Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "Beating a Dead Horse" Season 2 Episode 12 airing this Monday August 24 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "Beating a Dead Horse" Season 2 Episode 24 - Jerry takes over one of Bobbi’s clients, a pregnant woman who is addicted to heroin, and Michelle is determined to do everything she can to keep her in jail so she doesn’t continue shooting up with a baby in her womb. Roz defends a carriage driver against charges of assaulting an officer and abusing a horse. But there is much more to the story than first appears.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Beating a Dead Horse" Season 2 Episode 12

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "Bobbi Ba-Bing" Season 2 Episode 11 airing this Monday August 17 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "Bobbi Ba-Bing" Season 2 Episode 11 - Jerry defends a convict accused of killing a fellow inmate. The case takes a different turn when it turns out that Jerry's client was wrongly imprisoned. A new staffer works hard for a homeless man and finds a way to sue the city.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Bobbi Ba-Bing" Season 2 Episode 11

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "Making Up Is Hard To Do" Season 2 Episode 10 airing this Monday August 10 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "Making Up Is Hard To Do" Season 2 Episode 10 - Bobbi takes the case of a woman charged with smuggling drugs that involves Michelle's cop boyfriend. Elsewhere, Jerry tries to obtain a better deal for his client and goes against Marcus over the issue.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Making Up Is Hard To Do" Season 2 Episode 10

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "Trout Fishing" Season 2 Episode 9 airing this Monday August 3 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "Trout Fishing" Season 2 Episode 9 - In order to help give a woman the chance to help her son complete his college applications before she has to go into prison, Jerry tries to get a continuance based on having to work a trial in Judge Kessler’s courtroom. But Farnsworth won’t grant the continuance, and that creates a battle of wills between him and Kessler, with Jerry and his clients caught in the crossfire. Balco, meanwhile, uses Michelle to seek a continuance on a trial in which Richard’s client is accused of murdering his own wife. Ventimiglia is not in a giving mood, especially since this is the 20th time Balco’s office has sought a delay. So with 48 hours to go to trial, Balco turns the entire case over to Michelle.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Trout Fishing" Season 2 Episode 9

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "Trust Me" Season 2 Episode 8 airing this Monday July 27 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "Trust Me" Season 2 Episode 8 - Bobbi is put to the test while working on a case for a confidential informant who fears his powerful codefendant could have him killed. Jerry tries to assist Bobbi in the case, but his meddling backfires. Elsewhere, Richard uses his family name as leverage in a case.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Trust Me" Season 2 Episode 8

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "I'll Be Down to Get You a Taxi, Honey" Season 2 Episode 6 airing this Monday July 13 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 6 "I'll Be Down to Get You a Taxi, Honey" - When Jerry presents a case for a man charged with running over a corrupt lawyer, he plays on jury sympathy rather than relying on the facts of the case. Elsewhere, Richard rushes through cases, resulting in a judicial fumble and Bobbi's divorce proceedings advance.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 6 "I'll Be Down to Get You a Taxi, Honey"

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "No Child's Left Behind" Season 2 Episode 4 airing this Monday June 29 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 4 "No Child's Left Behind" - Jerry goes up against Balco in a child-pornography case. Meanwhile, Bobbi's divorce proceedings take a turn for the worse when Gavin exploits a legal loophole which sets life-changing consequences in motion.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 4 "No Child's Left Behind"

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR "The Curious Case of Kellerman’s Button" Season 2 Episode 3 airing this Monday June 22 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR "The Curious Case of Kellerman’s Button" Season 2 Episode 3 - Jerry gets into a heated conflict with Judge Farnsworth after the jurist punishes a client for Jerry’s tardiness. But Jerry is determined to have the last word with a scheme that makes Farnsworth the victim of his own rigid, by-the-book procedures. Roz and Richard team up to defend a young African-American man accused of committing a hate crime against a gay man. Marcus is determined not to plead out the hate crime, especially when his new, politically connected girlfriend puts him in a difficult position with Balco.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "The Curious Case of Kellerman’s Button" Season 2 Episode 3

Watch a sneak peek of RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 2 "Rules of Engagement" airing this Monday June 15 at 10pm on TNT.

