Court will soon be adjourned for the Mark-Paul Gosselaar drama, Raising the Bar. TNT has decided to cancel the series after two seasons but, there may still be more to come.
From executive producer Steven Bochco, Raising the Bar revolves around a group of law school classmates who work on opposite sides of the courtroom. The drama’s cast includes Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben, Currie Graham, Melissa Sagemiller, J. August Richards, Jonathan Scarfe, Teddy Sears, Jane Kaczmarek, Stacy Hall, Natalia Cigliuti, Paul Joyner, Wayne Lopez, Jon Polito, and Angel Oguendo.
Back on September 1, 2008, the series premiere attracted 7.7 million viewers. That set a record for TNT as the biggest audience for a new series launch on regular cable. Unfortunately, much of the audience didn’t return for later episodes which averaged 5.5 million. Despite an early decline, TNT renewed the series for a second season.
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On June 8th, season two of Raising the Bar attracted just 3.6 million and shed half of the audience of its lead-in, The Closer.
As a result of the low ratings, the cable channel has cancelled the legal drama. Via a statement, a TNT representative said, “Everyone at TNT had a great experience working on Raising the Bar with Steven Bochco and the rest of the show’s terrific cast and crew. We’re proud of the series and appreciate the efforts of all of the creative people who were involved. Unfortunately, ratings for Raising the Bar’s second season did not reach the levels required for TNT to renew the series.”
TNT had opted to split the second season into two parts. The first dozen episodes finished airing on August 24th. That leaves three episodes on the shelf. It was expected that they would air in early 2010 but they haven’t been given airdates yet.
What do you think? Are you upset that the series has been cancelled? Why do you think that Raising the Bar failed — acting, storylines, or something else?
Image courtesy TNT.
I can’t believe this show was cancelled. One of the best lawyer shows on tv. Very dissappointed!
I loved this show. I did not realize it had been canceled til I went looking to see if it was coming back for the summer months
I am deeply saddened by the cancellation of this show! My wife and I kept wondering when the show would come back on…even kept making sure the DVR still had it scheduled. I still think most people stayed after “The Closer” and watched. That sux!!!
This show should be on prime time with a network. With goofy trash like some of the shows, lawyer ones too, the public would be elated to see this show. It has all the ingredients, great acting and actors—THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE IDIOTS THAT SCHEDULED IT, PUT IT LATE AT NIGHT!!!!! duh! Most people I talked to didnt even know it existed…..no advertisements on networks, etc.
GET SOME SMARTS YOU EXECS. NO WONDER LOW RATINGS–CHECK YOUR OWN MISTAKES IN SCHEDULING TIMES AND NO ADS TO EVEN LET PEOPLE KNOW ITS THERE. DROPDEAD DIVA (ANOTHER GEM) GETS ADS!!!
I am very disappointed that this has been cancelled, I was waiting and asking everyone if and when will it be back on. Please reconsider.
I can not believe this show is canceled! This was one of my favorite tv shows!! I was so excited about it coming back on this season. I am really bummed out right now.
Oh, I am soooooo disappointed the show is cancelled. This was one great drama my husband and I enjoyed watching together. We loved the characters and roles they played. Please, please won’t you bring it back?
I am so sorry to hear another network cancelled one of the best shows on t.v. This was a must see and it kept getting better week after week. Why would TNT cancel such a gret show, they have very few original shows on as it is most of there shows are all repeats from other networks. Big mistake by tnt.
The reason I think that it failed is because people have developed a taste for crappy reality TV that they don’t know a good show when they see one. We as viewers have let the networks tell us what to watch. We need to take back the TV and say no more, no more reality, that crap sucks.
Canceling Raising the Bar was a really bad move the characters were real and riveting it was the best courtroom drama on tv. I think TNT could have done a better job finding a time slot that would have given this program a better chance at succeeding. My opinion give it another chance.
I was so looking forward for this show to come back on. I’m really disappointed!
I am so unhappy that Raising The Bar will not return. It aired so late at night, and on a night there were so many other popular programs.
What’s the matter with you guys????? This is the best legal drama in many many years, and you cancelled it! Shame on you.
Here’s one viewer (and all my friends too) who loved the show.
P. Mitchell
This show was too pat liberal for most of America. Politically correct lead characters that are just too unsympathetic: a queen bee judge, a semi-closeted gay legal clerk, 2-dimensional evil conservative district attorney and a theme of coddling criminals who are always innocent. If you want ratings, you need to figure out how not to offend everyone who is not on the left of the political spectrum.
I am so disappointed! It was a never miss an episode show for me!
It’s was gritty and seemed like the most authentic
law show on tv. Loved the characters and storyline!
Come on TNT try harder to help them find an audience.
It was intelligent, riveting, contoversial and deeply emotional!
I am very sad!
OMG…this one cannot be cancelled, it was my favorite on television, not since ER was I so excited to watch television. Too bad, it really gave a different view of the court system and how normal people get screwed by the wheeling and dealing by the DA’s office. I really hope the new show with Angie Harmon is good, it looks stupid from the promos and does not deserve to be in Raising the Bar’s time slot! I guess I will have to keep watching those crazy NJ housewives on Monday night!