An open letter to Michael Wright, president and programming head of TNT, on the subject of Major Crimes, by M.L. Sharpe

Dear Mr. Wright,

First of all, congratulations are in order- Major Crimes is a hit! Everyone involved in this show should be commended for taking an idea that was untested at best and unlikely at worst and making it work. And work it has- as a viewer who was skeptical when I first heard about the plans for spinning-off The Closer, I can say honestly that Major Crimes has met and exceeded even my highest expectations of what I could want in a show.

However, despite being a terrifically strong show, and performing incredibly well in the ratings, your network has yet to renew Major Crimes. I don’t pretend to know why you might be delaying this decision. However, in my desire to see the show renewed, and quickly, I wanted to point out several reasons why Major Crimes is more than worthy of receiving a second season.

1. Art Imitates Life
The Closer helped put TNT on the map as a network that could produce and market critically acclaimed, popular dramas for basic cable. Instead of just ending the story with the exit of your leading lady, you made the decision to spin the show off, not by following a character to another city or job, but by keeping things true to life and continuing the story. In real life, people don’t get to choose who leaves for a new job or a new life, and who comes in to replace them- we have to deal with things the way the cards fall, and move on from there. This can be a bitter pill to swallow- and as we’ve seen on Major Crimes, not an easy transition for the newcomer or those left behind. But those moments where conflicts are put aside for the sake of a greater good, where dislikes and sniping and disagreements big and small can be overcome to make a sacrifice or save a life or bring someone to justice, that is the drama of real life, and that is the drama that has been so masterfully woven into the fabric of Major Crimes.

2. A Terrific Ensemble
One of the greatest things that have revealed itself in Major Crimes is the strength of the supporting players. Most of these characters have been around for seven seasons already, but in this new dynamic the boys from The Closer feel renewed and refreshed in their expanded roles as more engaged members of the team. That energy comes through the screen, and it has been a revelation to watch them surprise us at every turn. In just a few weeks the Major Crimes squad has become more of a team than it ever had before, with each member contributing valuable expertise, and getting their chance to shine. This is in no way more evident than in the character of Julio Sanchez, played by Raymond Cruz, who has in very short order made a huge impression with his dedication, determination and loyalty to the rest of his team. My newfound affection and respect for this character has been one of the most unexpected experiences of this show.

3. Engaging New Characters
Not to be outdone, the integration of Amy Sykes and Rusty Beck to the show has brought some fantastic new dynamics to play. The addition of Amy Sykes, played by the delightful Kearran Giovanni, is of particular interest to me, for despite having a strong female lead, The Closer often had a distinct lack of other women in its regular cast. Sykes has been a soldier, she is brave and smart and good at her job, but it is her missteps- the trying too hard to fit in, the awkward newcomer mistakes- that have made her truly endearing. Just like the characters on the show, my opinion of her is ever-evolving; the one thing that hasn’t changed is that I am very glad she is there.

Likewise, though it may have been the storyline I was most wary about when it was announced, the addition of Rusty Beck, played by Graham Patrick Martin, and his relationship with Mary McDonnell’s Captain Raydor has truly become the emotional touchstone of the show. Perhaps conceived as a way to bring a more human side to Raydor for viewers still needing some help warming up to her, the Raydor and Rusty plot has taken Major Crimes and elevated it beyond simple crime drama. The humanity of the story being explored between them is so great, and the universal nature of it is so very compelling. I enjoy the stories in Major Crimes every week, but it’s Rusty and Raydor, and the delicate exploration of what makes a family, and how these two people are coming to trust and even rely on each other, that keeps me thinking all week between episodes.

4. The Quiet Dignity of Mary McDonnell
I was ecstatic when I heard that Mary McDonnell would be leading Major Crimes, but I would be lying if I said I was anything but concerned about how the changeover was going to work. Making the transition between the beloved Brenda Leigh Johnson and anyone else was destined to be fraught; doing so with a someone introduced to the show as the “love to hate” character raised the stakes to an entirely new and complicated level. However, in the hands of James Duff and the other writers, and the talent and thoughtfulness of Mary McDonnell, somehow the show has been able to navigate the almost insurmountable odds to bring Sharon Raydor full circle as a true leader to the team. Not only did the character have to go against the other members of the squad on the show, she had to overcome the misconceptions and expectations of millions of viewers who were determined to resent her. One only need to look at the postings on the official Major Crimes Facebook page for a few moments before realizing how many people who were wary at first of the new show and Captain Raydor as the lead have come to love it and respect her. The broad strokes of The Closer have been replaced with something quieter and more nuanced, and with Mary McDonnell at the helm, each episode is imbued with delicacy and grace.

5. Breaking Barriers
It’s no secret that Hollywood is youth-obsessed, and it takes no more than a glance at this seasons new broadcast offerings to see that ageism, sexism and racism are alive and well in the entertainment industry. Among all that, though, is the brilliant thing that your network has done- not only do you have a hit show lead by a strong, independent woman, who can be both motherly and badass, reserved and deeply emotional, but that woman is played by a 60-year-old actress. That’s a huge strike against the common assumption that women over a certain age have no place on TV, and certainly can’t possibly lead a hit show. Major Crimes is showing not only viewers, but also the entertainment industry itself how much of a fallacy that is.

But it is more than just breaking an age stereotype. Major Crimes has taken the diverse cast from The Closer and gone further, showcasing all races and creeds- white, Latino, Asian, black, straight and gay- and does so without the interactions or characters feeling at all forced or unbelievable. The cast of Major Crimes comes together because of their differences, not despite of them, and it is a wonderful thing to see every week, and it deserves to be continued and celebrated.

6. You’ve Already Won
When The Closer ended, it did so with the largest numbers for a TV finale in cable history. Premiering immediately after that, Major Crimes pulled in the biggest numbers for a cable series debut ever (beating out Dallas, even with it’s far greater advertising budget and promotional campaign) That is a pretty nice feather in your cap, but in all honesty, it was a bit of a given. The bigger story is what has happened since. Major Crimes has defied all conventional wisdom when it comes to ratings- instead of steadily losing viewers over its first few outings, they began to rise after the only the 3rd episode. It has won the night as the Top Rated Scripted Cable Show for each Monday since its 2nd episode, and all but one of those weeks it has also been crowned the Top Scripted Cable Show of the Week (coming in a very respectable second the other time against the premiere of a popular, well established show).

Alone, those are fabulous, impressive milestones. But when you consider that over the past two weeks, Major Crimes has also been up against both the ratings juggernaut Monday Night Football, and the return of the regular fall season- two obstacles The Closer and most other TNT shows have never had to try to compete against. In addition, it is consistently in the iTunes Top 10 for downloaded programs, and adjustments for viewers once DVR numbers are factored in are even more impressive, with the show gaining almost 2 million more viewers every week.

Major Crimes is performing stronger and more consistently week-to-week than either Dallas or Perception- both shows that have already been renewed. And again, this is whilst competing against the jam-packed fall season- not the wide-open field of summer that The Closer, Perception and Dallas all got to enjoy for their runs.

Frankly, there is no reason not to renew Major Crimes. By simply green lighting it and allowing it to come to fruition in the first place, your network showed a great deal of trust, foresight and ingenuity- and the show has more than proved that your gamble was successful. It is time to renew the show, and give the cast, the crew, and yes, even the fans who have been following along quite passionately during this nerve-wracking process, the just rewards for giving your network this big success. Please renew Major Crimes.

- M
Editor, MajorCrimesTV.net