There are the sad, sobering Closer episodes, and there are the goofy Closer episodes, and despite the fact that a man got shot, last night’s hour was straight-up hilarious. Alex Serabian clearly had it coming. Making his wife dance naked for her AA friends? Please.
I love, love, love Jennifer Coolidge. Her performance as overripe Angie Serabian — greedy, murderous, outrageously ditzy — was right up there with her Legally Blonde manicurist and dingbat Best of Show trophy wife. She was a perfect foil for Provenza, the kind of bodacious 1950s bombshell you imagine he might really fall for in his civilian life. Start to finish, this was their night. All Kyra Sedgwick needed to do was eat her candy and stay out of the way.
Q: Are you sitting down?
A: Actually I’m standing in a parking lot in Bakersfield.
Now that I type it out, the lines look a little flat. The charm was all in Coolidge’s breathless, giggly delivery.
Or how about her bratty "Too bad for you and GREAT for me!" when she found out the evidence against her has been lost?
I never really worried that "big old sexy grouch" Provenza was goingto be canned. To start with, it seemed rather unfair to blame him forhis car being ripped off. Plus, what would the show be without him? ButI guess the writers were trying to inject some "tick-tock" urgency tothe confection of a story arc. Really, though, this just wasn’t a night when the plot mattered all that much. Ihave to confess that my eyes glazed over and I started thinking aboutdoing the laundry whenever Alex Serabian’s ponytailed brother came onscreen.
Much more engaging was seeing Pope and Provenza sit down to a glass ofbrown liquor as they commiserated about their own grabby (at least intheir view) ex-wives. A satisfying peacemaking moment, and a strongconclusion to a zesty comic episode.
What did you think of last night’s show? Do we like it whenBrenda steps out of the spotlight? Is anyone else bugged by the weirdlittle avatars of a writhing Holly Hunter that appear in the corner ofthe screen midway through the show? And — totally off topic — shouldI make a cup of coffee and stay up some night to watch Saving Grace?
I thought the closer last night was a blast!Coolidge is just freaking hilarious! And you should totally stay up for saving grace!! It is always as good as the closer.
Its good to have a funny episode once in awhile and Jennifer Coolidge makes it GREAT! Yes, stay up for Saving Grace. Its sometimes harsh, but always intense and even though Grace is NOT a likeable character, you still root for her. Im wondering if Earl will appear to Ham to help him with his brothers death.
Do you know what I hate? I’m gonna tell you what I hate? That I have to sit through (or fast forward through)a quarter of an episode of Saving Grace (which I don’t watch) to see the preview for next week’s episode of the Closer (that I do watch). Whose bright idea was that?
Okay, if unessential episode.
Totally agree with Chuck about waiting 10 minutes into Saving Grace to see the Closer preview.
Also, did I miss Brenda and Fitz make up from the previous episode? They looked fine when in Pope’s office at the beg of episode.
Totally agree…I hate it that TNT tries to make me watch ‘grace’ by hiding my preview of next weeks episode of ‘closer’somewhere in the middle. Well I, for one, will not be forced to watch that crappy show with it’s gratuitous sex and violence. Do not waste your time to stay up and watch. They see to just be interested in how far they can push the ‘basic cable’ sensors!
Loved it. Only watched Saving Grace once, didn’t care for it. Wish it would go away so I don’t have to watch the billion and one commercials for it. TNT network is very annoying with the constant advertising for one show during another. It not only is visually disruptive but often includes sound as well that drowns out what you are trying to watch.
Love, Love, Love The Closer and everyone in it!
Not to be a total *itch here but seriously….WORST RECAP EVER!
I tried watching Saving Grace once. Didn’t like it. You might though.
Loved Provenza’s explanation of why he would never retire. Wish the recap was a little longer. Of course, they did the car with evidence in the trunk being stolen on CSI a couple of seasons ago but that’s okay. It’s always a treat to see Jennifer Coolidge. She was the best thing about Joey. Does anyone remember her in that? She was a hoot.
The commercials for Saving Grace, especially the ones where Holly Hunter talks to the camera about what a groundbreaking show it is, how brave it is, etc., really turned me off. I tried to watch a few episodes, and I’m a big Holly Hunter fan, but I can’t watch it.
Love Provenza, so any story where he gets some time to shine is fine with me. Actually, the only two characters who seem like dead weight are Dets. Daniels and Gabriel. They tried to give Gabriel some ‘depth’ by having him go medieval on the child molester last year, but it wasn’t convincing. Now they are trying to give both some “character” by having them fighting, but they really are quite dull.
Gabriel was great the first season, as Chief Johnson’s right hand man and the first member of the team to trust her and get her, but now he’s a bit redundant. They clearly are trying to move him away from his “puppy-dog” nature, but they haven’t succeeded yet.
I loved the episode last night – but did anyone else find Coolidge’s voice… annoying?? I had a hard time listening to her… maybe I’m just used to her voice in Legally Blonde – but I could not stand it last night. I love her, but I would cringe every time she had a scene! I was disappointed because I was excited to see that she was doing an episode, and then to hear her voice – awful!!
I hear what everyone is saying about Saving Grace. I didn’t care for it much myself, but, now I love the show! It kind of grows on you – just see if you can get through a couple of episodes and then, like me, you’ll probably be hooked!
Last night’s THE CLOSER was brilliant.
Ms. Collidge was perfect for the role.
SAVING GRACE is well written and well acted
You should watch it.
Joe Reilly
As for Saving Grace — don’t see one thing worth staying up for. She doesn’t look like a character I would feel empathy for – or care about. After The Closer – Saving Grace looks pathetic!
Love all the team – and enjoyed this ep so much. Ok, I’m shallow enough to want to know what happened to her full lips – ala The Best in Show (one the THE BEST movies around!!).
This was great from start to finish. I love how Brenda opens a candy bar — what a woman!! I’m going to try that some time.
Fabulous show.
You have to give Saving Grace a few episodes – I barely made season 1 only because of my Holly Hunter love. But now, I am ADDICTED.
a super fan of the closer from the first minute of the first episode and it keeps getting better. that can be rare for serial tv. the balance of the light heartedness and the seriousness is crucial and done expertly. the cast is always great and but how unexpected it was to fall in love with provenza even more!
I am an original fan yet I found this episode offensive. In all of the other “funny” episodes there was always an essential seriousness, given the subject matter. This episode seemed the product of 70’s sitcom writers.