Saving Grace (TV series)

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Saving Grace
Genre Crime drama
Starring Holly Hunter
Kenny Johnson
Bailey Chase
Laura San Giacomo
Leon Rippy
Bokeem Woodbine
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 40–45 min.
Broadcast
Original channel TNT
Original run July 16, 2007 – present
External links
IMDb profile

Saving Grace is an American television crime drama series on TNT, which premiered on July 16, 2007 and stars Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter in her first TV series, Kenny Johnson, Bailey Chase, Laura San Giacomo, Leon Rippy, and Bokeem Woodbine. The show is set in Oklahoma City — including numerous shots of local buildings and landmarks (such as the Oklahoma City National Memorial the downtown skyline) — while much of the show was filmed on location in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The theme song for the show is written and performed by US rapper/musician Everlast. The show is rated TV-MA for language, sexuality, and violence.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The plot focuses on Grace Hanadarko (Hunter), a smoking, binge-drinking, sexually promiscuous and adulterous Oklahoma City detective. In the series opener, Grace meets up with her "last-chance" angel, when after one of her drinking binges she runs down and kills a pedestrian with her Porsche. In desperation she calls out for God's help, and a scruffy, tobacco-spitting man who calls himself Earl (Rippy) appears. Unfolding his wings to reveal his divine origins, Earl tells her that she's headed for hell, and asks if she's ready to turn her life over to God. When he finally disappears, the person she struck is also gone and it's as if the accident never happened. The only evidence left is a small amount of the victim's blood on her blouse, which she brings to her best friend, forensics expert Rhetta Rodriguez (San Giacomo), to analyze. With Rhetta's help, Grace discovers that her accident "victim" is actually an inmate on death row, Leon Cooley (Woodbine), who is also visited by Earl on a regular basis.

Grace spends her time passionately investigating murders and other major crimes while on the job, and drinking heavily when not. At work she maintains a good relationship with various street people, whom she relies on for information and favors. Off the job Grace engages in numerous one-night stands and casual encounters with men, and is having an affair with her married partner, Ham Dewey (Johnson). One of her hobbies is flashing her elderly neighbor, happily indulging him as he waits at his window to watch her get in and out of the shower. Aside from her unconventional lifestyle, Grace is also an extraordinarily loving and generous person to those around her. In particular she loves her young nephew, and devotes a great deal of her time to him.

Earl appears to Grace throughout the series, hoping she'll turn away from her more self-destructive tendencies and seek God's help. Saving Grace does not promote any one religion but does use Grace's story to discuss the topic of faith, and how difficult faith can be in such an imperfect world.

[edit] Oklahoma City

Series creator Nancy Miller [1] grew up in Oklahoma City, and as a result Saving Grace includes many references to Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma. For example, most of the characters' last names are the names of Oklahoma towns: Hanadarko derives from Anadarko, Oklahoma, Grace's nephew Clay Norman's name comes from Norman, Oklahoma, Ham Dewey's name from Dewey, Oklahoma, etc.

In an October, 2007 trip to Oklahoma City by the cast, writers and producers, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett presented Miller and Hunter with Keys to the City.

[edit] DVD release

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release Saving Grace - Season One for DVD on July 15, 2008.[2]

[edit] Show run

Following a 13 episode first season, TNT has renewed Saving Grace for a second season of 15 more episodes to kick off July of 2008.[3]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Saving Grace Episodes

[edit] U.S. Ratings

Season Timeslot Season Premiere Season Finale Viewers
Total
(in millions)		 Viewers
Age 18-49
(in millions)		 Viewers
Age 25-54
(in millions)
Date Viewers Total
(in millions)		 Viewers
18-49
(in millions)		 Viewers
25-54
(in millions)		 Date Viewers Total
(in millions)		 Viewers
18-49
(in millions)		 Viewers
25-54
(in millions)
1st Monday 10:00PM July 23, 2007 6.4[4] 1.94[4] 2.47[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nancy Miller at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ^ http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Saving-Grace-Complete-1st-Season-Press-Release.shtml
  3. ^ "“Saving Grace” Renewed For Season 2", August 8, 2007. 
  4. ^ a b c "The Futon Critic: 6.4 MILLION VIEWERS SEND TNT'S SAVING GRACE SOARING AS AD-SUPPORTED CABLE'S #1 SERIES PREMIERE OF 2007 (Released by TNT)", July 24, 2007. 

[edit] External links

Languages