J. August Richards

Solidifying its slate of original dramas, TNT announced renewals for "Saving Grace" and "Raising the Bar" on Tuesday.

"Grace," which stars Holly Hunter as a troubled yet effective Oklahoma City cop, averaged 4.4 million viewers this summer, airing seven of the 15 episodes in its sophomore season. The final eight second-season installments of the show, from Fox TV Studios, will air starting in March. With renewal, a 15-episode third campaign will bow later in 2009.

Meanwhile, with three episodes having aired, the Steven Bochco-produced legal drama "Raising the Bar" has averaged 5.5 million viewers, with the premiere episode drawing a record 7.7 million viewers on Sept. 1.

"Raising the Bar," which stars Jane Kaczmarek, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Gloria Reuben, will complete its frosh campaign in November. Ensembler from ABC Studios will bow a 15-episode second season in 2009.

TNT has yet to announce a season-five renewal for its seminal original drama "The Closer," which culminated the first two-thirds of its fourth campaign Monday, averaging 7.3 million viewers over the summer. Sources close to the network say a renewal announcement should occur soon. The final five episodes of season four will bow in January.

TNT has two other new original dramas on tap. The Dean Devlin-produced "Leverage," which stars Timothy Hutton as a Robin Hood-like former insurance adjuster, is set to premiere in December. Meanwhile, "Trust Me," which stars Tom Cavanagh and Eric McCormack as friends and colleagues at a Chicago ad agency, will bow in January.