Guide, Turbay spoke on a couple roles, including that of Mendoza.

TVGuide.com: Starting with The Closer, how do we meet Detective Mikki Mendoza?
Turbay: She appears in this week's episode, as the director of the SIS, a part of the LAPD that supports Brenda's squad when it's time to catch the bad guys. She does car-crashing, door-kicking, punching... all the tough stuff. And what has caught many people's interest is the fact that she is a lesbian.

TVGuide.com: How many episodes are you around for?
Turbay: I've done two so far, and we just wrapped Episode 7. I think she will come back for at least another two or three more, from what I understand.

TVGuide.com: And lastly, will we be seeing more of you on The Secret Life of the American Teenager this summer?
Turbay: Yes! The kids are really raving about that series. I walk around the streets and they're like, "Oh my god! You're the coolest mom on the show!" That show is amazing, the ratings have been historical, and the social impact has been huge.

[Talking about sex] is the most uncomfortable conversation you can have with your kids, but now you can speak in the third person about "that kid" in the story. [The parents] are really talking about their kids, and the kids are really talking about themselves, but they do it through the [characters]. It's great to be a part of that.

On the next installment of The Closer, Brenda and the unit investigate the disappearance of a shady financial investor (and Kitty gets sick).

The episode is titled "Blood Money" and we've uncovered a few photos from it. Click on each to enlarge:

Change isn't just coming to The White House. It's also coming to cable's highest-rated program.

When asked about season five of The Closer, star Kyra Sedgwick told E! News:

"This season's theme is about change. There have been a couple changes in the squad, and Brenda's a married woman."

The fifth season of the TNT hit premieres tonight. Here's what else Sedgwick had to say about the series:

On marriage: I think it will be something that's challenging for her. I think she's a workaholic, and she's more married to her work than anything else. I think that that is going to be an ongoing issue for both of them.

On a softer side to Brenda: When she loses someone very close to her, I think you'll see a very soft fragility. But I like that: her womanly side, her softer side and her very vulnerable side.

On upcoming guest stars: One of the things I'm most excited about is Mary McDonnell comes on and plays an antagonist for Brenda. It's really great for Brenda to have a female antagonist, I think. And Lee Tergesen from Oz. We're trying to get someone great for the next episode. I don't know who it's gonna be.