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Season 1 – Raising the Bar

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Raising the Bar Sep 2008 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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22% Tomatometer 23 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Idealistic public defender Jerry Kellerman does whatever it takes to assist the helpless and disenfranchised, which often leads to clashes in the courtroom presided over by Judge Trudy Kessler, a hard-liner hoping to become the city's next district attorney. Jerry also finds himself facing off against Michelle Ernhardt, the beautiful and occasionally devious prosecuting attorney with whom he is having a turbulent secret fling. But Jerry's not the only person with a covert love life: Judge Kessler is carrying on a liaison with her handsome law clerk, Charlie Sagansky, who has a few skeletons in his own closet.
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Raising the Bar — Season 1

Raising the Bar — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Raising the Bar is an all too familiar lawyer show from the veteran Steven Bochco who seems to be running out of ideas.

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Critics Reviews

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Hillary Frey Observer 10/14/2019
Raising the Bar, however, attempts to drag us back to the era of that other Bochco drama, L.A. Law, where men were men, women wore shoulder pads and sex stank up everything. Go to Full Review Dave Shiflett Seattle Times 10/14/2019
The show has addiction potential, fueled by intertwining romantic story lines. Go to Full Review Barry Garron The Hollywood Reporter 10/14/2019
Too often, though, plots are contrived and coincidental... and lack the wonderful surprises that are trademarks of a Bochco production. Go to Full Review Robert Abele L.A. Weekly 10/14/2019
Did the world need another law show? Arguably not. But if they're going to keep entering our homes like those pesky jury duty summonses, I'll take an agreeably lively genre workout from a tested veteran like Bochco over most. Go to Full Review Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters 10/14/2019
5/10
[W]hile Bochco's past work has offered up compelling characters, lively ethical dilemmas, and challenges to institutional mythologies, the new show looks to be mainly soapy. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Raising the Bar — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Jerry Kellerman

Gloria Reuben

Rosalind Whitman

Currie Graham

Nick Balco

Melissa Sagemiller

Michelle Ernhardt

J. August Richards

Marcus McGrath

Jonathan Scarfe

Charlie Sagansky

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 1, 2008 Pilot Public defender Jerry Kellerman defends a man he is certain is innocent; a lawyer in the DA's office tries to right a wrong in a rape trial. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 8, 2008 Guatemala Gulfstream The only eyewitness that can prove Jerry's client's innocence is stuck in Guatemala; Michelle gets a chance to try her first murder case; Richard defends a man accused of assault; a former lover of Charlie's turns up in Judge Kessler's courtroom. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 15, 2008 I Will, I'm Will Judge Kessler orders Jerry to find an in-patient program for his mentally ill client; Richard defends a woman who got into an altercation at the welfare office. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 22, 2008 Richie Richer Richard's wealthy father offers Roz a job at his high-profile firm; Jerry defends a destitute mother whose arrest may be an attempt to pressure her into testifying in a murder case; Judge Kessler positions herself as a political candidate. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 29, 2008 Bagels and Locks Jerry takes on an emotional case; Balco decides to take over the case as the primary prosecutor; Bobbi defends a family man charged with possession of heroin; Jerry meets Bobbi's husband, Gavin. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 6, 2008 Hang Time Jerry's newest client is accused of stealing money from a hit-and-run driver; Bobbi handles a domestic-violence case where the wife refuses to press charges against her husband. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 13, 2008 A Leg to Stand On Jerry agrees to have his client's case moved to a bench trial; Bobbi defends a veteran who uses heroin to control the pain of a lost leg; Judge Kessler is asked to help deal with another judge; Richard gets some extra attention from his client. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 20, 2008 Out on the Roof Charlie arranges for Jerry to handle a case involving someone Charlie knows; Marcus thinks something is up when a young man takes the fall for an armed robbery; Michelle calls in a favor; Richard gets a visitor with a proposition for him. Details Episode 9 Aired Oct 27, 2008 Roman Holiday Jerry defends an HIV-positive man charged with attempted murder for spitting in a police officer's face; Michelle sits second chair to the assistant DA from the Major Crimes Unit; Bobbi and Richard defend a 14-year-old in a homicide case. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 3, 2008 Shop Til You Drop An appeals court overturns a conviction based on Judge Kessler's decision to disallow testimony from a late witness; Jerry finds out something about Bobbi's husband; Richard defends an elderly woman accused of kiting checks. Details

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Raising the Bar — Season 1

Raising the Bar Raising the Bar Raising the Bar Raising the Bar View more photos

Season Info

Director
Jesse Bochco, Bobby Roth, Chris Long, Jeannot Szwarc, Carol Banker, Rick Wallace, Rick Bota, Eric Laneuville
Executive Producer
Steven Bochco, Jesse Bochco
Screenwriter
David Feige, Jonathan Abrahams, Alison Cross, Steven Bochco
Network
TNT
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 1, 2008