"Raising the Bar" (2008) TV series 2008-2009

Creators:

Steven Bochco
David Feige
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Former law school classmates reunite in court when they take on rival clients.

Plot Keywords:

District Attorney | Courtroom | Public Defender

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mark-Paul Gosselaar	...	Jerry Kellerman (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Gloria Reuben	...	Rosalind Whitman (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Currie Graham	...	Nick Balco (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Melissa Sagemiller	...	Michelle Ernhardt (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
J. August Richards	...	Marcus McGrath (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jonathan Scarfe	...	Charlie Sagansky (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Teddy Sears	...	Richard Patrick Woolsley (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Judge Trudy Kessler (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Natalia Cigliuti	...	Roberta Gilardi / ... (24 episodes, 2008-2009)
Stacy Hall	...	Vince Culp / ... (15 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Directed by
Jesse Bochco		(8 episodes, 2008-2009)
Rick Bota		(3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jeannot Szwarc		(3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Eric Laneuville		(2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Martha Mitchell		(2 episodes, 2009)

Series Writing credits
Steven Bochco		(25 episodes, 2008-2009)
David Feige		(25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jonathan Abrahams		(7 episodes, 2008-2009)
Alison Cross		(7 episodes, 2008-2009)
Joel Fields		(4 episodes, 2009)

Series Produced by
David Feige	....	supervising producer (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Alison Cross	....	consulting producer (24 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jesse Bochco	....	co-executive producer (17 episodes, 2008-2009)
Dayna Kalins	....	producer (15 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jonathan Abrahams	....	producer (14 episodes, 2008-2009)
Steven Bochco	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 2008-2009)
Caroline James	....	coordinating producer / producer (14 episodes, 2008-2009)
Joel Fields	....	consulting producer (13 episodes, 2009)
Jennifer L. Pearlman	....	line producer: nyc (10 episodes, 2008)
Jonathan P. Shaw	....	co-producer (8 episodes, 2008-2009)
Elicia Bessette	....	associate producer (7 episodes, 2009)

Series Original Music by
James S. Levine		(25 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Cinematography by
Rick Bota		(9 episodes, 2008-2009)
Frank Perl		(2 episodes, 2008)

Series Film Editing by
Rick Tuber		(7 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jonathan P. Shaw		(5 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mark S. Manos		(5 episodes, 2009)
Nick Berrisford		(2 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Casting by
Scott Genkinger		(13 episodes, 2008-2009)
Junie Lowry-Johnson		(13 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Production Design by
Bruce Robert Hill		(12 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Set Decoration by
Erin Boyd		(23 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Costume Design by
Jill Lucas		(15 episodes, 2009)
Nadine Haders		(10 episodes, 2008)