Episode Synopsis: RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 2 "Rules of Engagement" - Jerry and Michelle go before a new judge (John Michael Higgins – Best in Show) whose courtroom rules are so draconian they make Judge Kessler’s rules seem quaint by comparison. During the case, Michelle becomes smitten with a handsome cop who may be perjuring himself in order to cover up for a bad arrest. Richard defends a pair of elderly twins accused of forging a signature on their dead roommate’s welfare check, but the two gentlemen don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. Marcus scores a date with the borough president’s chief of staff, who also happened to be the head juror on a case Marcus lost the week before.

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Episode 2 "Rules of Engagement"

After a really great first season, RAISING THE BAR returns on TNT for a second season tonight, Monday June 8, at 10 p.m.

I was a huge fan of the first season, and of course was really excited to see it return for an all new season. I was able to take an early look at two episodes from season 2, and I can tell you that if you enjoyed season 1, you're definitely going to enjoy season 2.

When Raising the Bar returns it's Jerry Kellerman's birthday and everyone makes fun of his haircut. The haircut is also a big part of the episode, which funny enough leads to Jerry cutting it off. And we're back with the Mark-Paul Gosselaar look that we have come to know and love. Although I have to admit, I was kind of used to the other haircut and had come to like it too. Plus now Jerry looks like everyone else, there's nothing special about him anymore. I guess we'll have to get use to that.

Apart from the big change with Jerry's hair, Raising the Bar returns as strong as it was in season 1. The cases are compellingm and the characters continue to deal with problems in their own personal lives. And if you're wondering about what's to come of Bobbi and Jerry's kiss from last season's finale, well unfortunately since Bobbi has to deal with her divorce, things might not evolve as fast as Jerry was hoping.

Raising the Bar has been able to capture my attention week after week, which is saying a lot since I rarely follow law procedural shows. If you haven't had a chance to watch it, I think you should definitely give it a shot. Even if you haven't seen season 1, you can still jump right in to the show and enjoy it. I think you will also be shocked when you find out how the justice system really works in the US. Raising the Bar is the only show that portrays the defense lawyers and their clients in a different light, and that's what makes it special.

Don't forget to watch Raising the Bar tonight, Monday June 8 at 10pm on TNT, following The Closer season premiere.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Season 2 Premiere Review

Army Wives (The Complete Second Season)

Synopsis: Army Wives follows the lives of four army wives, their families, and an "army husband" whose wife is in the army.

Cast: Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh, Catherine Bell, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Wendy Davis, Drew Fuller

Recommendations: When I started watching Army Wives, the quality of the show really blew me away. And the second season is as good as the first one. This is your chance to own it so you can watch it over and over again.

Buy it: ARMY WIVES on Amazon

Raising the Bar (The Complete First Season)

Synopsis: Raising the Bar revolves around a group of law school classmates who find themselves on opposite sides of the criminal law.

Cast: Mark Paul Gosselaar, Natalia Cigliuti, Gloria Reuben, Teddy Sears, J. August Richards, Melissa Sagemiller, Jane Kaczmarek, Currie Graham

Recommendations: If you haven't seen Raising the Bar yet, then you are missing out. It is such a great show that for once focuses on the defense side of the justice system. The stories are really compelling and it's pretty scary to think this is how the system really works. It's a great reality check. You don't want to miss it. And with season 2 starting on June 8th, this is the perfect time to catch up.

Buy it: RAISING THE BAR on Amazon

Prison Break (The Complete Fourth Season)

Synopsis: Most men would do anything to get out of Fox River Penitentiary, but Michael Scofield will do anything to get in. His brother Lincoln has been sentenced to die for a crime he did not commit, and the only way to save him is from the inside out. Armed with prison blueprints and an impossibly intricate escape plan, Michael gets himself incarcerated, and the race against time is on. Now, he'll need all of the cunning, daring, and luck he can muster…along with the assistance of some of the prison's most vile and dangerous felons.

Cast: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Robin Tunney, Peter Stormare, Amaury Nolasco, Sarah Wayne Callies, Marshall Allman, Wade Williams, Paul Adelstein, Robert Knepper, Stacy Keach, Barbara Eve Harris

Recommendations: Well, this is the final season for Prison Break, and it's true that the show is definitely not what it was in its first season, but if you have been a fan and want to find out how it all ends, then this would be a great rental.

Buy it: PRISON BREAK on Amazon

Wallander

Synopsis: Wallander is a series adapted from Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander novels and starring Kenneth Branagh as the eponymous police inspector.

