Not too high on ‘Raising the Bar’

By Casey Gillis

Published: August 27, 2008

Mark-Paul Gosselaar still has a few traces of that Zack Morris charm in the new TNT series “Raising the Bar” — even if it is hidden beneath an unshaven face, shaggy hair and often disheveled-looking suits.

To children of the ’90s, Gosselaar is probably best known as the star of “Saved By the Bell,” but he’s also done his fair share of serious work over the years, including a four-year stint on “NYPD Blue.”

In “Bar,” which premieres at 10 p.m. Monday and has him re-teaming with “Blue” creator Steven Bochco, he plays renegade public defender Jerry Kellerman.

Unfortunately, the Morris charisma that’s there in the pilot’s opening moments doesn’t last, and it’s not long before Jerry turns into a sullen schmuck who can quickly clear a room and ruin a good time with his holier-than-thou rants.

Working alongside Jerry in the public defenders office are his boss, Roz (former “ER” star Gloria Reuben); Richard (Teddy Sears), a Ritchie-Rich type who wears fancy suits and is often ridiculed for it; and newcomer Bobbi (Natalia Cigliuti), who has just transferred in from the Brooklyn office.

Opposing them in court are smarmy district attorney Nick (Currie Graham) and assistant district attorneys Michelle (Melissa Sagemiller) and Marcus (J. August Richards, or Gunn to you “Angel” fans).

Outside of the courtroom, however, they’re all pals and often gather at the local watering hole to talk about cases. Or argue, as is often the case with rabble-rouser Jerry.

They also pal around with Charlie (Jonathan Scarfe), a loopy judge’s (Jane Kaczmarek) law clerk.

Jerry and the judge, Trudy, frequently butt heads and, so far, the show tries way too hard to make her the villain.

We get it: Jerry is passionate about his clients (most of whom, somehow, end up being innocent) and likes to rail against corruption. But he’s not very likable while he’s doing it, and that’s a problem.