''The Closer: The Complete First Season,'' the Critically Acclaimed Drama, Available on DVD May 23, 2006 from Warner Home Video.

BURBANK, Calif. -- Warner Home Video:

All 13 First Season Episodes of the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award Nominated Series Will be Included on the DVD, Along With Never Before Seen Special Features

Warner Home Video brings "The Closer," cable television's most watched television series of the year, to DVD for the first time ever on May 23, 2006. The DVD release is timed prior to the start of the highly anticipated second season on TNT. The four-disc collector's set features all 13 episodes of the critically acclaimed first season as well as 22 minutes of deleted scenes. "The Closer: The Complete First Season" will be priced at $39.98 (SRP).

An offbeat personality, a tough-as-nails approach and track record as one of the country's leading investigators - these are just a few of the traits exhibited by television's next great detective, Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, played by three-time Golden Globe Awards nominee Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer." In her first lead role in a dramatic series, Sedgwick plays a CIA-trained detective who has been brought from Atlanta to Los Angeles to head up the Priority Murder Squad, a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Brenda is tapped to lead the team because she is a world-class interrogator, and when it comes to obtaining confessions, she is a closer. But her quirky attitude and hard-nosed approach to her job sometimes rub her colleagues the wrong way, as does the fact that she is a tough-minded Southern woman in a department dominated by men.

The series was created by James Duff ("Felicity," "Popular") and executive produced by Michael M. Robin and Greer Shephard, the team behind the groundbreaking series "Nip/Tuck." "The Closer" also stars J.K. Simmons, Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison and Jon Tenney.

Regarding the announcement, Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV Marketing said, "'The Closer' is one of the most engaging series to have come to television recently. With strong ratings, great praise from critics and industry recognition, this title is a must-have for not only fans of the show but for all those who missed experiencing this remarkable series when it first aired on television."

"The Closer" exploded to critical acclaim, receiving rave reviews from Entertainment Weekly Magazine, USA Today and TV Guide to The Hollywood Reporter, Vogue and InStyle Magazine, and others. "Kyra Sedgwick shines..." "Kyra Sedgwick's smash crime drama has been the summer's most refreshing surprise" said TV Guide, while Vogue said, "Kyra Sedgwick...takes on the crusty, edgy, and infinitely appealing role..." "Her charm will win the viewers." USA Today said, "...a stellar first season..." and "Watching the mystery unravel is only part of the fun. The main thrill comes from watching Ms. Sedgwick, who fills the screen like the accomplished movie actress she is and within moments establishes the contours of her character."

Averaging 5.4 million viewers per week, "The Closer" was ranked as the most watched cable series of the year, helping TNT win the top spot among all basic cable networks. The series' June 13th premiere was ad-supported cable's most watched original scripted series telecast of the year, attracting more than 7 million viewers.

In addition to generating impressive ratings, "The Closer's" first season resulted in securing two major award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Kyra Sedgwick in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama category and a Screen Actor's Guild Award nomination, also for Kyra Sedgwick in the category for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

For more information on this and other titles distributed by Warner Home Video, visit www.whvdirect.com.

Artwork is downloadable at www.WHVDirect.com or by request.