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TNT lowers the boom on 'Raising the Bar'
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TNT won't be "Raising the Bar" anymore.The cable channel has canceled the show after two seasons. After a huge premiere in September 2008 (7.7 million viewers), the Steven Bochco-produced legal drama quickly dropped to less than half that number. The show's second season debuted to 3.6 million people in June but was unable to sustain the audience.
"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," the network says in a statement. "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."
The show, which stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Melissa Sagemiller, J. August Richards and Jane Kaczmarek, still has three episodes remaining on its second-season order. A TNT rep tells Zap2it that the network does plan to air the last three episodes but hasn't set an airdate.
The network still has "The Closer," "Hawthorne" and "Leverage" in its stable of original series and will debut a new show, "Men of a Certain Age," on Dec. 7. It also has several projects in development, including an alien-invasion pilot starring Noah Wyle and produced by Steven Spielberg and "Rizzoli," a detective drama starring Angie Harmon.
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Photo credit: TNT
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Not surprising. Bochco lost is mojo years ago.
In reality, the show didn't have the ratings for renewal last year, but TNT is playing the PR game and figures that if it renews a show, it counts as a successful year.
At least, they didn't keep that show on for five years as some other networks would do.
Of course, they have the equally low-rated (and possibly even more boring) Hawthorne that it dutifully renewed in spite of lack of viewer interest.
@Dex: I do agree. Sadly, Steven Bochco has succumbed to the "trying to be hip" sickness quite a few years ago.
Regardless, he will remain a towering figure in the history of television dramas. :)
Agreed with both of you. TNT pulled the trigger on renewal really fast after the show's big premiere and was kind of stuck when the ratings nosedived.
I think they renewed the dull and annoying Hawthorne only as a "favor" (as in favoritism) and to keep on the good side of the Smith's (as in Will & Jayda Pinkett-). As a carrot for their involvement in future projects perhaps?
Won't miss Raising the Bar.
Don't forget about DARK BLUE with fine *** Omari Hardwick
azz
What a bummer... Season 1 was a little rocky but they seemed to be getting into a groove in the 2nd season.
Mabye Mark Paul will show up on White Collar with Tiffany Amber Theisen?
Jada is all that, If you don't like it don't watch it, simple as that.
Well I will miss Raising the Bar. I think TNT pulled the plug too soon.