Entertainment

Starr Report

The Closer” ended its long run on TNT Monday night with a bang — corralling 9.1 million episodes to claim the title of the summer’s top series telecast (among cable shows).

In terms of milestones, the Kyra Sedgwick series was the top-rated cable show for five of its seven seasons (2005-09); Monday night’s series finale was its second-most-watched episode ever (the September 2007 midseason finale pulled in 9.2 million viewers). Once DVR viewing is factored in, TNT expects Monday’s episode to average nearly 10 million viewers.

TNT’s new series, “Major Crimes,” followed “The Closer” with 7.2 million viewers — this year’s top cable series launch. “Major Crimes” is headlined by Mary McDonnell, Tony Denison and GW Bailey.

Speaking of major crimes, the story of Toni Marie Ricci —who divorced reputed Gambino capo Michael “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo after discovering he’d fathered a child with his mistress — is featured on tonight’s second-season premiere of ID’s “I Married a Mobster” (10:30).

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Should we be calling it “The Curse of ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ ”?

Ron Palillo, who played the annoying Arnold Horshack on the hit ’70s sitcom, died yesterday in Palm Beach, Fla., reportedly from a heart attack. He was only 63.

Palillo is the second “Kotter” cast member to die this year, following the death last January of Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein. Hegyes, who was 60, suffered a heart attack.

And as far as the show’s breakout star, John Travolta . . . well, we all know why he’s been in the news lately.

Just sayin’.

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Anthony Ochoa, Evelyn Lozada’s brother-in-law — who walked her down the aisle last month when she married Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson — died Monday night at the age of 43 after battling cancer. Ochoa appeared on Lozada’s VH1 reality show, “Basketball Wives,” the past two seasons. He also would have appeared on the Lozada-Johnson reality show, “Ev & Ocho,” had not VH1 pulled the plug on the series in the wake of domestic violence charges brought against Johnson, who allegedly head-butted Lozada last weekend in their Florida home.

(Lozada has now filed for divorce from Johnson. See our story in today’s Post TV section written by the ever-mysterious Post staff writer — whose identity I cannot divulge.)

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Last, but not least:

* Hot 97’s Angie Martinez throws her annual Backyard BBQ this Saturday (6 p.m.) at The Garden at Studio Square (Long Island City). It’ll be hosted by DJ Khaled with special guest DJ ?uestlove and performances by Wale and Miguel . . . Kathryn Erbe will reprise her role as Alexandra Eames on the upcoming season of “Law & Order: SVU.” Erbe played the role for 10 seasons on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” . . . Season 3 of CBS’ “The Good Wife” is out on DVD Sept. 4. Julianna Margulies stars.