6.4 Million Viewers Send TNT’s Saving Grace Soaring as Ad-Supported Cable’s #1 Series Premiere of 2007

With more than 6.4 million viewers and 4.8 million households, TNT’s provocative new drama series Saving Grace, starring Oscar® winner Holly Hunter, has spread its wings and flown to the top of the charts as ad-supported cable’s #1 new series premiere for the year to date, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. The debut episode also joined the list of ad-supported cable’s Top 3 series premieres of all time in household delivery. The show received a strong lead-in with TNT’s top-rated series The Closer, which was watched last night by more than 7.2 million viewers.

“The Closer and Saving Grace form a stellar combination in terms of great storytelling, outstanding performances from two extraordinary actresses, critical acclaim and popularity among viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “We are proud that Saving Grace has come out of the gate with such a strong showing and that The Closer continues to build on its amazing track record.”

Ratings highlights for the series premiere of Saving Grace:

- With 6,422,000 viewers and 4,862,000 households watching, Saving Grace’s debut episode ranks as ad-supported cable’s #1 new series premiere for the year to date.


- Saving Grace now holds position as ad-supported cable’s #3 series premiere of all time in household delivery, behind TNT’s June 13, 2005, premiere of The Closer (5,259,000), and USA’s July 11, 2004, premiere of The 4400 (4,999,000).


- Saving Grace also scored strong deliveries among adults 18-49 (1,941,000) and adults 25-54 (2,473,000).


- The Closer, which this past week earned a second Emmy® nomination for star Kyra Sedgwick, provided a strong lead-in for Saving Grace by delivering 7,288,000 viewers; 5,367,000 households; 2,008,000 adults 18-49; and 2,817,000 adults 25-54.


Saving Grace stars Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, an intense and cynical Oklahoma City police detective. Despite being at the top of her field, Grace lives life hard, fast and on the edge. Wicked-smart and tough, she hits bottom one night when she slams into a pedestrian while she is driving drunk. Horrified at the realization of what she’s done, Grace uncharacteristically asks for help and receives it in the form of an unconventional angel named Earl (Leon Rippy, Deadwood). The journey for both of them will not be an easy one. For Grace, it will bring up life’s most complicated issues. Each episode of Saving Grace revolves around a specific case that the detectives are trying to solve, while delving deeper into the characters’ personal lives. Kenneth Johnson (The Shield), Bailey Chase (Las Vegas), Bokeem Woodbine (The Big Hit) and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me) co-star.

Saving Grace comes to TNT from Fox Television Studios and creator Nancy Miller (Any Day Now), who wrote the pilot and is also executive-producing with Gary A. Randall (A Little Thing Called Murder) and Artie Mandelburg (Leaving L.A.). Hunter also serves as producer. Last night’s first episode was directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Battlestar Galactica).

The Closer, ad-supported cable’s #1 series of all time, stars Golden Globe® winner and Emmy nominee Kyra Sedgwick as the feminine yet forceful, offbeat yet indomitable CIA-trained Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD unit charged with cracking sensitive, high-profile murder cases. She is an expert at digging into a person’s secrets and obtaining confessions, despite constantly struggling with her own imperfections and neuroses. In addition to Sedgwick, The Closer’s Screen Actors Guild Award®-nominated ensemble cast is back, including Jon Tenney, J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Raymond Cruz, Michael Paul Chan and Gina Ravera. The Closer comes to TNT from The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television and is executive-produced by Greer Shephard (Nip/Tuck, The D.A.), Michael M. Robin (Nip/Tuck, The D.A., NYPD Blue) and James Duff (The D.A., The Agency) and produced by Andrew J. Sacks (The D.A, Adaptation, Two Soliders) with Kyra Sedgwick also serving as producer. Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles district attorney from 1992 to 2000, is a consulting producer.

Turner Network Television (TNT), television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including the acclaimed detective drama The Closer, starring Golden Globe® winner and Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Awards® nominee Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, a provocative new drama starring Oscar® winner Holly Hunter; and this summer’s eagerly anticipated television event The Company, executive-produced by Ridley Scott and starring Chris O’Donnell, Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina. TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Without a Trace, Law & Order, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is also available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.

Source: Turner Research from preliminary Nielsen Media Research data. Reflects Live + Same Day viewing only. Data for 3 a.m.-6 a.m. are not yet available. Complete and final data (Live+7) will be available in two weeks. All claims exclude kids programming.