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« Kelvington's Corner
Raising The Bar... does not...
TNT sometimes gives us great shows, "Saving Grace" is one of them, then sometimes they give us things that are not so great and "Raising The Bar" falls into that category. This is one of those shows that I imagine was created with a check list. A group of writers or worse producers Steven Bochco in this case, sat in a room, and watched a lot of David E. Kelly's stuff and said, "We can do that!" And off they went with mocha lattes in hand, and they started working on this show.
Let's see, cranky judge, ala "Boston Legal"... check. Arrogant legal defender ala "Ally McBeal"... check. Smoking hot DA, ala "Shark"... check. More angst than "Smallville"... check. Hey let's put on a show!! Oh we forgot a gay guy... have to have a gay guy, but he's leading a double life.. check and check!
The opening episodes of shows are suppose to sell the show to the network, to be better and more clever than the rest of the series, it's just like your CV. Have we learned nothing from "Cavemen"? This show isn't the worst thing to come down the pike, but it's by no means as good as it could be. Let's start with the judge, played by Jane Kaczmarek, she's a great actress, she's funny and serious, she can play anything you throw at her, so what have they decided to do? They make her into a cartoon of a character, this is an actress capable of great things, we've seen them. So why then do they have her play this so badly, there are times she looks like she's reading her lines off the pages in front of her? She was righteous and indignant to the end, until her clerk (the guy with the terrible double life) kisses her neck, and we imagine other bits. Then she just becomes human and decent. This is not how we hope or believe the justice system works.
As we progress through the episode we see a lot of interplay between the various co-workers, whom if they are not sleeping with each other they want to be sleeping with each other, except here they have none of the wit or spark that we would see, even in the worst episode of "Boston Legal". Now of course remember, this comes from the Steven Bochco work farm, didn't he use to work on some really good shows? Let me think... oh yea, "Hill Street Blues", "NYPD Blue" and other shows that no doubt have the word "Blue" in the title. I think perhaps he should get back to those shows and leave the "Perry Mason" meets the "OC" to the professionals.
By episodes end, and I got to see it without commercials mind you, you will be wondering when the next episode of "Saving Grace" is on, or maybe you will want to switch over to USA and watch "Burn Notice". The fact that ABC produces the show, but has no intention of showing it on their own network, speaks volumes.
And just for the record, if you use a title like "Raising The Bar" and you don't expect puns, then you haven't learned the lesson from Mel Brooks' "Life Sucks". Maybe next time Steven Bochco does a show, he'll put the word blue in the title. Maybe "Perry Mason Blue" would be a good title, or how about "Boston Blue", Because frankly, this show... well it blew.
Just my 2¢,
Kelvington
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Jun 21, 2008 11:08 AM
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I never heard of this show-so I wouldn't know :-0
tvstar
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Jun 21, 2008 7:59 PM
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Your 2 cents is definitely not worth it. You are clearly uninformed and don't do your homework...First, Steven Bochco found David Kelly. And second, I hardly think him and a group of writers sit around and think of how they can copy other people's shows. Are you perhaps and angry wanna-be show writer and think you can do it better than anyone else?
I did catch the pilot as well as the next couple of episodes from the TCA's..and I will tell you that the pilot had some flaws, but, the show has great potential. And the next 2 are excellent. The acting is great by Mark-Paul and Jane.
Next time Kelvington, do some homework and don't be so angry.
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Jul 13, 2008 11:08 PM
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First of all, I think most defense lawyers are slimeballs, Knowing a suspect is guilty and still trying to get them off, I would rather see a show about prosecutors, ie law and order.
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Aug 27, 2008 9:01 PM
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