That makes it cable's No. 1 series telecast so far this summer.
Though impressive, Monday's series finale drew the second-highest total viewership in "The Closer"'s history -- the September 2007 mid-season finale amassed 9.2 million total viewers.
In terms of key demos, Monday night's swan song for "The Closer" -- which starred Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, deputy chief of the LAPD's Major Crimes Unit -- averaged more than 2 million viewers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and 2.7 viewers in the 25-54 demo.
"The Closer" finale also helped to boost TNT's new offering "Major Crimes," which premiered following the "Closer" finale.
The "Major Crimes" debut brought in 7.2 million total viewers, making it cable's most-watched new series launch this year.
Next Monday, "Major Crimes" -- a spinoff of "The Closer," which stars Mary McDonnell in her "Closer" role of Captain Sharon Raydor -- will take "The Closer"'s 9 p.m. timeslot, followed by new episodes of "Perception."
"The Closer," which premiered in June 2005, was produced for TNT by The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television.
In addition to McConnell -- who was nominated for an Emmy for her work on "The Closer" -- "Major Crimes" stars "Closer" alum G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz and Phillip P. Keene.
