Whenever I open a script like Blood Money I have mixed emotions. Oh, not because it isn't a stellar story, but an episode like this takes place in a two day period where the cast is so intent on solving the murder that they don't go home to change clothes. So in that regard, I have mixed emotions because Brenda and my detectives where the same costume for the entire episode and mixed emotions because I don't get to do a lot of shopping. Say what? But there was a Guest Cast to dress...and dress I did.

That darn Neiman Marcus catalog where I found the now historic pink trench coat for Miss Brenda, make sure you check out an upcoming Entertainment Weekly, they called and wanted the 411 on where I found the coat, how much it cost, if it was still available, why I chose pink...I mean you'd think they thought I was 411 information! anyway, back to the NM catalog, not only did that special fashion predictive feature the pink coat, it proclaimed that orange and pink would be "the hottest" colors for spring...well, duh. Brenda wears a lot of pink and orange and in this episode those colors were named Tangerine and Peony! Tangerine for the Pure Cashmere cardigan and Peony for the Pure Cashmere camisole both still available from the Pure Catalog or online, make sure if you order your very own version of Brenda's cashmere you ask for Suzi and tell them The Closer sent you! WIth that au currant color combo I chose Brenda's good luck skirt from the pilot that I always use in either the first or last episode, this time...the second...oh well, superstition be damned. The Ralph Lauren Pink Trench made a guest appearance as did a new floppy hat from Nordstrom, a tan canvas with a Gumby Green lining by Ugg. Our writers are so cute...well, not all of them; but cute in the sense that they are now writing script notes that say, "Brenda wears her floppy hat", I just love it when something Brenda wears makes it into the writers vernacular.

We were blessed with some wonderful Guest Stars this week, one in particular was the fabulous Debra Monk who played Mrs. Summers, the rich Bel Air Lady-Who-Lunches. I loved her as Madge in Bridges of Madison County, amongst numerous other guest starring roles. Unlike Madge's Iowa house dress, Miss Monk sported a chic spun gold coiffure courtesy of the Hair Department and a can of Aqua Net and my choice of a Hundred Dollar Bill Green Stephen Fabrikant knit military style jacket bunches of gold buttons, from Saks Beverly Hills that coordinated very well with the David Yurman earrings, pendant, rings and bracelets all with tones of gold and silver and studded with semi-precious stones. Her shoes had gold heels and toe tips and were by Tory Burch, at Nordston at The Grove.

Mikki Mendoza was brought to life by Paola Turbay and she looked tough but today in an H&M blue plaid sleeveless blouse, from H&M in Santa Monica, fit to an inch of it's life and a pair of hiney hugging Paige Denim jeans, from Neiman Marcus Bev Hills. I finished off the look with a vintage studded belt from Glory on Hollywood Blvd and a pair of Frye Boots. How cool did she look and I think she definitely caught Sanchez's eye.

And then there was our darling little Provenza...why did he have a lilt in his voice and a hop in his step and feature a gorgeous new chocolate brown and fuchsia pink Etro tie? Stay tuned and you'll soon find out. The tie came from the NM Men’s Department in the Hills of Beverly.

So, I guess I shouldn't really worry about those mixed emotions when the script calls for my cast to work from morning to night and into the next day in the same wardrobe, because after all it is Hollywood, and after all they're only in the same clothes for a seven day shooting schedule and after all those seven days whittle down to one hour of screen time and after all there is a great guest cast every week for which I have to fulfill my shopping fix at Neiman's and Saks and Barneys and Fred Segal and J.C. Penney and eBay and....let's just forget those mixed emotions!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer/speaker and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc.