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.
Really liked this show..we live in Singapore and loved it , you left us hanging , there are so many shows that to most people just seem a bit pointless ( car chase ,explosion , car chase , oh another car chase ) but networks fund them season on season. ( car chase with a murder) Please we are not all that thick… we love a show that you get in to with characters ..and a bit of script ( no more car chase then murder and forensics ..oh maybe DNA , its boring the hero wins, why, he has… Read more »
the only reason i stopped was cause i missed the end of the 1st season i then kept missing the episodes when i wanted to watch anyway. before i knew it it was not on anymore. I feel bad for missing it. I really wish TNT brings it back. or fans do something for it to come back. If anyone has any ideas hit me up anytime.
Are you kidding TNT execs.?. You didn’t even give the show a chance. Two years is not enough time to determine if the show should be cancelled or not. Both my husband and I were anticipating the return of this show. To us the story lines have been very brilliantly written, surprising and exciting. We look forward to the show every week. Now because of a few people its off the air. You left us wondering what will become of all the lawyers, such as: will there be a relationship with the head of the defense and the rich lawyer… Read more »
Raising the Bar was one of he best shows I have watched. Why was it canceled? I suppose it was because it was a great show. Happens all the time. Everytime you watch a show you like, it’s gone. Makes you not want to watch anything.
TNT, you blew this one.
it was the best show y stop it
rating was low
we don’t buy that
kindly put it back on
season 3
I thought the show was really good. If TNT didn’t want it why didn’t another network pick it up? I think it is a better show than some of the others that is still on.
I can’t believe you cancel the show it was the perfect show tv. I work at night some time, it take me a hour to get home. but I rush home to make sure I get to watch Raising the Bar. I am so disappointed that your took this show off. I love that show. This was a smart move with TNT when they bought this show to TV. I only started watch TNT for the first time when Raising the Bar came on TNT. The only thing i use to watch is NBA basketball. This a perfect Drama show… Read more »
Hello there! I am a huge fan of the show, I study at law school and it was really interesting. a I’m really disappointed with the cancelation. Well, what a pitty, I really hope they take it back to the screen, because it was really worthy. regards from spain!
I think its terrible that they would cancel this show. So many of the other legal shows are from the same standpoint…the prosecuter…what about the defendants?? This show was entirely too realistic and made people actually thiink and question the outcome in many situations. Smh, I am very disappointed and saddened that it wont be returning.
The show had some unrealistic episodes. NY jails must be filled to capacity when you put people in jail for mere misdemeanors. Moreover, it showed the prosecutors were just **** hounds and *****. It is amazing that no one recognized or gave credence to the oath of ethics or morality in the show. I have seen far better legal shows. This show only angered me.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Legal Beagel
I looked forward each week for the next episode of Raising
the Bar and now it’s gone. I am so sad.
I THINK IT WAS TOO REAL FOR SOME, MAYBE EVEN LAWYERS……TRUTH HURTS,,,,,,
i JUST LOOKED THIS UP AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN CANCED…….NEED TO RETHINK THIS SERIES AND BRING IT BACK TNT…..
*sighs heavily* I have read all 480+ posts from beginning to end in this thread, and only about a half-dozen agree with getting rid of RtB. The poll posted in the article has just under 4,500 votes, and 96% suggest TNT was crazy for pulling the plug on RtB. Some in this post have suggested that a letter-writing campaign be started by the fans and we should express to TNT our upset over their cancellation of RtB, and that maybe, just maybe, they will reconsider their position and bring it back. I am going to write a letter after having… Read more »
I cant belive it was cancelled… i was owndering why it wasnt airing yet…. i absolutely loved this show.. it was great and each episode was amazing… i looked forward to watching it every week and i just cant believe it was cancelled… i have never blogged about any tv shows but this time i just had too… i really hope it comes back if not atleast play the re runs at night so the FANS can atleast reminice about how great this show was….
I want ZACH BACK! 🙂 LOL..
-Jessica
This TV series is SO realistic, to the Judicial personal corruptions behind the scenes that probably the DOJ reach out and touched TNT. Parlaying peoples lives for personal career paths of Judges is REAL. Wheeling and dealing for “time” invoving peoples lives is common practice. A practice that destroys some people. Kellerman Esq. is very far and few in between. The rest are prima donnas that care nothing about humanity. It is all a paycheck. The taxpayer is royally screwed by this insitution. THIS SHOWS highlights that vividly. THAT is why they yanked it NOT because it was not good.… Read more »
I THINK IT WAS TOO REAL FOR SOME, MAYBE EVEN LAWYERS……TRUTH HURTS,,,,,,I AGREE……CAST WAS EXCELLENT…STORY LINE THE BEST AND IT IS RUGHT UP THERE WITH THE CLOSER…….