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RSSLowering my expectations on 'Raising the Bar'
How can something so potentially good go so wrong?
That was my dominating thought while watching the first three episodes of Raising the Bar (premiering Monday at 10 p.m.).
Consider the evidence: The legal drama is from the creative mind of executive producer Steven Bochco, the man behind the genius that was NYPD Blue. I loved NYPD Blue. I never missed an episode of what I will always consider one of the best television dramas ever.
Raising the Bar stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Detective John Clark on NYPD Blue) as scrappy public defender Jerry Kellerman, J. August Richards (Gunn on Angel) as lawyer Marcus McGrath and Jane Kaczmarek (Lois on Malcolm in the Middle) as volatile Judge Trudy Kessler.
Given the above facts, I went into this show previously disposed to absolutely love it. I couldn't wait to watch the DVD when it arrived. But the show is not good -- at all. I'm so disappointed. I can't figure out how it all went so wrong. But here are some key places the show goes awry:
1. Jerry is soooo whiny. And I can't blame Gosselaar because I know the man can act. The script has Jerry constantly throwing a temper tantrum to defend his clients. Sure we all know people who get indignant when they don't get what they want, but we wouldn't watch a TV show about them either. Jerry is the center of the show and I want to root for him but he is really, really, really annoying. Like he's related to Maya on Heroes annoying. I'm going to not even talk about Jerry's unfortunate hairstyle because I like Gosselaar and I don't want to pick on him any more.
2. Judge Kessler makes no sense. She's poised to be the adversary for Jerry but she's mercurial and irrational sans explanation. She comes across a bad judge who did not take her legal responsibility seriously which I know isn't want the show intended. And she is sadled with a regrettable and cliched storyline.
3. Gloria Reuben is underused as the head of the public defender's office. And in the few scenes she's in, her only plot line is that the young cute and wealthy public defender Richard Patrick Woolsley (Teddy Sears) has a crush on her.
Ugh. Two stars. The last time I felt this disheartened was with The Return of Jezebel James from Gilmore Girls executive producer Amy Sherman-Palladino. I'll stop complaining now because I like everyone involved in this project way too much to continue. I will leave you with this one fun fact: The series also stars Natalia Cigluiti as public defender Bobbi Gilardi. Cigluiti was Lindsay on Saved by the Bell: The New Class and of course Gosselaar was Zack on the original so at least that's some minor good times -- especially since I sense some sort of romance will happen down the line with those two characters.
After you watch the premiere of Raising the Bar, let me know what you think. And talk about when you were disappointed by a show you thought you would love below.
Quotes of the Week
"Peggy listen to me. Get out of here and move forward. This never happened. It will shock you how much it never happened." Don to Peggy when he visits her in the hospital after she has her baby in a flashback on Mad Men.
"When do you stop be so gullible? When the baby arrives?" Ashley to Amy on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
"This is not the time for petty sibling squabbles, that's what Thanksgiving is for." Sean to Chief Vick on Psych. Thanks to Lil for the quote.
Exchange of the Week
"Alright, enough. The painfully cute mugging is starting to get on my nerves" Commander Dunlap on Psych.
"What are you Entertainment Weekly?" -- Gus's response. Thanks to Brian for the quote.
That's all for today. I will be back on Labor Day to talk about the second season premiere of Gossip Girl (spotted: one TV critic so tired of a certain couple) and the results of the hit or flop 90210 survey (if you haven't voted yet send me an email and let me know what you think). Have a question, seen a familiar face or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a great long weekend. Talk to you on Monday.
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Aah, THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER.
Terrible acting, terrible writing, ridiculous storylines...and I'm addicted to this show like no other. I can't even defend it. It's bad. I know it's bad. I don't like it but I'm compelled to watch.
Here's to the schadenfreude!
I saw the Raising the Bar pilot and I totally disagree with you, Amy. I would give the show ZERO stars. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw such a terrible show. All of your criticisms are dead on and you didn't even touch on the ridiculousness of the office sexual harr***ment or the illogical "twist" at the end.
Steven Bochco is a TOTALLY a legend, but a washed-up legend. What's the last impact show he's had? Probably, it's been more than 10 years. The guy's living off past glory. Networks should give the next wave of writer/producer a chance and stop trying to revive and recycle old "brands."
When I first saw a promos for Raising the Bar I was so excited. I couldn't wait to see it. For all the reasons you gave, Amy.
But now they are airing clips and scenes from the show on TNT and I have to say, I'm not too excited anymore. If those are the highlight clips I'm very afraid of how bad the ones are that aren't being shown.
Biggest disappointed for a TV show, before this has to be The Bionic Woman. As a fan of the original, I was really looking forward to the update and the ads made it look great. But I quickly learned why it was be called the "Boring Woman". When the only character you like is the bad guy, it's not a good sign. I gave this show alot of time to fix itself cause I wanted to like it, but it the end it never did.
Oh my, what bashing we have already got going on toward Raising the Bar. I'll give it a look sometime what Amy don't like I do, sorry Amy but I still love your blog on here at zap2it ;-).
I miss getting message to you about a "where have I seen them" was going to point out that the cold case detective on the season finale of L&O: CI was played by Kene Holiday who I'll always remember playing Tyler on Matlock in the early seasons. I like good court room drama and I was kind of hoping that's what Raising the Bar going to be. I be sure to get back to you on that.
Peace out everyone have a good, safe Labor day weekend.
I agree with you 100%, MK, about SLAT... total guilty pleasure!
Never saw RAISING THE BAR, but your criticism makes me want to watch, if only to see if it's as bad as you say. :) lol.
I thought i would love PUSHING DAISIES, but it's just a little too whimsical for my tastes.
I don't know if I expected to love CANE, but it shaped up as a show that offered some intrigue and something different. But the writing, production, and thus the acting all ended up being subpar. A wasted opportunity.
INVASION looked like a great opportunity, and it certainly was a good show. But the show took so long to get untracked, got tangled up in multiple and often low value storylines that it did not surprise me that people got impatient. Some great eps and moments but I got very frustrated with EP Shaun C***idy for not doing a better job of centering the series.
Gloria Reuben - a smart and versatile actress, who according to Amy's review, is going to waste again. I don't want to get too far into this because it involves some old shows but her career in TV is something of a mystery to me.
Does anyone remember the show Teachers? It was advertised as being "by the producers of Scrubs" or something like that, and it pretty much had nothing in common with Scrubs and there was nothing funny about it.
The live-action Tick was a slight disappointment (though it still had moments).
AMY: I had a feeling that Raising the Bar wasn't going to be very good, since I never saw any ads promoting it as "the critics' choice", like they do for Mad Men, Eureka, Psych, etc. I still plan on watching at least one episode, since I really miss seeing 'Zack' and 'Gunn' on a weekly basis! By the way, I was such a big fan of Saved By the Bell that I immediately recognized Cigluiti used to play Lindsay on that show.
MK and BECKY: I totally agree with you about TSLOFTAT. I know that the show isn't exactly Emmy worthy, but I can't stop watching it. It is good enough for the summer, until Gossip Girl and the 90210 show start.
Another show about lawyers? From the first promo, my reaction was all solid zzzz's.... as far as I am concerned, the fall of the practice and it's teenage ninja mutation into Crapton Legal signaled the end of good shows about Lawyers to me...eh and William Hinks is off sinking some Island in the middle of the ocean so no more such dramas for me