Raising the Bar (TV Series) (DVD)

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"Raising the Bar" is an ironically titled TV series if you consider that creator Steven Bochco was the one who gave us "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law," and "NYPD Blue." Compared to those dramas, this one feels like we're talking about a limbo bar. Raised it ain't. Missing is the edge that made Bochco's other hits so distinctive and popular, replaced by the uncomfortable feeling that we've seen it all before.

Sure, it's well acted and produced, but "Raising the Bar" feels like just another legal drama that covers all the same bases and even has a few familiar faces . . . or at least characters we've seen before. There's the snarky judge, the principled "I'll go to jail if I have to" young lawyer, the realistic play-by-the-rules attorney, the take-no-prisoners prosecutor, the . . . . Well, the list goes on. The only twist is that these are former law school classmates who landed jobs on the opposite sides of the justice system. Then again, friends fighting on opposite sides is something that's been a part of our culture since the Revolutionary War.

The pilot focuses on Jerry Kellerman (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, "NYPD Blue"), a mop-haired public defender who's so convinced his client is innocent that he ends up in contempt of court and is taken off in handcuffs. And Judge Kessler (Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle") has about the same fondness for him as umpires do for Lou Pinella. Yeah, we haven't seen that before. Also in the Public Defender's office is Richard (Teddy Sears, "Ugly Betty"), who functions as a buddy. On the other side, in the D.A.'s office, the very real prospect of a wrongful conviction in a rape trial has the office in a tense mood, and Michelle (Melissa Sagemiller, "Sleeper Cell") takes the uncomfortable lead. And after hours, they all try to hang with each other and retain the closeness of their college years. The thing is, "Hill Street Blues" did it with more interest and passion, and with more distinctive characters.

But I may be in the minority in thinking so. The first episode of "Raising the Bar" drew the biggest audience in cable history, and some critics praised the tight writing. I won't dispute that. The episode arcs, the scenic construction, and the writing are indeed accomplished. It's just that everything is so darned familiar, and, compared to Bochco's other successes, lacking that hard-to-explain creative energy that separates the best from the rest. You walk away from it thinking, "Well, that was okay," rather than feeling as if you can't wait for the next installment, the way fans have felt about "Lost," "The Sopranos," or even "Hill Street Blues."

Ten episodes are included in this set:

2) "Guatemala Gulfstream" is probably the strongest. Jerry has to defend an accused murderer whose only hope at exoneration lies with an eyewitness who unfortunately is in Guatemala, which poses a logistical challenge for Jerry. Meanwhile, Richard takes on an assault case, while on the other side of the aisle Michelle gets the chance to try her first murder trial and Charlie (Jonathan Scarfe) finds it awkward when a former lover turns up in the courtroom.

3) "I Will, I'm Will." Richard defends a woman who raised a ruckus over a welfare check. If he can't get her off, who'll take care of her grandmother? Meanwhile, Judge Kessler gets even more fed up with Jerry than usual when he defends a mentally ill client.

4) "Richie Richer." It turns out that Richard's dad is filthy rich, and he offers Roz (Gloria Reuben, "ER") a job. Meanwhile, Judge Kessler contemplates a higher political office, and Jerry smells a rat when a woman who testified in a murder trial is herself arrested.

5) "Bagels and Locks." Bobbi (Natalia Cigliuti, "All My Children") gets the minor-character spotlight this episode as she defends an Everyman with a family who's charged with possession of a narcotic: heroin, of all things. In the main thread, Jerry gets involved in a murder trial in which the victim was a young boy, and things heat up so much that Nick Balco (Currie Graham) takes over the case.

6) "Hang Time." One of the more original plots is also one of the weaker episodes. Jerry defends a guy who tailed a hit-and-run and then ripped him off. Meanwhile, Bobbi gets involved in a domestic violence case, but the wife (no surprise here) refuses to press charges.