Spinoffs are nothing new in TV. Some of the biggest hits of all time were spinoffs -- Frasier, Boston Legal, The news today that TNT is backing a spinoff from The Closer is no surprise. It makes sense.
The Closer is the top drama on cable in the ratings and has garnered Emmy notice. That kind of success demands replication, and TNT has empowered the brains behind The Closer, creator James Duff to make it happen.
If Duff follows the formula set in The Closer, and there's no reason to believe otherwise, we're going to see a character-driven drama. Insiders claim that the show is being referred to as The Fixer and may or may not be built around a character already on The Closer.
Breaking off any of the squad surrounding Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, though, would be an error in judgment. The most interesting characters in the group, say Provenza or Pope, would be hard to replace on the mother show. It's more likely that an outside character might be introduced in an episode of The Closer, someone who will butt heads with Brenda or be iconoclastic and unique enough, to be set up in his/her own show.
Currently, Ricardo Ramos (Stephen Martines) -- an L.A. Times reporter who's been an irritating presence on a few episodes -- would be the kind of character to carry a show. Whether he is the guy or could be The Fixer is just a guess. When I think of what a fixer is, I'm reminded of Harvey Keitel's character in Pulp Fiction. I don't think that's what Duff will be contemplating.
The quality from The Closer should be maintained in this new production since Duff is writing it with co-exec producers Adam Belanoff and Michael Berchem. Thus far this season, the show's been excellent.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-04-2008 @ 12:59PM
Randy Clark said...
Private Practice does not belong on a list of the greatest hits of all time.
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9-04-2008 @ 1:25PM
Mark said...
I believe it will be a road trip show involving Brenda's parents cavorting around the U.S. in their newly acquired RV getting into shenanigans here and having to fix a flat tire in every town. That's how it opens up.
But that's merely a guess...carry on.
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9-04-2008 @ 1:43PM
0megapart!cle said...
Hey, I'd watch that!
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9-04-2008 @ 2:07PM
bkdealer said...
Wasn't Keitel's character the Cleaner, not the Fixer?
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9-04-2008 @ 2:27PM
thegirl74 said...
Someone who doesn't get along with Brenda-how about Cpt. Taylor (and his division)? They have had their differences in the past...
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9-04-2008 @ 2:29PM
Preach said...
My guess is it's going to be Detective Julio Sanchez (Raymond Cruz).
After all that happened with his brother and his irritating behavior in the most recent episode, he'll probably "flip" sometime in this season, and get thrown off the force, heading into "private investigation" and "fixing things".
Sort of like a latino "The Equalizer" or "Stingray" ;)
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9-04-2008 @ 3:15PM
purpleslog said...
Perhaps "The Fixer" is a veterinarian (or maybe a Urologist) by day and a private investigator by night?
He could be like the Hoff in Baywatch Nights!
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9-04-2008 @ 11:41PM
Joe in LA said...
Fixer? I think it must be one of those lawyers that Brenda's arrestees are always just about to use their phone call to reach...
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9-05-2008 @ 4:52PM
RetUSMCGunny said...
I think the idea about the newspaper reporter as the subject of the spinoff is great! He's shown balls and an intense curiousity and I think that character would lend itself to a great series.
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9-06-2008 @ 11:45AM
Jeff said...
In the teasers for the season finale (already?) they seem to be toying with the idea of a venue change, i.e. closing down PHD. Could a promotion be in the works for our deputy chief?
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