Tough, complicated, flawed. Those are characteristics that drew top-flight actresses Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter to their respective roles on Atlanta-based TNT dramas "The Closer" and "Saving Grace."
Not surprisingly, TNT has paired the two shows, with "The Closer" at 9 p.m. and "Grace" at 10 starting tonight. Let's compare Det. Brenda Leigh Johnson (Sedgwick) and Grace Hanadarko (Hunter):
KYRA SEDGWICK
(Detective Brenda Leigh Johnson)
Positive personality traits
Persistent, smooth-as-honey polite (every episode, she is guaranteed to purr, "Thank yewww"), able to get criminals to confess (thus, the name of the show).
Not-so-positive personality traits
Neurotic, lacking self-awareness, addicted to sweets, too focused on work.
Love life
Engaged to FBI agent Fritz Howard, a good man who's tolerant
of her quirks.
Atlanta connection
Character worked in Atlanta before moving to Los Angeles.
Colleague's thoughts
"Kyra has the determination of Brenda," says Gina Ravera, who plays a detective on the show. "She works 17-hour days, day in and day out at this amazing level. She loves that character!"
HOLLY HUNTER
(Grace Hanadarko)
Positive personality traits
Self-confident, shameless, sharp-tongued, skilled police investigator, loves her dog and nephew.
Not-so-positive personality traits
Cusses, drinks and smokes in excess, scarred by an abusive priest as a child and losing her sister in the Oklahoma City bombing, treats spiritual angel Earl with contempt and skepticism.
Love life
Promiscuity is a drug to her as she sleeps with seemingly half of Oklahoma City's men.
Atlanta connection
Hunter grew up in Conyers.
Colleague's thoughts
"Our characters are like Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn," says Bailey Chase, who plays her work (and occasional in-the-sack) partner Butch. "As an actress, Holly raises the bar. It's a healthy challenge for me."
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