TNT's The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles Close Out Record-Setting Summer as Ad-Supported Cable's Top Two Series

TNT's The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles, which rank as ad-supported cable's top two series of all time, wrapped up their summer seasons last night with stellar deliveries. The Closer, starring newly crowned Emmy(R) winner Kyra Sedgwick, chalked up 7.2 million viewers in Live + Same Day. Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, followed with 6.6 million viewers.

"TNT's The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles have made this a summer to remember, from their record-breaking ratings to Kyra Sedgwick's big night at the Emmys," said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "The Closer proved that a series in its sixth season can continue to reach entirely new creative levels while also building in audience. Rizzoli & Isles brought two exciting new personalities to television and quickly established itself as a hit in its own right. We are extremely proud of both series and the tremendous success they have enjoyed."

The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles summer 2010 ratings highlights include:

Rizzoli & Isles and The Closer rank as ad-supported cable's #1 and #2 series of all time among viewers and households. The two series mark the first time in ad-supported cable history that a network has claimed two shows averaging more than 8 million viewers.

Rizzoli & Isles and The Closer also rank as the top scripted series on all of television in delivery of total viewers and households for Q3-to-date.

Last night's summer finale of The Closer garnered an extraordinary 7,209,000 viewers and 5,426,000 households in Live + Same Day delivery. Rizzoli & Isles followed with 6,559,000 viewers and 5,047,000 households.

According to Live + 7 data through Aug. 23, the phenomenal first season of Rizzoli & Isles is averaging 8.7 million viewers and 6.4 million households. The Closer, which is in its sixth season, is enjoying its best numbers ever, with 8.4 million viewers and 6.2 million households in Live + 7, up 3% over last season.

Rizzoli & Isles' July 12 premiere holds the record as cable's most successful series launch of all time, with more than 9 million viewers and 6.7 million households in Live + 7 delivery. The Aug. 9 episode currently ranks as ad-supported cable's top scripted series telecast for the year-to-date, with 9.3 million viewers and 7 million households in Live + 7.

The Closer's July 12 season premiere currently ranks as its highest rated episode of the season, with 8.8 million viewers and 6.5 million households in Live + 7 delivery.

The Closer stars Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, head of the LAPD's Major Crimes unit. The show's three-time SAG Award-nominated ensemble features Corey Reynolds, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Raymond Cruz, Michael Paul Chan and Phillip P. Keene, as well as Jon Tenney, J.K. Simmons and Robert Gossett. The Closer is produced for TNT by The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television. The series was created by James Duff, who serves as executive producer with Greer Shephard, Michael M. Robin, Rick Wallace and Kyra Sedgwick.

Rizzoli & Isles, which is based on the crime novels by best-selling author Tess Gerritsen, stars Angie Harmon as Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as medical examiner Maura Isles. These two close friends - and complete opposites - work together to solve crimes and bust some of Boston's most notorious criminals. Lorraine Bracco co-stars as Jane's demanding and intrusive mother. Rizzoli & Isles also stars Lee Thompson Young, Bruce McGill and Jordan Bridges. Rizzoli & Isles is produced for TNT by Warner Horizon Television, Janet Tamaro's Hurdler Productions and Bill Haber's Ostar Productions. Tamaro and Haber serve as executive producers, along with Joel Fields. Michael M. Robin is a consulting producer.

The Closer will return in December to conclude its sixth season. Rizzoli & Isles and The Closer will both be back for new seasons in 2011.

About TNT

TNT, one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama. Seen in 100 million households, the network is home to such original series as The Closer, starring Emmy(R) winner Kyra Sedgwick; Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; Memphis Beat, with Jason Lee; Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott; Men of a Certain Age, with Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula; and Southland, from Emmy(R)-winning producer John Wells (ER); as well as the upcoming Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle, and Franklin & Bash, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Cold Case and Numb3rs; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R); and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA men's basketball tournament. TNT is available in high-definition.