Yep, it’s two DVD reviews today,  not because nothing else is going on but because I have once again been playing catch-up with everything I have going on online, and all of a sudden the very nice lady who sent me Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season is reminding me that it came out THREE WEEKS AGO.

So, here’s the thing- I LOVE THIS SHOW. I watched a few episodes during the season, but when I got the box set, I watched 2 or 3 episodes every night until I went through the whole thing. And now I am totally hooked. I have Season Two on a series recording on the DVR and it just keeps getting better and better.

If you’re not familiar with the show, here’s what you need to know. “Raising the Bar” was created by Steven Bochco, the creator and episode writer of such award-winning shows as “Hill Street Blues”, “Doogie Howser, M.D.”, “L.A. Law”, and “NYPD Blue”.   Although it is an ensemble cast, the star of the show is Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who also starred in Bochco’s shows “Commander in Chief” and “NYPD Blue”. Gosselaar plays Jerry Kellerman, a passionate Public Defender who’s willingness to fight for his clients sometimes gets him in trouble.

Jerry’s boss is tough-but-fair Rosalind Whitman (Gloria Reuben, “E.R.”), he frequently goes up against Michelle Ernhardt (Melissa Sagemiller, Sleeper Cell) in court, 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).

I also have to confess, one of the reasons I watch this show is the scenes with J.August Richards, who plays prosecuting attorney Marcus McGrath, and was, of course, Charles Gunn on “Angel”. I can’t help it, I think he’s hot

The cases presented in “Raising the Bar” are based on real cases handled by David Feige, who co-created the series. The DVD has a terrific featurette about Feige, and a chat with the cast about creating their characters and the show.

If you haven’t started watching “Raising the Bar” on TNT, I highly recommend you do so. Pick up Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season on Amazon.com, it’s 10 episodes so you can get through it in a week or two, tops, and then you can start catching up on Season Two.  Jane Kaczmarek is top notch, and although it took a while for Mark-Paul Gosselaar to grow on me, this has become one of my must-watch shows.