Series Makeup Department
Denise Fischer	....	key makeup artist / makeup department head / ... (13 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sharisse Fine	....	department head hair / department head hairstylist (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jody Burton	....	key hair stylist (10 episodes, 2008)
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup department head (10 episodes, 2008)
Amy Sparks	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 2008)
Andrea Whitten	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 2008)
Jani Kleinbard	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Caroline James	....	unit production manager (13 episodes, 2008-2009)
Elicia Bessette	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melody Beam	....	second assistant director (15 episodes, 2009)
Xochi Blymyer	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Bob Kozicki	....	first assistant director (11 episodes, 2008-2009)
Joseph J. Kontra	....	second assistant director (10 episodes, 2008)
Nate Murphy	....	dga trainee (10 episodes, 2008)
Shawn Pipkin	....	second second assistant director (10 episodes, 2008)
Redelia Shaw	....	dga trainee (9 episodes, 2009)
Craig Langus	....	dga trainee (6 episodes, 2009)
Jana Ludwigova	....	second second assistant director (5 episodes, 2009)
Kate Marie Boyle	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Mark Tobey	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Maileen Williams	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Michael F. Loomer	....	on-set dresser (24 episodes, 2008-2009)
John J. Bradley	....	set dresser (15 episodes, 2009)
Penelope Franco	....	set decoration coordinator / set dec production assistant (15 episodes, 2009)
Alex Goode	....	art department coordinator (14 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jim Ondrejko	....	construction coordinator (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Dean Wilson	....	property master (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mark Rodriguez	....	leadman (12 episodes, 2009)
Gary Warshaw	....	assistant art director (11 episodes, 2009)
Michael P. Hunter	....	assistant property master (10 episodes, 2008)
Martha Johnston	....	set designer (10 episodes, 2008)
Linda A. King	....	assistant art director (10 episodes, 2008)
Rick Staves	....	set dresser (10 episodes, 2008)
Brett Bowden	....	lead scenic (9 episodes, 2008)
Stephen MacMillin	....	leadman (9 episodes, 2008)
David Dunn	....	set dresser (7 episodes, 2009)
Mike Suhy	....	set dresser (5 episodes, 2008)
John R. Boucher	....	set dresser (5 episodes, 2009)
Hugo Santiago	....	set designer (4 episodes, 2009)
Cheryl Gould	....	leadman (3 episodes, 2009)
Lisa Penaranda	....	leadman (unknown episodes)
Eric Rood	....	key on-set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Robert Janiger	....	production sound mixer (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Tim Song Jones	....	boom operator / utility sound technician (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
George Haddad	....	supervising sound editor (23 episodes, 2008-2009)
Edmond J. Coblentz Jr.	....	sound designer / sound editor (19 episodes, 2008-2009)
Alexandra Fehrman	....	sound recordist (19 episodes, 2008-2009)
Yervant Hagopian	....	utility sound technician (15 episodes, 2009)
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialogue editor (12 episodes, 2009)
Aaron Levy	....	sound re-recording mixer (10 episodes, 2008-2009)
Reginald Dunn	....	boom operator (10 episodes, 2008)
Ryan Maguire	....	foley mixer (8 episodes, 2008)
Ross Davis	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Special Effects by
J.D. Streett	....	special effects coordinator (10 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Visual Effects by
O.T. Hight	....	visual effects artist (25 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2008)
Jeff Wolfe	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2008)
Ron Stein	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2009)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Dellerson	....	second assistant camera / second assistant camera: "a" camera / ... (23 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mike Blauvelt	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Arien Hatch	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mick Spitalnick	....	b dolly grip / grip (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Doug Weinmann	....	electrician (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Frankie Martinez	....	electrician (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
Lee Schmicker	....	best boy electrician (20 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jessica Spuehler	....	grip (18 episodes, 2008-2009)
Rex Anson Rhorer	....	dolly grip (15 episodes, 2009)
Craig Peiffer	....	key grip (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Philip Lee	....	b-camera operator / camera operator: "b" camera / ... (12 episodes, 2009)
Jeffrey M. Hall	....	gaffer (11 episodes, 2008-2009)
Sean Piper	....	grip (10 episodes, 2008)
David Canestro	....	best boy grip (9 episodes, 2008)
Trey Clinesmith	....	a cam/Steadicam operator (9 episodes, 2008)
Christopher Mack	....	first assistant camera (9 episodes, 2008)
Chava Monjaraz	....	dolly operator: "b" camera / dolly grip (9 episodes, 2008)
Tony Olivieri	....	camera operator (9 episodes, 2008)
Ralph Scherer	....	dolly grip (8 episodes, 2008)
Karen Neal	....	still photographer (6 episodes, 2008)
Jeff Hall	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 2008)
Lauren Blair	....	electrician (4 episodes, 2008)
Thomas Burns	....	rigging electrician (4 episodes, 2008)
Eric McCandless	....	still photographer (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Ben Cain	....	camera utility: additional photography (3 episodes, 2008)
David Speck	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera (3 episodes, 2008)
Bryan Gilbert	....	grip (3 episodes, 2009)
Jay Pope	....	grip (3 episodes, 2009)
Pete Escobar	....	grip (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jesse Crusing	....	additional electrician (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Casting Department
Kevin Mockrin	....	casting associate (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice casting (15 episodes, 2008-2009)
Lisa Freiberger	....	executive in charge of casting (10 episodes, 2008)
Kiki Ruud	....	casting (10 episodes, 2008)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
April Dunlap	....	production assistant: costume department (15 episodes, 2009)
Mark Anthony Summers	....	costume supervisor (13 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mairi Chisholm	....	assistant costume designer (12 episodes, 2009)
Richard Boitano	....	costumer (10 episodes, 2008)
Lincoln Holmes	....	wardrobe production assistant (10 episodes, 2008)
Brandy Lusvardi	....	key costumer (10 episodes, 2008)
Christy Stubbs	....	costumer (10 episodes, 2008)
Gelareh Khalioun	....	costumer (9 episodes, 2008)

Series Editorial Department
Randy Beveridge	....	senior colorist / colorist (22 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mallory Yund	....	post coordinator (10 episodes, 2008)
Damien Smith	....	assistant editor (9 episodes, 2008-2009)
Claire Newman	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 2009)
Nick Berrisford	....	assistant editor (7 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Music Department
Mark Wike	....	music editor / music supervisor (21 episodes, 2008-2009)
Josh Klein	....	composer: additional music (20 episodes, 2008-2009)
Josh Hertz	....	assistant music editor (12 episodes, 2009)
Aaron Kaplan	....	composer: additional music (10 episodes, 2008)

