• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, July 3, 2006

"The Closer" will remain open. Only three episodes into its second season, TNT has green-lit a third go-round of the crime drama for next summer.

Cable's top-rated summer series has seen ratings climb 5 percent this season in the 18-to-49 demo.

TNT says "The Closer's" second-season debut on June 12 posted the "largest audience delivery ever for an original scripted series" on ad-supported cable.

"Once again, 'The Closer' has proven to be one of television's biggest success stories of the summer," said Steve Koonin, executive vice president-COO for TNT and TBS--"proving itself to be a sustainable hit with lasting appeal."