The Closer Opens Its Doors to Emmy Winner

There certainly seems to be a "No Shrinking Violets" sign posted outside the TNT studios. During a conference call to tout the June 18 return of The Closer, series star Kyra Sedgwick — herself a Golden Globe winner — told TVGuide.com that in addition to meeting Brenda's father (a role as yet uncast), a doctor for the deputy chief will enter the mix, played by Law & Order vet S. Epatha Merkerson, who grabbed an Emmy for her turn in Lackawanna Blues. "She'll be around for a few episodes," Sedgwick told us. "So that's been really exciting."Having screened the new season's first episode, it's not revealing too much to say that when we revisit Brenda Leigh's world, she is under the gun to streamline her squad by at least one detective. But as for whether that has resulted in any cast changes among the PhDers, she said, "No, not yet."Which returning summer series do you most anxiously await? Vote here (bottom right).