Series Transportation Department
Mel Langford	....	transportation (11 episodes, 2009)
David Christenson	....	production driver (9 episodes, 2008)
Jerry Henry	....	transportation coordinator (8 episodes, 2008-2009)
Walter McClain	....	transportation captain (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Other crew
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice director (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Amy D'Alessandro	....	titles / titles by (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Abby Emmett	....	production coordinator / assistant production coordinator (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Angela Simpson	....	payroll accountant (25 episodes, 2008-2009)
Patrick Hollon	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 2008-2009)
Devon Marie King	....	stand-in (13 episodes, 2008-2009)
Susan Kong	....	production accountant (12 episodes, 2008-2009)
Mela Lee	....	adr voice replacement / voice actor (10 episodes, 2008-2009)
Alex Chernoff	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2008)
Amelia Elder	....	executive assistant (10 episodes, 2008)
Nicholas Gusikoff	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2008)
Jonathan Risinger	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 2008)
Doug Smith	....	production coordinator (10 episodes, 2008)
Chris Hanson	....	medical technical advisor (9 episodes, 2009)
Michelle Debbaudt	....	assistant: Steven Bochco (5 episodes, 2008-2009)
Lalida Sujjavasin	....	assistant production coordinator (5 episodes, 2009)
Claudia Eastman	....	location manager (4 episodes, 2008)
Laura Bagano	....	crafts services (4 episodes, 2009)
Danny Cohen	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2009)
Monique Drumheller	....	crafts services (4 episodes, 2009)
Gisele Gaines	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2009)
Jon Ko	....	set medic (4 episodes, 2009)
Deirdre Murphy	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2009)
John Perez	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2009)
Cheri Taylor	....	script coordinator (4 episodes, 2009)
Curtis Wilmot	....	location manager (4 episodes, 2009)
Phillip Arnold	....	assistant: Dayna Bochco (3 episodes, 2009)
Paula Hunziker	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 2009)
Amelia Johnson	....	assistant: Caroline James / assistant: Jesse Bochco (3 episodes, 2009)
Cheryl Starbuck	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Eric Rogers	....	script coordinator (2 episodes, 2008)
Claire Newman	....	post production coordinator (2 episodes, 2009)

Production Companies

• Steven Bochco Productions

Distributors

• Turner Network Television (TNT) (2008-2009) (USA) (TV)
• AXN (2009-20??) (Brazil) (TV)
• Canadian Television (CTV) (2009-20??) (Canada) (TV)
• DiziMax (2008-20??) (Turkey) (TV)
• FOXlife (2009-201?) (Greece) (TV)
• Fox Crime (2009-20??) (Italy) (TV)
• LaLa TV (2011-) (Japan) (TV)
• M-Net (2008-20??) (South Africa) (TV)
• Net5 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV)
• TNT (2009-20??) (Spain) (TV)
• TV JOJ (2012) (Slovakia) (TV) (JOJ Plus)
• TV2 Norge (2009-20??) (Norway) (TV)
• W. (2009-201?) (Australia) (TV)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Gallagher Entertainment  insurance
• LCW Props  set equipment
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:12

Company:

Steven Bochco Productions

Trivia:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Natalia Cigliuti got their start from two different Saved By the Bell series.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Quarterfinal 3 (#26.49)" (2009)

Shame it was canceled

I can understand why most people didn't connect, which resulted in the series being canceled. The idea of a law series that centers on "average" defendants (poor people who are stuck in the system by a combination of circumstances and poor choices, and sometimes only the first) is not something we are accustomed. We want to see either the bad guys being chased by the good guys or saintly lawyers and defendants who are unquestionably innocent (like in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). But crime and punishment in real life are far more complex, and that is why the day-to-day of public defenders is a premise that makes such good drama.

(Not that the series is ultra-realistic in every sense; most of the relationships among the characters are less than believable, very made for TV, but they had to be there if the series had any chance of success.)

The bottom line is that there is something remarkably true in the stories of Raising the Bar, something that no other cop or law show ever came close to achieving. The situations of the defendants came straight from David Feige's experience as a PD in the Bronx, and not from stock characters and plots, which puts the human element far higher.

It is impossible not to compare it to Law & Order, the only other series to have 50% of its cast made of public prosecutors. Bar doesn't have the excitement of its competitor, but it is far, far superior in terms of human content. Whenever any of the L&Os versions tries to give us some moral complexity and tackle social issues, it feels spoon-fed and artificial, like a plug for a political agenda. After all, it is basically a show about catching the bad guys and finding the truth, not one about ambiguity - actually, the LESS moral dilemmas you see in L&O, the better the episode.

The same does not happen with Raising the Bar. The focus is on the work of Public Defenders - one of the most unjustly maligned professions in the world - and their clients. The moral complexity springs from the premise, it is not inserted in the story. It is there because the situations regular people face when charged with a crime are complex, and "guilty" x "not guilty" are two terms not always easy to apply. After watching and thinking about it, you imagine yourself as a policeman, prosecutor or judge, and you wonder if you can arrest/prosecute/sentence a person for any crime without any doubts whatsoever regarding what is done. Society suffers less crime if more people who break the law are imprisoned, that's true. But does it have less victims? Hard to say.

There are other shows out there that have more thrill, but none in the legal genre that are that compelling. I hope more people, like another commenter and myself, find this great series on Netflix.

Great job, Feige & company.