Season 7, Episode 1: "Unknown Trouble" - July 11, 2011

I'm excited. Perhaps it's the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in L.A. and there's a chance I may get a peek at them. I'm excited! Or, could it be the dreaded anticipation of the 405 freeway being closed down next Friday for the entire weekend. I'm excited? Or is it the fact that the seventh season of The Closer premiered this week. Ok that's why I'm really excited and yet a bit melancholy as this is the last season of the number one rated cable show in history!!!

I returned this spring from New Orleans, just having designed a pilot for TBS, Hound Dogs, a really rough and tumble yet fashionable look at minor league baseball, (unfortunately it wasn't picked up), but coming off the frenetic pace of Mardi Gras in the French Quarter to this first script hitting my desk with a thud, made us all jump right back into the fire. A rap music video was the cold open and trust me this was not just a stab at making it look like a video, it was truly a full blown music video, the singers and dancers had a dozen costume changes and the shoot was helmed by intrepid director Nelson McCormick, who we adore. Tracey my shopper gathered up gang grit, feathers, spangles and fake fur from the hills of Beverly to the alleys of downtown L.A. "C Game" and his girls were outfitted in faux Herve Leger bandage dresses and C Game was turned out in fake chinchilla and bling on a bare chest, they sizzled with excitement!

The story lines and fear that Brenda's past actions are coming back to haunt everyone is thrilling and exciting and let me tell you if this premier is any indication of what this last season of TC is going to be like...fasten your seat belts cuz we are all in for a bumpy exciting ride!

Of course, Brenda sashayed in slo mo through the crime scene, in her original pilot outfit, the exact costume from neck to ankles that she wore in Episode 1 of The Closer, it was the melancholy part of all the rap-citement. As a good luck charm for the continued success of TC I have used a part of the pilot costume in every first episode and last episode for the past 6 years and now...well the luck had run out...however, the swing of that skirt as BLJ walked the gauntlet of blood and bodies to the song that stayed in our heads like the Disneyland Small World jingle well, a powerful cold open to what should be an even more powerful and exciting season. Ohhkayyy--allrighhhtt!

Exciting, the take down at the Harmon house with Antwon Decker stuffing DeAndre's face in the toilet and exciting--the confession from DeAndre Harmon and even more exciting the final moments with Delk on the floor of the murder room.

As usual, and which I am eternally grateful for, my cast, starting with Miss Kyra and all my boys (the detectives); my producers and executives trust me and my costume choices so the pulling of suits and ties for an episode is a joy. Sometimes, the guest cast walk into my fitting room and really don't have much of a say in their look because for the past 6 years my department has done a flawless job of creating characters. So hopefully there is a sense of trust there too. The rap record label honcho, Antwon Decker, wasn't too sure about his shiny eggplant sharkskin suit, but he warmed to it especially after being interrogated by Brenda appearing to be tough as nails in an eBay find, an Academy blue Irene vintage jacket, with a round peter pan collar and bejeweled ball buttons that she wore over an American Living for JC Penney navy blue and white polka dot jersey dress. I love polka dots and what female cop would or could wear a sexy little skiff of a dress to the workplace, BLJ that's who! I truly think that little blue dress looked fit for a princess...

...and speaking of princesses, I am totally excited because I DID get a glimpse of the soon to be princess, Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge! Standing for hours out side of Sony Studios waiting for the Royal Range Rover to pass by last Sunday, I decided to move away from the throng of over one hundred people and stand a block a way, well, fate was on my side! Announced by helicopters, sheriffs on motorcycles and bands of black vehicles the Royal entourage snaked up Culver Blvd and since the cars had to make a turn into the movie lot, the Royal SUV stopped dead in it's tracks right in front of me...there she was, Kate! we looked each other square in the eye, I smiled and waved like a smitten schoolboy and she smiled back and waved that inimitable wave. OMG she smiled back. I was SO excited. Now, I have to worry excitedly about the closing of the 405, wait for the next exciting script of The Closer to see what exciting characters I will have to outfit from head to toe and sadly anticipate the excitement of the final episode of TNT's #1 drama The Closer...but, I will always remember Catherine's smile...it was very much like Kyra's smile -- loving, gentle, strong yet touching. Exciting!