Cast: Kenneth Branagh

Recommendations: I haven't yet seen Wallander, but have been meaning to. Kenneth Branagh is a really talented actor and I think it's worth taking a look.

Buy it: WALLANDER on Amazon

Weeds (The Complete Fourth Season)

Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon, Justin Kirk, Alexander Gould, Clayton Rohner, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Romany Malco

Recommendations: After four seasons of selling drugs, what will Nancy get herself into this time? Well, it's time you found out. This summer is the perfect time to catch up on your Weeds.

Buy it: WEEDS on Amazon

Blood Ties

Synopsis: Blood Ties centers around Vicki Nelson, a former TPS cop who left the force to become a private investigator after beginning to lose her eyesight. Through her work she teams up with the 480-year-old vampire Henry Fitzroy, who happens to be the illegitimate son of Henry VIII.

Cast: Christina Cox, Kyle Schmid, Dylan Neal, Gina Holden

Recommendations: If you feel like maybe discovering a new show this summer, you might want to give Blood Ties a chance. I personally haven't seen it, and although I doubt it's up to the quality standards on Moonlight and True Blood, it might be fun to check out, especially for vampire fans.

Buy it: BLOOD TIES on Amazon

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

New TV on DVD Releases for the Week of June 2 2009

TNT has quite an exciting TV Schedule for Summer 2009. In addition to some of our favorite shows coming back like Leverage, The Closer, Raising the Bar, and Saving Grace, we also get a few new ones, including Wedding Day, HawthoRNe, and Dark Blue.

TNT's Summer 2009 TV Schedule (new shows are in red):

MONDAY, JUNE 8

9 p.m. The Closer

10 p.m. Raising the Bar

TUESDAY, JUNE 16

8 p.m. Wedding Day

9 p.m. HawthoRNe

10 p.m. Saving Grace

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

9 p.m. Leverage

10 p.m. Dark Blue

________________________________________________

You can find more details about each of TNT's original series below:

THE CLOSER – Fifth season to launch Monday, June 8, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

It's going to be a year of change for Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and her Major Crimes unit as TNT's THE CLOSER returns for its fifth season. The record-breaking crime drama, which stars Golden Globe® winner Kyra Sedgwick, continues to dominate the industry as ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time. Sedgwick gives an unforgettable performance as Deputy Chief Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD homicide unit. She is a top-notch investigator with unparalleled interrogation skills and a track record for closing nearly every case with a suspect's confession. On the home front, she's not quite as adept at handling her personal relationships. Instead, work tends to take first priority in her life and even threatened to derail her wedding in the season-four finale.
This acclaimed series also features a stellar ensemble cast that has garnered three Screen Actors Guild Award® ensemble nominations. Playing Brenda’s highly capable squad are Corey Reynolds (The Terminal), G.W. Bailey (M*A*S*H), Tony Denison (Melrose Place), Raymond Cruz (Collateral Damage), Michael Paul Chan (Arrested Development) and Phillip P. Keene (The D.A.). The series also stars Jon Tenney (The Division) as Brenda's husband, FBI Agent Fritz Howard; J.K. Simmons (Juno, Burn After Reading) as her demanding boss, Will Pope; and Robert Gossett (Arlington Road) as the head of Robbery-Homicide, Commander Taylor.

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RAISING THE BAR – Second season to launch Monday, June 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

This summer, court will be back in session with the return of this emotionally powerful legal drama from Emmy®-winning producer Steven Bochco. The series follows the cases and lives of young lawyers who work on opposite sides – the public defender's office and the district attorney's office – as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases. Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue) stars as idealistic defender Jerry Kellerman, while Gloria Reuben (ER) plays his passionate and protective boss, Rosalind Whitman. And Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) plays imperious Judge Trudy Kessler, who has dreams of becoming the next district attorney. Co-starring in the series are Teddy Sears (Ugly Betty), Natalia Cigliuti (All My Children), Melissa Sagemiller (Sleeper Cell), Currie Graham (Boston Legal), J. August Richards (Conviction) and Jonathan Scarfe (Into the West).
RAISING THE BAR not only looks at courtroom battles but also the relationships among people on different sides, from the public defender trying to deal with her abusive, drug-addicted husband to the African-American assistant district attorney determined not to let himself be viewed as a racial token, from the judge who pushes the legal envelope in order to secure her political future to the legal aide who does everything he can to hide his homosexuality.

