TV Jots

Along with Michael Massee

The execs at TNT must be clairvoyant or something, I tell ya. How else could they have known to schedule such great guest stars on the network’s two top-rated crime dramas, right on the heels of The Closer star Kyra Sedgwick’s much-deserved Outstanding Drama Lead Actress win during last night’s Primetime Emmys broadcast?

Veteran actor Gary Cole (Entourage, The West Wing, and TNT’s Wanted) headlines the guest list for the fresh August 30 episode of The Closer called “War Zone.” He plays military man Major Edward Dorset, who clashes with Brenda when her team investigates the shooting murders of three unlucky soldiers who managed to survive Afghanistan, only to be killed on home soil near a club in Los Angeles.

Not to be outdone in the guest department, Rizzoli & Isles follows at 10pm ET with “I’m Your Boogie Man.” The episode features the return of two excellent series-premiere guest stars, namely Billy Burke (Twilight, The Closer) and mega-creepy Michael Massee (Carnivàle, 24).

Massee’s jailed serial-killer character Charles Hoyt manages to cause a stir yet again when a dead body found in a park seems too similar to his past “work.” As a result, while analytical Maura attempts to figure out what the heck is going on, hot-headed Jane tries to not give in to her fear of the deranged person who almost killed her. The title makes so much sense.

Take a look at the promo for The Closer‘s latest installment and a scene from Rizzoli & Isles‘s new episode below. Just two more summer episodes remain for each series in September.