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Raising the Bar (2008 TV series)

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This article is about the TNT legal drama series. For the Hulu barmaking series, see Raising the Bar (2013 TV series). For the Hong Kong television series, see Raising the Bar (2015 TV series).
Raising the Bar
GenreLegal drama
Created by
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Richard Stone
  • Philip de Souza
ComposerAlec Puro
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes25 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerSteven Bochco
Producers
  • Jonathan Abrahams
  • Dayna Kalin Bochco
  • David Feige
  • Caroline James
CinematographyBaz Irvine
EditorRick Hinson
Running time45–48 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTNT
ReleaseSeptember 1, 2008 (2008-09-01) –
December 24, 2009 (2009-12-24)

Raising the Bar is an American legal drama created by Steven Bochco and David Feige that ran on TNT from September 1, 2008, to December 24, 2009.

Plot

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Idealistic public defender Jerry Kellerman does whatever it takes to assist the helpless and disenfranchised, which often leads to clashes in the courtroom presided over by Judge Trudy Kessler, a hard-liner hoping to become the city's next district attorney. Jerry has many clashes with both law enforcement and the assistant district attorneys (ADAs) such as Michelle Ernhardt, the beautiful and occasionally devious attorney with whom he has had a turbulent secret fling.[1]

Cast and characters

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Recurring

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Production

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Raising the Bar was originally announced to be joining TNT as a new series in January 2008.[2] It came to TNT through ABC Studios and Steven Bochco served as executive producer, with Jesse Bochco as co-executive producer and David Feige as supervising producer. After completing its first season of 10 hour-long episodes in November 2008, the series was renewed for a 15-episode second season, which premiered on Monday June 8, 2009, at 10 p.m. Eastern Time/9 p.m. Central Time.[3] The show was canceled after season 2.

Episodes

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Season 1 (2008)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Jesse BochcoSteven Bochco & David FeigeSeptember 1, 2008 (2008-09-01)
2"Guatemala Gulfstream"Jesse BochcoJonathan AbrahamsSeptember 8, 2008 (2008-09-08)
3"I Will, I'm Will"Jeannot SzwarcAlison CrossSeptember 15, 2008 (2008-09-15)
4"Richie Richer"Bobby RothDavid FeigeSeptember 22, 2008 (2008-09-22)
5"Bagels and Locks"Eric LaneuvilleJonathan AbrahamsSeptember 29, 2008 (2008-09-29)
6"Hang Time"Chris LongDavid FeigeOctober 6, 2008 (2008-10-06)
7"A Leg to Stand On"Carol BankerAlison CrossOctober 13, 2008 (2008-10-13)
8"Out on the Roof"Rick BotaJonathan AbrahamsOctober 20, 2008 (2008-10-20)
9"Roman Holiday"Rick WallaceDavid FeigeOctober 27, 2008 (2008-10-27)
10"Shop Till You Drop"Jesse BochcoAlison CrossNovember 3, 2008 (2008-11-03)

Season 2 (2009)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
11"Hair Apparent"Jesse BochcoJonathan AbrahamsJune 8, 2009 (2009-06-08)3.57[4]
12"Rules of Engagement"Eric LaneuvilleAlison CrossJune 15, 2009 (2009-06-15)3.45[5]
13"The Curious Case Of Kellerman’s Button"Jesse BochcoAlison CrossJune 22, 2009 (2009-06-22)3.06[5]
14"No Child’s Left Behind"Rick BotaJoel FieldsJune 29, 2009 (2009-06-29)N/A
15"Is There a Doctor in the House?"Jeannot SzwarcJonathan AbrahamsJuly 6, 2009 (2009-07-06)N/A
16"I'll Be Down to Get You a Taxi, Honey"Martha MitchellTassie CameronJuly 13, 2009 (2009-07-13)3.44[6]
17"Fine and Dandy"Jesse BochcoDavid FeigeJuly 20, 2009 (2009-07-20)3.20[7]
18"Trust Me"Tricia BrockJoel FieldsJuly 27, 2009 (2009-07-27)3.54[8]
19"Trout Fishing"Steve RobinJonathan AbrahamsAugust 3, 2009 (2009-08-03)3.42[9]
20"Making Up Is Hard to Do"Reginald HudlinAlison CrossAugust 10, 2009 (2009-08-10)3.06[10]
21"Bobbi Ba-Bing"Jesse BochcoDavid FeigeAugust 17, 2009 (2009-08-17)3.47[11]
22"Beating a Dead Horse"Rick BotaJoel FieldsAugust 24, 2009 (2009-08-24)3.39[12]
23"Maybe, Baby"Martha MitchellJonathan AbrahamsDecember 24, 2009 (2009-12-24)N/A
24"O! Say Can You Pee"Jeannot SzwarcAlison CrossDecember 24, 2009 (2009-12-24)N/A
25"Happy Ending"Jesse BochcoDavid Feige & Joel FieldsDecember 24, 2009 (2009-12-24)N/A

Cancellation

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TNT confirmed to E! Online on November 30, 2009 that the series would not be renewed for a third season.[13] The final three episodes were burned off in a marathon December 24, 2009.[14]

Reception

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The series debut garnered 7.7 million viewers. It was the biggest audience ever for a new-series launch on basic cable. It beat the record set in 2004 by USA Network's launch of The 4400 which opened with an average of 7.4 million viewers; runner-up was TNT's The Closer, which recorded 7 million viewers when it was unveiled in 2005.[15] Following the premiere, ratings evened out to around 5.5 million viewers per episode.[3] For calendar-year 2008 on a first-run basis, the series delivered 1.37 million viewers in the 18–49 demographic,[16] garnering mixed reviews.[17]

Home media

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DVD name Release date Ep #
The Complete First Season June 2, 2009 10
The Complete Second and Final Season May 11, 2010 15

References

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  1. ^ "Raising the Bar". Zap2It. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  2. ^ TNT Press Release (2008-01-26). "TNT Heads to the Courtroom With New Steven Bochco Legal Drama Series Raising the Bar". Webwire. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  3. ^ a b TNT Press Release (2008-09-16). "TNT Renews Two Hit Series: Saving Grace and Raising the Bar". The Futon Clinic. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  4. ^ Kissell, Rick (June 9, 2009). "'Nurse Jackie' gets second season". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Crupi, Anthony (June 24, 2009). "TNT Repeat Offender on Tuesday Nights". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Yanan, Travis (July 21, 2009). "Monday 7/27 Ratings". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Gorman, Bill (July 28, 2009). "Burn Notice, The Closer, NASCAR Top Week's Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 4, 2009). "Updated:The Closer, Burn Notice, Royal Pains Top Week's Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  9. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 11, 2009). "iCarly, Burn Notice, The Closer, Royal Pains, WWE RAW and Monk top week's cable shows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 18, 2009). "The Closer, WWE RAW, NASCAR, Royal Pains & Monk Top Week's Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 25, 2009). "Updated: The Closer, WWE RAW, & True Blood Top Week's Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 1, 2009). "Cable ratings: Wizards of Waverly Place, The Closer, WWE RAW & Royal Pains". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ Jennifer Godwin (2009-11-30). "TNT Cancels Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Raising the Bar". E! Online. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  14. ^ "Breaking News - TNT to Say Goodbye to "Bar" on December 24 - TheFutonCritic.com".
  15. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (2008-09-03). "'Raising the Bar' and Clearing It in the Ratings". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  16. ^ "Breaking News - Final Dvr Data Revs Up Ratings for FX Frosh Drama Sons of Anarchy - TheFutonCritic.com".
  17. ^ "Raising the Bar". Metacritic.
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