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WEDDING DAY – New series to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)

Every couple dreams of having the perfect wedding. For many, it's the most important and emotional day of their lives. But for some, insurmountable obstacles create barriers to making their dream day a reality. This new TNT series, the network's first-ever unscripted drama, comes from producing giants Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television. The show gives deserving couples a helping hand to ensure the most important day of their lives is also the most magical. Each week, celebrity event planner and food expert Alan Dunn (For Better or Worse) and celebrity wedding producer and designer Diann Valentine (author of Weddings Valentine Style) host as family, friends and community come together to create a dream wedding. Along the way, viewers will learn each couple’s compelling story, from their first date to their wedding day.

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HAWTHORNE – New series to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Jada Pinkett Smith (The Women, The Matrix trilogy) is the latest talented actress to join TNT's line-up of strong, complex female characters, following in the footsteps of Kyra Sedgwick on The Closer and Holly Hunter of Saving Grace. In this character-driven medical drama, Pinkett Smith plays Christina Hawthorne, a compassionate and headstrong Chief Nursing Officer heading up a group of dedicated nurses at Richmond Trinity Hospital who spend long days and nights on the hospital's front lines. Hawthorne is the kind of nurse you want on your side when you or someone you love is in the hospital. She is the kind of nurse who fights for her patients and doesn't let them slip through the cracks. When necessary, she takes on doctors and administrators who are overworked, distracted or just unable to see the human being behind the hospital chart.
Joining Pinkett Smith in HAWTHORNE is Michael Vartan (Alias) as Dr. Tom Wakefield, the oncologist who treated Christina's husband and who serves as director of medicine for the hospital. The cast also includes Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees) as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Hawthorne's best friends; David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore (90210) as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a unique sense of duty; and Hannah Hodson (TNT's The Ron Clark Story) as Camille, Hawthorne's daughter. In addition, special guest star Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) portrays Amanda, Hawthorne’s mother-in-law, who also happens to be a member of the hospital board.

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SAVING GRACE – Third season to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

Academy Award® winner Holly Hunter returns in this bold series as a gutsy Oklahoma City Police detective who holds nothing back, whether on the job or in her personal life. The series follows as she investigates brutal crimes while also trying to balance her relationship with her partner, Ham (Kenneth Johnson – The Shield), and figure out cryptic messages from her last-chance angel, Earl (Leon Rippy – Deadwood). Hunter's acclaimed, tantalizing performance recently earned her a second consecutive Screen Actors Guild Award® nomination. She is joined in the series by an ensemble cast that includes Bailey Chase (Las Vegas), Gregory Cruz (Criminal Minds), Yaani King (The Prince & Me) and Dylan Minnette (Prison Break), with Lorraine Toussaint (Any Day Now) and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me).

________________________________________________

LEVERAGE – Second season to launch Wednesday, July 15, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

TNT set Tuesday nights on fire this winter with the first season of this thrilling, fast-paced drama series starring Oscar® winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People). This summer, the gang is back with more elaborate scams designed to exact revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize people. Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator determined to bring down the kind of corrupt bigwigs whose neglect led to the death of his son. His highly skilled team includes Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman – Coupling), a grifter who uses her acting skills to corner her marks; Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane – TNT's Into the West), a "retrieval specialist" with bone-crunching fighting skills; Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge – Friday Night Lights), a gadget and technology wizard who keeps the team connected and informed; and Parker (Beth Riesgraf – Alvin and the Chipmunks), a slightly off-center thief adept at repelling off buildings or squeezing into tight places. Together, the team puts their energy, quick minds and keen intellects toward securing justice for society’s underdogs.

