THE DEADBOLT: So, what's the theme this year?

BAILEY: The overriding concept this year is power. I don't mean, and our creators don't mean, to say that every episode will allow you to say, "Oh, I see why that's about power." It comes in many different guises, many different facets, many different views. The episode we just finished, which is very dark and, ultimately, very sad, has a lot to with this young boy and the power he exerted over other people and instilled such fear in them. The opening episode, our premiere, is very much about it. Bill Croelick, the arsonist, who is from an earlier season - it's the first time we've had a villain come back... Jason O'Mara, who is wonderful - he exercises some perverse power over her. He has her off-balance. It's a very powerful performance about power.

THE DEADBOLT: Is there anything new about this season?

BAILEY: I think you'll find a little more... we don't want to turn this into soap opera. No one wants to turn it into Grey's Anatomy, but I think you'll find a little more exploration of the personal lives of the squad. You're going to meet... one of us has a brother that's murdered. Another of us, a father shows up. Another of us gets shot himself and that has a lot of repercussions. We meet one character's wife. And so, you're going to see a little more of their back stories and who they are. A little more texture, in that respect. Again, they will NOT neglect or veer far from it being a procedural crime drama. It's always going to be a murder and it's going to be solved because she's THE CLOSER. [laughs] But I think you're going to find a little more exploration of the supporting characters.

THE DEADBOLT: Has there been any discussion of an end point? I mean, Law & Order has been on forever. Do you picture yourself doing this another ten years?

BAILEY: There are two elements to that. One, as long as the audience is strong and they want it to last. And the second is that we'll do it as long as Ms. Sedgwick wants to do it. [laughs] She is, actually, this is not really private business, I think it was published last year, she's under contract to the show for seven years and this is our fourth year. If the ratings stay strong, we know that we'll go seven years... at least.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you still get asked about the Police Academy movies?

BAILEY: Every day.

THE DEADBOLT: What's your "airport question"?

BAILEY: Well, many of them have that look on their face like they're surprised that I'm still alive. It's a quizzical interaction. I think, probably, THE number one question is, "Are you going to do another Police Academy? Are you going do a reunion film? I saw on the internet that they're doing number eight."

THE DEADBOLT: I read that rumor today.

BAILEY: Well, if they're doing it, they haven't talked to any of us. [laughs] That's what I get asked the most about - "Will we do another one?"

THE DEADBOLT: Do you stay in touch with all of those people?

BAILEY: Sure. I haven't talked to Bubba in a while. Lance Kinsey, who played Procter, he and I are extremely close. We speak often and see each other. We're all good friends. We lost David Graf right before his 51st birthday. He collapsed and had a genetic heart condition. But everybody else, yeah. I ran into Bobcat not too long ago. Bobby's doing great. He directs a lot now.

THE DEADBOLT: Tell our readers a little bit about The Sunshine Kids.

BAILEY: It's a non-profit. We're dedicated to helping children with cancer and I've been involved for 23 years. I'm the Executive Director of the foundation. We're a medium-sized non-profit. We have an annual budget that's close to $3.5 million, which means I travel a lot to raise money. We're strictly a quality of life organization. We put together group activities and group trips. People will say, "Is it like Make-a-Wish?" Make-a-Wish is a tremendous organization that does wonderful things but we're kind of the exact opposite. They concentrate on one kid and their family, while we do the opposite. We bring a group of 25 or 30 kids together without their families, without their parents. Next week we'll have 30 kids in the city of New York.

THE DEADBOLT: What ages?

BAILEY: Well, they come without their parents and we have about one Oncology nurse for every four kids. Because they travel without their parents... very mature 11 and 12-year-olds, up to 18. But the median ages - 13, 14, 15. We have national, local, and regional events that entail everything from hospital visits, where we go in and do arts and crafts. I'm very hands-on. Obviously, because of the show, I'm in L.A. six or seven months of the year. Our national office is in Houston, but we have a regional office in L.A. I'm leaving Chicago this afternoon early because we've got a small regional trip with 20 kids in Long Beach. CA. I'm going to go out there and spend a few days with them.

To read more about The Sunshine Kids, go here and watch the fourth season premiere of The Closer, airing tonight on TNT.