Our friend Jennifer Godwin at E Online’s Watch With Kristin has the scoop. The short version is that TNT has canceled Raising The Bar, though it will likely air the three remaining episodes in March 2010.
No word yet on the fate of Dark Blue.
Update: Dark Blue was renewed.
Dark Blue got worst ratings so thats gonna be cancelled too.
Raising the Bar won’t be missed, either.
rob, I’m not so sure, RTB had the benefit (at least sometimes) of the huge lead-in from The Closer. Dark Blue had Leverage (which has been renewed already) as its lead in.
That said, I don’t love Dark Blue’s chances, but I’m not certain of its fate!
soon i will be wathcing movies insted of tv shows
never liked it mark paul gosselaar is fine but the show sucked bye the bar is closed yesssssssss
Mark cut his hair, the curse of the long locks
More out of work actors merry Christmas from TNT
These actors have been out of work for months already. It’s not like they get paychecks while production is shut down.
Not surprised as the ratings were alright but considering it aired after The Closer it should done better. I think Dark Blue is next for cancellation which leaves only HawthoRNe and Leverage, I guess that Men of a Certain is a wait and see if it can pull in ratings without The Closer lead in and they have to decide what show gets series orders and only Rizolli and Delta Blues have pilots to be shot.
The show was painfully boring. I’ve heard more engaging readings of cereal box ingredients than the majority of that crew’s closing arguments. It won’t be missed.
I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did. RTB consistently lost half the viewers of The Closer’s lead. I know cable networks have different considerations than broadcast networks, but still, losing HALF the audience, TNT showed more than enough patience.
I noticed the other day that TNT is still airing reruns of Dark Blue, and advertising them, which may speak well for its chances.
While I’m not a fan of Dark Blue I do enjoy watching Jane Kaczmarek and J. August Richards so I hope they both find new shows soon. Hopefully new shows I will enjoy watching.
Oops I meant to say Raising the Bar not Dark Blue
Dark Blue’s chances grew slim once TNT took on Southland. I just don’t see anyway that TNT would support production of 3 dramas about the LAPD. Although ratings-wise it did retain most of Leverage’s audience.
Not surprised about Raising the Bar. Losing over 50% of The Closer’s audience week to week was the nail in the coffin.
This is suprising, I though Raising the Bar was a good series. But if Dark Blue hasnt been renewed by now, its dead.
Don J
I may be wrong, but I thought they were just airing southland, not producing new epis?
Chriszojo said what I was going to – I only endured the series (which was not good at all) for the actors. Hopefully now they can all go on to much much better projects.
Geez TNT can’t find a solid slate of shows… Trust Me, Saving Grace, Raising the Bar canceled… Dark Blue not looking good. The head of TNT said he thought six shows was a good number for the network… now they have
1. The Closer
2. Leverage
3. Southland (not in production)
4. Men of a Certain Age
5. Delta Blues (when is it airing)
6. Rizoli (when is it airing)
7. Hawthorne
8. Dark Blue
which ones will get the axe next
Terry:
TNT bought the 7 episodes from season 1 and the 6 produced from season 2. If the ratings are good, they will order another season.
What I’m saying is TNT has Southland (about the LAPD), The Closer (also about the LAPD) and it would be very weird to have a 3rd show (Dark Blue (also about the LAPD) in the mix.
Don J – I doubt Dark Blue will be renewed. Since its been a while since the series has ended its first season, it would seem unlikely the series would get a renewal now. I also doubt Southland will get more eps, but it will be nice to see all 13 eps.
Score another for the retentionistas?
I pity all of you “Bar” haters. It was a great show and I wish it had a longer life. God bless DVD.
I think if Dark Blue is renewed, it should get a better timeslot, like at nine on Tuesdays, and being Southland’s lead-in.
@Chase,
Where do you suggest they air Hawthorne and the final season of Saving Grace?
AS usual, I usually disagree with the room. I Loved Raising The Bar and Sorry to See it go.
Don J
I understand what you are saying, yet it seems like all the crime dramas are set in LA, NY, or DC, so I’m not sure that’s a consideration.
I thought Raising the Bar had raised its own bar in its second season, and had met a higher standard. Story lines were compelling and the cast was very appealing. I had planned my Monday nights around it. I regret this show’s departure.
Ken:
All that is fine and dandy, but when more than 50% of your lead-in’s audience (The Closer) changes the channel, which has been the case for Raising the Bar, then the show is doomed.
