Creator Nancy Miller wants to give “Saving Grace” “great, great” send-off
Nancy Miller and Leon Rippy (Photo by Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman Archives)
The Oklahoman’s George Lang spoke Friday with Nancy Miller, the Oklahoma City-born creator, executive producer and writer on the TNT drama “Saving Grace,” about the news that the show will end next summer.
Miller told George that TNT wanted another full-season order for the series, but the show’s studio, Fox, declined for fiscal reasons.
Instead, word came down that the show will end next summer with a shorter nine-episode season.
“Saving Grace” is set in Oklahoma City and stars Oscar winner Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, a hard-living police detective who in a moment of crisis asks for God’s help. The answer to her prayer is a rather unusual angel named Earl (Leon Rippy) who is sent to offer Grace her final chance at redemption.
Miller’s ultimate hope – which many of the cast members, including Hunter, also expressed – was for the series to eventually be filmed in Oklahoma instead of Los Angeles. It was a big longshot, and now it will never happen.
Though it was filmed elsewhere, the show incorporated many references to Oklahoma, including OU-Texas-OSU football rivalries, character names taken from Oklahoma town names and Grace’s frequent cravings for a Johnnie’s burger.
Miller told George she would have liked to continue the show beyond 2010 but she’s glad she got to tell the story of Grace.
“Here’s the deal. Ultimately, I’m glad I got to tell these stories,” she told George. “I got to set a show in Oklahoma City, my hometown, tell the story of Grace Hanadarko and explore God. No one can take that away. I’m thrilled I got three years out of this. I wish we could go on creatively, but I can’t be that mad at Fox, you know? They’re losing money, and it’s a business.
“Now I just want to send Grace out in a great, great way,” she said. “Honor this character, these people and this city.”
Click here to read the rest of George’s interview with Miller.
-BAM
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Comments
Nothing like this anywhere on TV. Is it true Holly Hunter sunk the show with high salary demands? Too bad they can’t put the art above the money
At first, I was going to give a scathing score to this series (on Netflix), but I’m now into the 3rd season. I have had something similar happen to me since the 1980s, have written several books about it, and find that some of what is happening in this series also happened to me. In fact, I see some direct quotes from my books. I think this is a fantastic series and am very sorry that it was stopped early. I would love to see more. I’ve written to many of my friends about this. Thank you, Miss Nancy, and thank you Mr. Leon.
Thank you, Nancy Miller, for giving us “Saving Grace.” The show had a great run and a fantastic ending. You showed that hope and faith triumph over evil. Loved the stories. Thanks for showcasing Oklahoma City. Please write more about this state. We love YOU.