Raising The Bar

Mark-Paul Gosselaar stars in Raising the Bar as a crusading public defender whose passion gets him in as much trouble as it gets him out of. As Jerry Kellerman, Gosselaar (NYPD Blue) is damp-eyed and earnest, off-kilter and rebellious (indicated by taking his tie off whenever possible), but he’s one of the top lawyers of a firm headed by cool-as-a-cucumber Rosalind Whitman (Gloria Reuben, ER). He also has connections across the aisle with rising prosecutor Michelle Ernhardt (Melissa Sagemiller, Sleeper Cell), a beautiful blonde who tolerates sleazy behavior from her boss Nick Balco (Currie Graham, Suddenly Susan). Both Jerry and Michelle regularly appear in the court of loose cannon Judge Trudy Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle), who’s having an affair with her clerk, Charlie Sagansky (Jonathan Scarfe), who just happens to be gay and closeted. Clearly, Raising the Bar emphasizes behind the door machinations, both political and sexual.