I LOVED Raising the Bar. I am sad to see it cancelled. I know it lost 50% of The Closer’s lead in but RTB still had ratings equal to Hawthorne and Leverage. Why cancel a show that has the exact same ratings as its other shows but still renew those shows instead. I also LOVED Dak Blue. It will probably be cancelled too since TNT has alot of pilots that are currently filming.
I LOVED Raising the Bar. I am sad to see it cancelled. I know it lost 50% of The Closer’s lead in but RTB still had ratings equal to Hawthorne and Leverage. Why cancel a show that has the exact same ratings as its other shows but still renew those shows instead. I also LOVED Dak Blue. It will probably be cancelled too since TNT has alot of pilots that are currently filming. I know TNT is not gonna have over 8 shows.
i don’t care about “raising the bar,” just don’t cancel “Dark Blue,” it is one of the best shows on tv, and definitely the best summer show.
I was a fan of this show only because of Steven Bochco. I was an L.A. Law fan and NYPD Blue fan. I didn’t like “Over There” at all; another VERY short lived series on TNT a few years back. Anyway, Raising the Bar was mediocre at best. It really came off as an updated L.A. Law; same stories, different actors. Most of the actors were people from other Bochco shows. Gloria Ruebens was the head of the law firm. Even people in those positions try cases. Gloria Ruebens character never did anything but come across as eye candy. In season 2, she made a couple of court appearances, but other than that, she just sat in behind her desk. I won’t miss this show. Hopefully, Steven Bochco will come up with a new series for broadcast television (ABC, NBC, CBS or FOX). With TNT, he had too much leeway for language and sexual innuendo and tried to push the envelope too much. If he produces another broadcast program, maybe he’ll write scripts for acting vs. scripts for language and sexual freedom.
RTB was a mediocre show, but always hate to see a show go down.
Dark Blue on the other hand my friends was a primo favorite of mine over the summer months. I want to see it come back for another season with Dylan and his gang. I don’t think Southland has anything to do with whether Dark Blue will be renewed – TNT just picked up the 6 or so eps Southland had already shot and will air in January and as far as I have read there are no commitments further at this point.
Dark Blue was not about the LAPD?? Guy above has his info wrong. They are undercover agents, not LAPD. And BTW, Dark Blue had great retention to it’s lead in. Long Live Dark Blue!!!!
Seidman is right. RTB had the Closer as it’s lead in. Give Dark Blue that awesome lead in and it will kick some a**!!!!!
Also doent TNT have the Spielberg/Noah Wile scifi show? And I thought Kevin Bacon was doing a show about a newly elected Sheriff of a small Texas border town?
And the Dallas continuation as well..
it’s such a pity they cancelled raising the bar, i loved it.
there are many series which are just horrible and they continue airing them, can’t see why XD
i stopped watching 7 episodes into season 2 guess i’ll just watch the remaining 8 eps then
Guys, if TNT wanted to cancel Dark Blue, shouldn’t it have done it before cancelling RTB? I mean, RTB was in it’s second season afterall. Dark Blue is a summer show me and my girlfriend fell in love with, it should be given a chance behind The Closer. Like others have mentioned, Southland is not guaranteed a pick up (though i pray it does)so that means they can order 7 or 8 episodes of Dark Blue until they see how Southland pans out.
Sorry DanielD:
Dark Blue was indeed an LAPD show. They weren’t spies or secret agents man. Dylan McDermott’s character Carter Shaw was an Undercover Lt. with the LAPD. His whole team were Undercover Cops in the LAPD. And I don’t know if you were paying any attention, but the show took place in Los Angeles.
I think the chances of TNT ordering new episodes of Southland are incredibly slim, its ratings would need to be through the roof because I can’t see how Warner Bros would be able to cut costs enough to make it a viable option otherwise. My assumption has always been that TNT picked up the produced episodes because a, they were relatively cheap and b, they want to get Welles onside because they’d like him to produce something else for them.
Having said that I think Southland has very little (if any) effect on the future prospects of Dark Blue and even the axing of Rasing The Bar. What seems much more likely to me is that TNT is in response mode to USA expanding their original schedule across the week in the 10PM slot. I imagine TNT would like a stronger slate of 10PM shows in the event that USA sticks with its 10PM across the week schedule into the summer.
The fact that Royal Pains caught on so well out of Burn Notice probably gave them pause for thought on whether there was a better use for The Closer’s lead-in as well…
I was shocked it got picked up for a 2nd season to begin with.
