Another One Bites the Dust: ‘Raising the Bar’ Axed (UPDATED)

TNT won’t produce a third season of the Steven Bochco legal drama. Next up: The fate of “Dark Blue.”

TNT is lowering the axe on Steven Bochco’s "Raising the Bar."

Industry insiders confirm that the network has opted against a third season of the legal drama from ABC Studios, which starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek. Season two aired over the summer and scored disappointing ratings.

"Bar" started off promisingly for TNT. Its September 2008 bow attracted nearly 9 million viewers, making it the biggest basic cable premiere ever up until that point. The show didn’t hang on to that audience, however– despite a strong lead-in from the TNT hit "The Closer."

E! Online broke the news of "Bar’s" demise about an hour ago.

UPDATE (6:10 p.m. CST): A TNT rep is now confirming the cancellation. "Everyone at TNT had a great experience working on ‘Raising the Bar’ with Steven Bochco and the rest of the show’s terrific cast and crew," she said.  "We’re proud of the series and appreciate the efforts of all of the creative people who were involved.  Unfortunately, ratings for ‘Raising the Bar’s’ second season did not reach the levels required for TNT to renew the series."

They’re so classy in cable! When broadcasters kill a show, it’s like it never even happened. It’s shunned faster than a character in "Witness."

Meanwhile, attention now turns to TNT’s Jerry Bruckheimer drama "Dark Blue," which is awaiting word on its fate as well. A decision should come by month’s end. "Blue" drew fewer viewers than "Bar," but "Blue" did a better job of holding on to its higher-rated lead-in ("Leverage").

While TNT recently opted to pick up a batch of new and repeat episodes of ex-NBC drama "Southland," TNT executives have said that decision wouldn’t be a factor in determining the fates of "Bar" or "Blue."
 

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