Just two weeks removed from its boffo premiere, TNT has picked up its series "The Closer" for a second season.

The decision hardly comes as a surprise: TNT has received huge returns on the show, its first weekly series in several years. "The Closer's" June 13 premiere drew some 7 million viewers -- the biggest audience for a non-sports broadcast on basic cable this year -- and last week's episode checked in at a healthy 5.57 million viewers (ratings for Monday's episode aren't available yet).

"We've found a show that not only fits our brand and our current programming lineup perfectly, but also has proven to be one of television's biggest success stories of the summer," says Steve Koonin, COO of TNT and TBS. "'The Closer' is already proving itself to be a sustainable hit with lasting appeal for drama lovers."

The show's performance, along with that of miniseries "Into the West," has helped TNT deliver bigger ratings than two broadcast networks -- UPN and The WB -- for the month of June in total viewers and adults 18-49. TNT says no ad-supported cable network had ever beaten two broadcast nets in the latter category, which is the sweet spot for advertisers.

"The Closer" stars Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson, a Los Angeles deputy police chief who leads a team that investigates high-profile murders. A recent transplant from Atlanta, Johnson uses sometimes unconventional methods and her skills as a CIA-trained interrogator to close cases.

James Duff ("The D.A.," "The Agency") created the show and executive produces it with Greer Shephard and Michael Robin ("Nip/Tuck").