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.
Too bad they based the cancellation on ratings. Most people don’t always know what some of the other cable channels are doing. Perhaps they should consider how many people actually like the content of the program. Steven Bochco has ALWAYS had great and interesting shows, and the actors and writing on this show were SO Fresh! Too bad, too sad for TNT. Maybe another network will pick it up, or TNT will actually wake up and Un-shelve this one.
Let me add this, this is the first cancellation that I really like. Stupid perverse arogant stereotypical law drama. Bring back great T.V from yesteryear. Macgyver, The cosbies, family ties. The A team now that was television.
I can’t believe they cancelled this show! it’s great! I wish they had more shows like this instead of those reality tv shows. maybe they would have more viewers if they stopped moving it around! Give this show a chance
I’m posting my opinion to match the 92% of polled viewers who think you’re nuts for cancelling “Rasing the Bar”. To be honest, I rarely ever watch TNT except for the ER reruns you put on in the morning. However, I did tune in for RTB and looked forward to doing so. I only found out it was cancelled when I surfed the web to see when season 3 would be starting. I think the main reason television programming is getting worse is that the networks don’t have the balls to back up good shows. Hence, we get shows like… Read more »
I cannot believe that TNT would choose to cancel Raising the Bar , this show is as close as one can get to the actual system without being in it. TNT made a big mistake on this one!!
I am so upset!! That was one of my FAVORITE shows.. Stupid reality tv shows are getting alot of dumb viewers… I still can’t believe “Survivor” is still running!! OMG!!! That was a show that was so intense and the story lines were realisitic and problems happening TODAY!! It failed because they keep flipping the time slots around!!! STOP moving stuff around!!
I’m so upset right now. They aired the last 3 episodes. I think it was last week because my DVR recorded it. TNT is wack and they really need to get it together. I swear if they cancel Dark Blue I will never watch another program they air. I think I’m going to write the network a letter.
Yes, I had DVR’d Ray Romano’s new show, “Men of a Certain Age” but happily erased all saved episodes last evening. I am not going to get invested in another TNT show either. Still am a FNL fan — no one at TN T seems to notice or care that bad decisions are being made.
I will definitely try to limit my affinity for TNT shows. First, Trust Me; now, raising the bar. TNT needs to give shows a chance… I’m sick of getting my favorite shows cancelled!
Once again, a great show goes on the shelf because of “ratings”. Never mind the show had great writers and actors. Bochco’s name and reputation speak for themselves (anyone remember “L.A. Law”, “NYPD Blue” or “Hill Street Blues”? And there is no one hotter on TV than Natalia Cigliuti. So, now TNT has lost me…again.
Just remember the saga of “Friday Night Lights”…cancelled due to poor ratings and look at it now. TNT could learn to be patient and stop cancelling shows for some as lame as “The Closer”.
I love(d) this show and wish it was not cancelled. Hopefully they air the last few episodes. Man, what a great show. I hate the Closer, lol. Monday mornings I used to annoy my entire work place, letting them know that I simply couldn’t wait to watch Zack Morris Raise the Bar that night.
I hate to discourge anyone but network executives do what they wish to… The only thing that counts with them is advertisers… The way they get advertisers is with large shares of the “correct” viewers (20-40) and that group, for the most part, prefers “mindless” comedy, dramas, and sitcoms… A series can have a very large number of viewers and if the executive wants to cut it they will no matter what the viewers want… An incredible campaign was waged to save the winner of the “Best new series” Moonlight, but no matter what the viewers did Ms Tasler would… Read more »
Fortunately, I had my DVR set to record all new episodes of this show or I would have missed the final 3 episodes, which I watched over the weekend.
So disappointed that this show was canceled. I agree with a previous poster, this was a great show for loyal Boston Legal followers.
Wish the folks at TNT would reconsider. Cast was great and the story lines were too.
Another great show gone. . . what will I watch now?
Any writing campaign should be well-organized. Does ADAManiac have the address for the pertinent individual? Should the campaign be via snail-mail or e-mail? Are there specific facts and/or feelings that each protester should make? I for one would participate as I also hope that this show can be saved.
Just wondering if anyone out there has participated in a similar venture before…
Really sorry to learn the show is cancelled. It was interesting, had good character development and made a point. I think it just didn’t get enough for people to see the show and get to know the characters. Another good show gone while so many poor ones linger on…