Morena Baccarin

TNT picks up ’Grace,’ ’Heartland’

TNT is in negotiations to pick up drama pilots "Grace" and "Heartland" to series, while opting not to bring back paramedic drama "Saved" for a second season, sources said.

Like TNT’s hit cop drama "The Closer," which stars Kyra Sedgwick, both "Grace" and "Heartland" boast big-name leads.

Oscar winner Holly Hunter toplines "Grace," playing a jaded Oklahoma City police detective who is visited by an irascible angel and offered an opportunity to redeem her life.

Treat Williams stars as a surgeon in the medical drama "Heartland," which is set in the high-stakes world of heart transplant surgery.

"Heartland," from Warner Horizon TV, is eyed as a companion for "Closer."

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While TNT brass are said to have been pleased with the ratings performance of "Saved," sources said they are hoping for a better retention of "Closer’s" sizable lead-in with "Heartland" than the 55% achieved by the Tom Everett Scott-starring EMT drama.

As for the Fox TV Studios-produced "Grace," it is said to be considered a strong self-starter, a candidate to air in the 10 p.m. hour with no series lead-in, similar to the way FX schedules its original dramas in the Tuesday 10 p.m. slot.

While on paper "Closer" and "Grace" look similar, both centered on a strong Southern female cop character, they are said to be very different in tone and subject matter, with "Grace" focused more on spirituality and religion.

"Grace" and "Heartland" were among three drama pilots picked by TNT this summer. The third one, "The Line Up," is not going forward, sources said.

"Grace," which co-stars Laura San Giacomo, Leon Rippy and Bokeem Woodbine, was written by Nancy Miller, who is executive producing with Gary Randall.

"Heartland" hails from David Hollander, creator and executive producer of the CBS drama "The Guardian." Morena Baccarin is co-starring.