IMO I think this is a good call by TNT. They have too many over the top dramas that have been done many times before (legal shows like Raising the Bar, medical shows like Hawthorne, or crime dramas like Dark Blue). I think if TNT wants to catch USA, it needs to get rid of these shows and try airing something a little different, and not so heavy on the overacting/drama. I’m curious to see what Men of a Certain Age is like.
I also think people are making good points about its ratings on both sides. Unlike some of its shows like Dark Blue, Raising the Bar got solid ratings for a cable show. At the same time it did lose a lot of its lead-in.
I never liked RTB and I gave it a few chances. I do like Dark Blue and thought it got better as the season went on. I hope TNT gives it another chance but it doesn’t good with all the shows they have already.
Agree, Dark Blue really got some nize traction as the season went on & kept me well glued.
Thankfully, this frees Jane Kaczmarek up to find another TV series to attempt to win an Emmy in.
I absiolutely loved the show. I agree they did raise the bar the second season. I work int he legal environment and it was closer to truth than any other law show I have seen. I hate that it is cancelled. My husband and I will really miss it.
Chase – Dark Blue wont be renewed. Its probably taking TNT a while to think it over but its not gonna happen. As for all you Raising the Bar fans, it seems TNT will still air the remaining 3 episodes. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8406
I tried watching “Raising The Bar” but I could never get into it. However, I did watch “Dark Blue” and became hooked on it. Hopefully TNT will renew “Dark Blue”. But who knows what will happen.
TNT still has Dark Blue on their site but it seems pretty long between the season finale and now that they would give the show a renewal, especially when they already renewed Hawthorne. I still think the combo of lowering ratings, mixed reviews, and TNT having too many other dramas for 2010 gives Dark Blue virtually no chance of coming back.
Dark Blue is cheaper to produce than RTB, possibly much cheaper. Seems like that probably played a part.
Dark Blue is alot cheaper to produce than RTB. It’s shot entirely in Los Angeles and only has 4 actors as series regulars. Plus, it’s produced by Warner Horizon, which is a cable sister company of TNT.
RTB is shot in NYC, has a large ensemble cast and is produced by ABC Studios and probably costs double or triple what DB costs.
Make THE CLOSER go away — you can’t even understand that fake accent of the lead actress.
Raising the Bar was a great show -Maybe you targeted the wrong audience – try the 45+ age group – then show would still be on air – just proves the stupidity of TNT – like the constant TNT logo on the screen of my TV –IF THEY WOULD STOP PUTTING TNT ON THE SCREEN – PEOPLE MIGHT WATCH THEIR PROGRAMS MORE OFTEN – RAISING THE BAR – SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CANCELLED -People wanted to watch show – but too much time between new shows – Typical – dumb people with money in charge of TV – try asking real people how to run a network not people being paid to say what Mr. Turner wants to hear — try thinking for yourself once and awhile -
Well Billy, I’ll give you this: You came up with a new excuse. I think you are the first to claim a show failed because of the network logo. You’re wrong, because that same logo doesn’t seem to hurt any of their other shows, but at least you’re original.
It would make sense Dark Blue is alot cheaper to produce than RTB. It certainly does as many actors to pay and it’s shot in what looks like downtown LA. I hope Dark Blue comes because back my wife and I loved the show. Best TNT drama in my opinion.
Wrong, Don J. Raising the Bar is filmed in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, despite what the NYC cover shots might lead you to believe.
Just read an article saying that dark blue is close to renewel, I’ll post when I find it in a bit.
Article for THR: TNT looking for next hit
“Saving Grace” showed promise but couldn’t perform without its “Closer” lead-in and will have its final season next year. Jerry Bruckheimer’s freshman cop drama “Dark Blue” struggled, though is expected to squeak out a renewal.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ibbd28f12604b5531bcdfeb8282648b9d?
Futon Critic is reporting that TNT will air final 3 episodes of series on December 24, 2009 as part of marathon. New episodes air from 8pm to 11pm.http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8418
OMG REALLY. why would they cancel RTB i mean seriously that was a gr8 show and why do they always do this crap they bring out a new show with all of these promos and get you interested in it and they cancel it just b4 it can really take off bc of a few bad weeks. i mean the show was gr8 it just had a bad time slot i mean think of it, it was on monday nite and had to compete with shows like CSI: Miami, Monday Night football and Monday Night Raw. i just wish they would have moved it to another night and gave it another chance. i mean seriously you cant go wrong with a show including zach morris.
Ugh, I’m all kinds of late here but WTH happened?? I loved this show and obviously unaware that virtually no one else did…sigh I’m sad!! Totally gonna miss the show