________________________________________________

DARK BLUE – New series to launch Wednesday, July 15, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

This fast-paced, undercover police drama from prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Without a Trace) stars Golden Globe® winner Dylan McDermott (The Practice, TNT's The Grid), Logan Marshall-Green (The O.C.), Omari Hardwick (TNT's Saved) and Nicki Aycox (Supernatural). The series follows the exploits of a crack undercover team of police officers so covert, many of their own colleagues don't even know they are involved. Leading the group is Carter Shaw (McDermott), a deeply wounded character who has lost his wife and much of his former life as he struggles to bring down bad guys through complex undercover assignments. His team includes Ty Curtis (Hardwick), a recently married cop who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; Dean Bendis (Marshall-Green), a shoot-from-the-hip officer whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the bad side; and Jaimie Allen (Aycox), a green patrol cop brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and a shady past.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

TNT 2009 Summer TV Schedule

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

Episode Synopsis: "Shop Till You Drop" - The appeals court overturns the conviction of a black firefighter accused of stealing property from a body found during a fire. In its ruling, the court found that Judge Kessler was wrong to disallow testimony from a late witness. So now Roz and Balco find themselves jumping back into the trenches to retry the case in which racism may have played a major part. Meanwhile, Jerry finds out something about Bobbi's husband but isn't sure if he should pass the information along to her or keep it to himself. Richard defends a elderly woman accused of kiting checks to pay for merchandise she bought through a television shopping channel. And Charlie continues to deal with the aftermath of a major conflict between him and Judge Kessler.

Directed by Jess Bochco
Written by Alison Cross

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Episode 10 "Shop Till You Drop"

RAISING THE BAR has become one of the shows I look forward to watching the most and since it's almost coming to an end (two episodes left, this one included), I wanted to share some of my thoughts for this new episode, "Roman Holiday," which airs tonight, October 27, at 10pm on TNT.

In the episode, Jerry must defend an HIV-positive man accused of trying to infect an officer. There are some pretty powerful scenes surrounding this story line and I will admit, there might have been tears in my eyes at some point. It amazes me every episode how great Mark-Paul Gosselaar is.

Since we're on the subject of Jerry, I don't know about you, but I have kind of been rooting for him and Bobby to get together. And tonight it looks like things might heading in that direction.

Speaking of Bobby, she is my favorite character (along with Jerry). I just love the way she fights for he clients and just her character in general. I'm happy we're seeing more of her lately.

Oh and I forgot to mention Richard. How can you not love him. Plus his whole declaration to Rosalind was... for lack of a better word, such a pimp move!

Charlie on the other side is struggling with whether he should come out or not. The funny thing is, I didn't particularly like Charlie at the beginning of the season, but these last two episodes, I have just loved to watch his growth as a character. And tonight, his relationship with Kessler takes a new direction.

I don't want to give too much away about the episode, but you guys have to tune in tonight and watch Raising the Bar at 10pm on TNT.

You can also watch some clips from "Roman Holiday."

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Episode 9 "Roman Holiday" Early Review

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

Episode Synopsis: "Roman Holiday" - Jerry defends an HIV-positive man charged with attempted murder because he spit in a police officer's face. Even though medical research shows no possibility of contracting the virus through saliva, Jerry is unable to shake the charge. To make matters worse, he's going up against Mitch Baker, an arrogant assistant DA from the Major Crimes Unit. Mitch also treats his second chair, Michelle, like a glorified secretary. Bobbie and Richard are hard at work defending a 14-year-old who may have unknowingly become involved in a homicide. Judge Kessler plans an exotic vacation to Italy and invites Charlie to come along.

Directed by Rick Wallace
Written by David Feige

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR Episode 9 "Roman Holiday"

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

Episode Synopsis: "Out on the Roof" - Charlie’s acquaintance (played by the wonderful Wilson Cruz of My So-Called Life fame) is arrested, and Charlie arranges for Jerry to handle the case, which of course means revealing the secret that Charlie has been trying desperately to keep hidden.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Out on the Roof" (Season 1 Episode 8)

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

Episode Synopsis: "A Leg to Stand On" - Jerry defends a client he is certain is innocent. But Jerry is just as certain a jury will not see it that way. When Jerry gets a sign from the judge on the case that it might be better for a bench trial, that’s the direction he goes. Little does he know there are politics at play in the background. Meanwhile, Bobbi is defending a veteran who lost his leg in Iraq and now relies on heroin to control the pain. She tries desperately to plead the charges down, but Michelle won't budge. Judge Kessler is called upon by a high-profile favor broker to help in dealing with another judge. Richard gets a little extra attention from his latest client, a law student working her way through school by being a dancer.

