Bringing Out 'The Closer'

Chances are I don't even need to tell you "The Closer" (TNT, 9 p.m.) is returning with new episodes beginning tonight.

The crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as deputy police chief Brenda Johnson, has been the highest-rated original cable drama during its run, and Sedgwick usually garners Emmy attention in the role.

For me, I watched the first season of the series, but wasn't blown away by it. Having seen the much-superior "Prime Suspect" on PBS — a series "The Closer" is often compared to because they both feature women in authority roles who often butt heads with their male colleagues in the police — the American series doesn't really stack up, at least for me. Judging by the ratings, I'm in the minority.

"The Closer" gets a new companion series in the medical drama "Heartland" (TNT, 10 p.m.), which stars Treat Williams as a midwestern transplant surgeon. Also in the cast are Kari Matchett ("24," "Invasion") and Morena Baccarin ("Firefly").

If dramas aren't your thing, PBS has a terrific alternative in "Simon Schama's The Power Of Art," with two episodes running from 9-11 p.m.

Schama is the English historian who created the fantastic series "The History of Britain" for The History Channel a few years ago; on a personal note, it was the series that launched my screenwriting hobby.

What makes Schama's stuff so good is that he takes these erudite topics and makes them accessible to the average person. You don't need six degrees from Cambridge to understand what's going on. If you want to learn anything about art, this is a good chance to jump in.

DON'T STOP BELIEVING: Many people might have hated "The Sopranos" finale, but you can expect the band Journey isn't among them. The group's song "Don't Stop Believin'," which was featured so prominently in the final scene as Tony played it on the jukebox, has gotten new life since the episode aired. Sales for the song jumped an astonishing 482 percent (that's not a typo) on iTunes, according to an Atlanta radio station.

MONDAY'S BEST BETS: Assuming you don't go with the above choices, there are a few other new things tonight. "Creature Comforts" (CBS, 8 p.m.) is all-new, as is "Hell's Kitchen" (Fox, 9 p.m.)

So I don't incur the wrath of Zod, "Kyle XY" (ABC Family, 8 p.m.) airs a brand-new installment tonight.

In one of the freakier new reality series, tennis star Mark Philippoussis seeks a new girlfriend from a group of women selected by network producers on "Age of Love" (NBC, 9 p.m.) The twist? You've got a group of hot 40 year olds squaring off against hot 20 year olds for the affections of the 30-year-old tennis star.

Finally, I rarely highlight repeats, but tonight's "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 9:30 p.m.) is the brilliant "Price Is Right" parody as Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) is led to believe Bob Barker is his biological father.