Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar: Preview of Episode 2.2 "Rules of Engagement"

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:41:02 GMT

On tonight's episode of Raising the Bar - "Rules of Engagement" - Jerry and Michelle appear before a new judge (John Michael Higgins) whose courtroom rules aren't exactly conventional. In fact, they're so draconian they make Judge Kessler's rules seem quaint by comparison. During the case, Michelle becomes smitten with a handsome cop who may be perjuring himself in order to cover up fro a bad arrest.

Elsewhere, Richard defends a pair of elderly twins who are accused of forging the signature of their dead roommates for his welfare check. The accused, however, don't seem to understand the gravity of the situation. Finally, Marcus scores a date with the borough president's chief of staff, who also happened to be the head juror on a case Marcus lost the week before.

CSI: Miami: Looks Like It's Really Goodbye To Dr. Tara

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:30:00 GMT

Walk backwards, further, further, until you get back to what happened to the latest season of CSI: Miami. You know, when we unearthed Tara's drug addiction issue, and how she almost broke up Horatio and Kyle by lying about her intake--well, until Ryan found out, let her slip the first time, and eventually gave her up to the police. It's icky, stealing drugs kept as evidence in a murder case.

But what's telling was what happened afterwards--after she was arrested, we heard nothing. Too quiet, in fact, to the point that during the season finale, Megalyn Echikunwoke's name disappeared from the opening credits entirely. And then we asked, is she really gone from the show? Or was it just a one-off?

"Zach Morris" Appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:46:31 GMT

Last night, Mark-Paul Gosselaar appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as a familiar face to many children of the '80s and '90s, Zach Morris from Saved By The Bell. Morris was there to update Jimmy and America on what he's been up to since graduating high school, while Gosselaar was there to promote his work on his new TNT drama Raising the Bar, which premiered last night.

The bit was a hit with audiences and day-after Internet viewers, and included lots of nostalgic Zach-isms: the time-freeze "Time out," lots of talk about Mr. Belding and The Max, and even a Zack Attack song, backed by The Roots. Zack also informed us that he and Kelly Kapowski were married, but "Things got pretty rough after we split up. Kelly moved to a different zip code."

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the video of Zach Morris himself:

Raising the Bar: Preview of Season 2 Premiere

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:14:45 GMT

With Raising the Bar's return tonight, there's one thing that a lot of critics are talking about - Mark-Paul Gosselaar's new haircut. The Saved by the Bell and much later NYPD Blue star is chopping the locks to appease a condescending potential juror on the sophomore season premiere (yes, it's within the plot). Asked about the change, Gosselaar tells E! Online that it may represent a change in Jerry Kellerman, the character he plays on the TNT legal series.

"He's going through the voir dire process [of screening jury members]. A potential juror doesn't think he can trust Jerry because of his appearance. So Jerry takes that element right off by cutting his hair. It's showing that he's being a bit more tactful and maturing. I think last season he would have just blown that guy out of the water. He would have stepped right on his soapbox and told him, 'How dare you call me a dirty hippie?!'"

TNT Airs 'Raising the Bar' Season Finale Tonight, Develops New Shows

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT

TNT’s Raising the Bar is coming to a close and fans are awaiting its return next year. Last month, we reported that the TNT series which stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar among others, has been renewed for a second season after garnering 7.7 million viewers on its debut, the biggest audience for a new series launch on basic cable. Tonight, the tenth and final episode of the first season of Raising the Bar will air at 10pm.

“Shop Til You Drop” open with the appeals court overturning the conviction of a black firefighter who is accused of stealing property from a body found during a fire. During its ruling, the court finds out that Judge Kessler made a mistake in taking a testimony from a late witness.

TNT Orders Season 2 of 'Raising the Bar'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:00:00 GMT

After delivering groundbreaking ratings, Raising the Bar has been renewed by TNT for yet another season. The series premiered on September 1 and garnered 7.7 million viewers, the biggest audience ever for a new-series launch on basic cable. According to Nielsen, the show beat the previous record set by USA Network's The 4400 with 7.4 million and the 2005 debut of TNT's The Closer with 7 million.

After completing its first season in November, the series will return next year with a 15-episode second season.

Raising the Bar: Preview for Episode 2 "Guatemala Gulfstream"

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Raising the Bar proves that lawyers make compelling TV. And despite unfavorable reviews, Steven Bochco's new legal drama is arguably off to a good start with its groundbreaking premiere that set the bar high for TNT. But will the rest of the episodes live up to the show's hype?

Read on for a preview of tonight's episode.

TNT Soars to Record High with 'Raising the Bar'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Raising the Bar, TNT's legal drama that premiered commercial-free on Monday at 10pm, unexpectedly attracted 7.7 million total viewers, making it the most-watched series premiere ever on ad-supported cable. According to Nielsen, the show beat the previous record set by USA Network's The 4400 with 7.4 million and the 2005 debut of TNT's The Closer with 7 million.

Moreover, the premiere of Raising the Bar also scored 2,837,000 in adults 18-49 and 3,471,000 in adults 25-54, ranking as ad-supported cable's top new series launch for the year-to-date.

'Raising the Bar' Review: Less Than the Sum of Its Parts

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:30:53 GMT

Does television really need another show about lawyers? Probably not, but when it's created by TV legend Steven Bochco, the behind such classics as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and NYPD Blue, I might be willing to make an exception. However, Bochco's newest series, Raising the Bar, is a by-the-book courtroom drama starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar that premieres on TNT tonight at 10pm following a new episode of The Closer.

If you've seen The Practice, you're familiar with the premise: passionate defense attorneys fight for their clients while diligent prosecutors try to put them away. Much like The Practice, Raising the Bar takes a look at both sides of the courtroom by focusing on a group of law school friends who do battle in trial and get together for drinks afterwards.

TNT Spreads the Word on 'Raising the Bar'

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:01:00 GMT

As part of TNT's marketing effort to promote its new drama Raising the Bar, the network has decided to spring for tolls in four major metropolitan areas to remind drivers to watch the show, which is scheduled to premiere on Labor Day at 10pm ET/PT.

In case you haven't heard, Raising the Bar is the latest brainchild of NYPD Blue producer Steven Bochco and David Feige. The series is about a group of law school classmates who later find themselves on opposite sides of the criminal law system. Leading the hour-long legal drama is none other than Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who is perhaps best known for his roles as Zack Morris on NBC's Saved by the Bell. Apart from Saved by the Bell, he is also credited as detective John Clark on NYPD Blue. On the new series, he'll be playing a New York City public defender.

Bringing Sexy Back: #5 J. August Richards in 'Raising the Bar'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:01:00 GMT

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

The vampire drama Angel featured its fare share of hunky dudes, from the noble hero (David Boreanaz) to the conniving villain (Christian Kane). Thrown into the mix at the end of season 1 was J. August Richards as Charles Gunn, a street smart tough guy who wanted nothing more than to dust some vamps. The side of Richards we'll see in the new TNT drama Raising the Bar is more akin to Gunn from the final season, when he got book smart and became a lawName