Directed by Carol Banker
Written by Alison Cross
Created by: Steven Bochco & David Feige

Series Regulars
Jerry Kellerman – Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Rosalind "Roz" Whitman – Gloria Reuben
Nick Balco – Currie Graham
Michelle Ernhardt – Melissa Sagemiller
Marcus McGrath – J. August Richards
Charlie Sagansky – Jonathan Scarfe
Richard Patrick Woolsley – Teddy Sears
Roberta "Bobbi" Gilardi – Natalia Cigliuti
Jane Kaczmarek - Judge Trudy Kessler

Guest Stars
Judge Albert Meade – James Handy
Lisa Landis – Jud Taylor
Kameela Hansen – Tempestt Bledsoe
Vince – Stacy Hall
Sean Campbell – Alex Schemmer
Dr. Emma Goosen – Cynthia Sophiea

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "A Leg to Stand On" (Season 1 Episode 7)

Read all our Raising the Bar coverage here.

Episode Synopsis: "Hang Time" - Jerry's latest case involves a man arrested for following a hit-and-run driver and then stealing money from him. Bobbi handles a complicated case in which the wife in a domestic-violence dispute refuses to press charges against her husband.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

RAISING THE BAR "Hang Time" (Season 1 Episode 6)

A few weeks ago, I took part in a conference call with JANE KACZMAREK to talk about her character, Judge Trudy Kessler, on TNT's new show, RAISING THE BAR, which airs on Mondays at 10pm.

Jane Kaczmarek was a real pleasure to talk to. Here are the highlights of what he had to say:

- Jane Kaczmarek admitted that she has a tough time learning her lines. Turns out it's harder than learning her lines for Malcolm in the Middle.

- When she finished Malcolm in the Middle she was so exhausted, that she was looking for a show that allowed her to have a small schedule. She also wanted more time to spend with her three young children. TNT have really helped accommodate her needs. They shoot all of her scenes for an episode in 2 days.

- Even though most people think of Jane Kaczmarek as a comedic actress because of Malcolm in the Middle, she started out in dramatic roles, playing a lot of lawyers.

- Raising the Bar will air 10 episodes this season.

- Judge Kessler's relationship with Charlie is very intense and there will be some resolution to that.

- When playing Judge Kessler, Jane Kaczmarek explained that you have to believe as a character that what you are doing is justified. In Raising the Bar, Judge Kessler actually follows the letter of the law.

- Judge Kessler is probably a lot like Jerry Kellerman, because as Jane Kaczmarek puts it, the people that annoy you the most are the people who are like you. When she was younger, it's very likely that Judge Kessler was as idealistic as Jerry.

- David Feige and Jane Kaczmarek were in same play 30 years ago, and that's a total coincidence.

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If you are a fan of Jane Kaczmarek, you'll get a kick out of seeing her in Raising the Bar.

Raising the Bar airs on Mondays at 10pm on TNT.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

Interview: JANE KACZMAREK from RAISING THE BAR

A few weeks ago, I took part in a conference call with MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR to talk about his character, Jerry Kellerman, on TNT's new show, RAISING THE BAR, which airs on Mondays at 10pm.

Here are the highlights of what he had to say:

- There were 3 things that attracted Mark-Paul Gosselaar to the project:

1. It was produced by Bochco
2. The initial script was good
3. David Feige

- In Raising the Bar, it's not the system that needs protection from Jerry's clients, but the clients that need protection from the system.

- In addition to Judge Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek), there will also be other judges introduced in the show.

- The relationships between the prosecution and the defense might not be that realistic, but it allows the audience to see what drives them.

- By the end of the season, Jerry's relationship with Michelle will be different and more complex.

- When asked what advice he gave the other actors about working with Steven Bochco (whom he had work with previously), Mark-Paul Gosselaar said "Don't f*&$ with Steven!"

- When asked how he prepared for the part, his response was:

"What do you mean prepare? I just let my hair grow!" (laughs)

But more seriously, he read the book and interned one week for a Bronx's defender.

- What about the hair? It has become a debate. Mark-Paul Gosselaar's wife and Steven Bochco both hate it, but Steven Bochco's wife loves it. Mostly, Mark-Paul Gosselaar wanted to be as far removed from his character on NYPD Blue, plus it just goes with the character.

- Because Jerry Kellerman is very passionate about his views, it was important for Mark-Paul Gosselaar to not make him one note. He doesn't want the audience to get bored.

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So there you have it. So far I have seen three episodes and have liked every one of them.

Raising the Bar airs on Mondays at 10pm on TNT.

This is a post from Daemon's TV.

Interview: MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR from RAISING THE BAR