TNT Announces 'Closer' Spin-off Starring Mary McDonnell, New Programming Slate
Mary McDonnell will star in 'Major Crimes,' a new spinoff from TNT's wildly successful police drama 'The Closer.' Can we get a "frak yeah," 'Battlestar Galactica' fans?'Major Crimes' will launch after 'The Closer' wraps its final season with 15 episodes in 2011 and six during the summer of 2012, the network announced this morning. TNT also introduced several new projects, such as 'The TNT Tuesday Night Mystery' series, at its Upfront presentation.
'The TNT Tuesday Night Mystery' -- a working title -- will showcase six crime dramas, including both true crime and fiction mysteries. As part of the new movie block, TNT is working on an adaptation of Scott Turow's novel 'Innocent,' Richard North Patterson's 'Silent Witness,' Sandra Brown's 'Ricochet,' Lisa Gardner's 'Hide,' 'April Smith's 'Good Morning, Killer' and Mary and Carol Higgins Clark's 'Deck the Halls.'
Over on TBS, the network officially announced 'The Wedding Band,' a new series starring 'Lost' veteran Harold Perrineau and 'Beverly Hills, 90210' grad Brian Austin Green. Melora Hardin, Jan on 'The Office,' also stars.
"We understand that exceptional programming comes from working with exceptional talent," Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming at TNT, TBS and TCM, said in a statement. "We hire the best actors, actresses, writers, producers and directors in the business, give them a clear creative target and then try to get out of their way and let them make terrific television."
TNT also announced a series of new scripted and unscripted programming in development. Here's how TNT describes them:
Untitled Kip Koenig/John Wells Productions Project -- Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, this drama follows a family of cops who uncover the mystical and often crime-ridden world of a small town where things aren't as they appear.
'Scent of the Missing' -- A search-and-rescue officer braves the harshest conditions with her best friend and partner, a Labrador retriever. Based on the book of the same name.
'Gateway' -- In a nation still healing from the Civil War, lawlessness rules the small towns of the Old West. Three brothers bound by duty, honor and self-preservation take a stand. Together, they fight to survive and thrive -- all in a small town called Gateway.
Untitled Mitch Albom Project -- Set in a Detroit radio station, this drama follows a station manager who, against his wishes, returns home to try and breathe life into his struggling city. The project comes to TNT from best-selling author and columnist Mitch Albom ('Tuesdays with Morrie').
'Enigma' -- 'Enigma' is a modern-day mystery-of-the-week in the vein of Sherlock Holmes. The project comes to TNT from CBS Television Studios and Anthony Zuiker ('CSI'), Matt Weinberg and Ed Whitmore ('Waking the Dead'), who will write the pilot script.
TBS's scripted shows in development include: 'An American Couple,' an hour comedy about a couple a suburban Illinois couple who decide to head down the altar; a comedy spoof of cop shows from 'Terriers' veteran Phoef Sutton; and 'Men at Work,' a half-hour series about a man who reenters single life after he finds out his girlfriend was cheating on him.
The networks also have a full slate of unscripted programming. More on that here.
Tell us: Are you looking forward to the new programming on TNT and TBS?

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