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 thought it was an excellent show and really hate that it got canceled. I found it way better than most of the shows TNT offers
This show was terrific and I am still so sad to see it go. Another network should consider picking up the show for an additional season. The actors were very talented and the plots were engaging. With better marketing, this show would have had a better following in the second season. I’m a huge fan and didn’t even realize when it was back on the air for a second season! Bring it back!
This is a good show. They’re afraid of challenging the norm, though. For a while one of the young white attorneys was interested in the head of the division, who happens to be a black female, and the storyline changed suddenly. I was looking forward to seeing it play out, instead the show opted for the two young lawyers falling in love routine saga that I’ve seen hundreds of times. I enjoyed the show, but noticed the obvious cowardly turnaround in the show. I guess enough haters commented against it.
I saw three new episodes in December aired on one night. I guess those were the last three episodes you were talking about. So that’s it for the show? Too bad. A great drama.
Man. That really sucks. One of the only scripted dramas I liked.
Now I will just watch crime doctumentaries and Adult Swim =(
I LOVED THAT SHOW, I PRAY ANOTHER NETWORK PICKS IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMEN….I’m very disappointed also, I really enjoyed the show.
Who are the idiots that decide to cancels great shows like Raising the Bar? The Closer and Saving Grace suck. These women are boring.
I am very disappointed about the cancellation. I loved this series.
I am very distressed to see this great show has been discontinued. There is so much garbage on the vast wasteland that is TV and a good show is cancelled. Go figure.
I am extremely angry at this decision to cancel
It is hard to understand why a good series like Raising the Bar gets cancelled, where there was a good balance of results as far as T.V. law shows go. There was always enough intrigue to keep one’s interest. What makes it harder to understand, is if you compare it to something like C.S.I. Miami, which in my opinion is completely ridiculous and really “over acted”, but yet it survives year after year.
R U kidding? Finally, something on tv worth watching and you cancel it! What is wrong with you people? The big 4 networks have nothing but junk that’s catered to younger people andl/or reality tv. If I want to see reality, I’ll turn off the tv or look at the news. Wake up!
All law-school students in Brazil love RTB! I am so sad that they are shuting it down! Please TNT reconsider!
I am very disappointed! This was one of my favorite shows, one of the few that I actually made a point to watch.
I am VERY upset that Raising The Bar is being cancelled. It is one of the few shows that if I couldn’t stay awake to watch I would record it so I didn’t miss the episode. What is TNT thinking? There is so much garbage on TV and THIS is what they want to get rid of? And besides who makes up the ratings? I don’t remember ever being asked what shows I like to watch, have you?
Unbelievable! I’ve been out of the loop thru the holidays, so I’m VERY disappointed to see that RTB has been cancelled. I enjoyed the story lines, the fight between prosecutors and the defense teams, the deals needed to make things happen. I can always do w/out the cheesy office sex *yawn* and always an indication that the writing is weakend by good writings being poached to better shows. What a shame….