“There are a handful of actors whose presence alone transforms a television show into a Can’t Miss TV Event! Such was the case when Mary McDonnell joined The Closer in 2009 for a three-episode arc. The response to her character, Captain Sharon Raydor, was so strong (both behind the scenes and in the real world), that producers wisely extended her time on the show — and then crafted a spin-off explicitly for Mary to carry.”
Read the whole article from theInsider.com here.
Kearran Giovanni talked to Starry Constellation Magazine about coming to Major Crimes, and what to expect from Amy Sykes this season.
Q: What do you think it is about the show “Major Crimes” that has really captivated so many viewers? Is it because it is jumping in with some of the already known cast, or is it something new to other people because maybe they didn’t follow along? A little bit of both?
A: I think it’s a little bit of both. I remember when “Sex in the City” ended I felt I lost all my best friends, I mourned the show. I feel like in that way, the people that were huge “Closer” fans, you’re making this thing from a piece of “The Closer,” but you still get to continue on and in a way you get to learn even more about some of the characters that you didn’t really get to see before, that everyone has a part. You’ll see that there’s pretty much an episode per person. They’ve really spread out our storyline where we all really get to showcase ourselves, and I think for a long time that didn’t really get to happen for a lot of the cast, so now it’s really a nice ensemble show. Then I think, for some new people coming in that maybe weren’t huge “Closer” fans, I think they’re going to get more of a cop drama in a way. There was kind of a quirkiness about “The Closer” that maybe had been a little – what’s the word – I think it’s focused a little more on Kyra obviously and her family, whereas this show I think, it’s a little speedier. I think there’s a little more speed in how things are solved and how quickly we move, and especially in the first episodes you’ll see, it’s almost like watching a feature film. Just the way it’s filmed, the music has changed, and I think that faster pace is going to get a lot of new audience members as well.
Read the whole interview here.
A great new article from the Sioux City Journal about Major Crimes, including some interesting notes about Sharon Radyor.
“Among the biggest surprises? Her home life. During preparations for the new series, Duff consulted McDonnell and let her help choose some of the set pieces in Raydor’s apartment. Among the obvious? Watercolors everywhere. “I’m not good at painting but I decided she did them herself,” McDonnell says. “It shows another side of her personality.”‘
Full Article Here
From Creators.com/Women & Hollywood:
With a debut that scored 7.2 million viewers for her “The Closer” spinoff, “Major Crimes” star Mary McDonnell is looking forward optimistically to word of a Season 2 sometime soon. “I can’t commit the network, because I don’t run it,” she says with a laugh. “But I will say TNT has been absolutely, stunningly, remarkably supportive of this series in the promotion, marketing and belief that this is something that can be done, should be done and is what the fans want. TNT knows what they have, and they’ve handled it beautifully,” she gushes. “They have patience. Clearly, they were not disappointed. They were super smart and super brave. They’re the kind of network you want to be working for.”
Meanwhile, with the first 10 episodes of “Major Crimes” in the can, “I am enjoying a little relaxation time,” says the brilliant actress of “Battlestar Galactica” and “Dances With Wolves” renown. “I have a little independent film I would love to do, but I can’t really talk about it because not all the pieces are there. And then, I look forward to knowing about our second season. There are some things I really want to study about things I’ve learned in the first season.”
That’s right. A sixty year old woman is now the lead in an American TV series. A series that is doing just as well in the ratings after several outings as it did with her predecessor, who was 39 when she started on the show.
In a business where age discrimination is rampant in every area – actors, writers, directors, producers, you-name-it, this is a huge departure, and we’re thrilled to see it. (We’re thrilled to see any size departure from the television norm, but this one is especially important because of its implication for the future of every baby boomer in the field.
Whole (very fun) article here.