Saving Grace (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Saving Grace


caption = "Saving Grace" title card
genre = Crime drama
creator =
starring = Holly Hunter
Kenny Johnson
Bailey Chase
Gregory Cruz
Laura San Giacomo
Leon Rippy
Bokeem Woodbine
Dylan Minnette
Lorraine Toussaint
opentheme =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 28
list_episodes = List of Saving Grace Episodes
executive_producer =
runtime = 40–45 min. (not including commercials)
network = TNT
first_aired = July 16, 2007
last_aired = present
imdb_id = 0830900
tv_com_id =

"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 is filmed in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The theme song for the show is written and performed by US rapper/musician Everlast. "Saving Grace" is rated TV-MA in the United States for language, sexuality, and violence. [ [http://www.tnt.tv/series/savinggrace/ TNT - Saving Grace] retrieved 2008-09-30]

Plot

The plot focuses on Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), a smoking, binge drinking, and promiscuous 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 (Leon 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 (Laura San Giacomo), to analyze. With Rhetta's help, Grace discovers that her accident "victim" is actually an inmate on death row, Leon Cooley (Bokeem Woodbine), who is also visited by Earl on a regular basis.

Passionate in her job, Grace investigates homicides and other major crimes with the fellow officers in her squad, including Ham Dewey (Kenny Johnson), Butch Ada (Bailey Chase), Bobby Stillwater (Gregory Cruz), and Captain Kate Perry (Lorraine Toussaint).

Off the job Grace drinks heavily, engages in numerous one-night stands and casual encounters with men, and is having an affair with her partner, Ham. 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. Grace also lies to friends and family on a regular basis to cover up her behavior. Aside from her faults, Grace is an extraordinarily loving and generous person to those around her. In particular she loves her young nephew, Clay (Dylan Minnette), 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.

Oklahoma City

Series creator Nancy Miller [ imdb name|0589043|Nancy Miller ] grew up in Oklahoma City, and as a result "Saving Grace" includes many references to Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma. For instance, many of the characters' last names are the names of Oklahoma towns: Hanadarko is derived from Anadarko, Oklahoma; also Clay Norman, Ham Dewey, Butch Ada, Bobby Stillwater and Captain Perry all have last names taken from Oklahoma towns and cities.

The 1995 bombing of Oklahoma City's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and its aftermath are frequently incorporated into the plot and character development of the series. In the show, Grace's sister, who was also Clay's mother, lost her life in the bombing.

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.

DVD release

The "Saving Grace - Season One" DVD was released on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. [ [http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Saving-Grace-Complete-1st-Season-Press-Release.shtml http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Saving-Grace-Complete-1st-Season-Press-Release.shtml] ]

how run

Following a 13 episode first season, TNT renewed "Saving Grace" for a second season of 15 more episodes which began July 14, 2008. The show will be on hiatus after the August 25, 2008 mid-season finale, , but will return in March 2009 with the rest of the second season.

On September 16, 2008, "Saving Grace" was renewed for a third season to air the summer of 2009. [ [http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-tntrenewssavinggraceraisingthebar,0,2904917.story TNT Renews 'Saving Grace,' 'Raising the Bar'] ]

Cast/Characters

Episodes

Awards

U.S. Ratings

References

External links

*imdb title|0830900|Saving Grace
* [http://www.tnt.tv/title/?oid=663121 "Saving Grace" on tnt.tv]
* [http://www.embraceyourgrace.com 'Embrace Your Grace' fan community]
* [http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-savinggracepremiereratings,0,6925524.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines "TNT Full of 'Grace"']
* [http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/videos/00005200/everlast__saving_grace.html Saving Grace theme music video, by Everlast]
*Chat about Saving Grace at fansite http://www.savinggracechat.com
* [http://entertainmentnow.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/saving-grace-renewed-for-season-2/ "Renewed for second season"]