“Saving Grace” Prepares for its Goodbye

As a young 20-something woman I’ve grown up with some very heroic role models in the media that I happily let permeate my reality. It’s actually frighteningly easy for me to forget that my Mom’s generation didn’t have this same blessing. While I had the fierce Buffy Summers and the brilliant Sydney Bristow, she had ‘cute’ beach bunny Gidget. Well, Gidget’s a pretty girl, but I’m just not very certain how much respect she commands. From what I’ve heard and personally observed – it’s been a consistent uphill struggle to let women actresses and female characters have a more powerful and substantial presence in movies and TV. But it’s being done!

The continually blossoming cable network, TNT, is a source of shows with intelligent and independent female characters like Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) on The Closer, and Nurse Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith) on HawthoRNe. But of course, we could never forget about Holly Hunter as the tenacious, wild-haired Oklahoma City Police Detective, Grace Hanadarko, in Saving Grace. When it comes to powerful female characters on TV, Grace has got my vote (I’d even help her make campaign posters with puffy paint).

Holly Hunter as Grace. Photo by Jeff Reidel

The recipient of a prestigious Oscar, actress Holly Hunter has earned two Emmy nominations for her spirited work in the role as Hanadarko. Not only does Hunter portray Grace on the screen, Hunter also works behind the scenes as an executive producer for the show. If that doesn’t convince you of Hunter’s tireless work ethic, consider the fact that Saving Grace has been on the air since 2007. That’s a lot of committed, long hours of work. Believe me, I know it’s hard to believe that actors don’t always have it so easy, but if you watch behind the scenes features for TV shows on DVD you’ll see how unglamorous it can be. There’s no doubt that a lot of acting jobs seem pretty great, but the kind of dedication you see by people like Hunter makes a world of difference to the final product.

Fans have really been enjoying what Saving Grace has had to offer this summer. The ratings indicate that Saving Grace has averaged over 3.5 million viewers this summer. I may not be an expert when it comes to numbers (even if I wear my uber professional glasses), but I know those numbers are damn good. The current season will wrap up with its season finale on Tuesday, August 2009 at 10 p.m. Make sure you have plenty of popcorn, okay?

It has been announced that the next season of Saving Grace will be the final one. It will include a total of nine episodes. I know, I know – that doesn’t seem like enough! We want more, because we’re greedy! But I do have faith that the Saving Grace team will send our girl Grace off by delivering the same distinctive caliber of TV they always do. As for who the next new powerhouse woman on TV might be – that’s anyone’s guess. The important fact is that I’m certain there will be more of them. So we thank you, Grace, for contributing to – well, you’d just think this is cheesy. But we still thank you anyway. We’re hooked till the end.

From: The Heart of a Cop

Popularity: 1% [?]