Feige’s “Raising the Bar” to Air September 1st

David Feige, former Bronx Defender, author of Indefensible,  occasional blawger is now a Hollywood wunderkind with his drama “Raising the Bar” coming to TNT on September 1st.

My PhotoThe show, produced by Steven Bochco, is a series about public defenders in the Bronx, in which David hopes to portray real public defenders.  From the ABA Journal interview:

What made you want to do the show?

I had been a public defender for a long time, and one of the things that became abundantly clear to me is that the mass media really have no clue why we do what we do. You’re constantly being portrayed as shambling, poorly dressed schlubs who don’t particularly like their cli­ents and basically just phone it in. It’s appalling.

So how will Raising the Bar be different than other legal dramas?

This show takes the perspective that the criminal justice system is bro­ken; it is really not this beautiful, perfect system populated by heroic, jut-jawed prosecutors getting bad guys. It’s a place where justice is rarely, but occasionally, done and it’s driven by politics. When it does hap­pen, it’s merely the con­ven­ient alliance of people’s self-interest. That’s a very unusual perspective, and it’s an important one.

Of course, a few concessions to television appear from the promo video :  Everyone is beautiful, they kiss some and there is dialogue like “somebody is trying to screw my client out of a fair trial,” said as if it’s shocking.
Nowhere in the promo does anyone whine, “But Juuuuuuuudddddgggggee…,”  probably the foremost legal argument used in the Bronx by both sides.

Whether this gets real or is just another lawyer genre show has yet to be seen, but I’m rooting for David and look forward to seeing whether they’ve captured the real flavor of being a public defender in the Bronx. 

H/T Skelly

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4 thoughts on “Feige’s “Raising the Bar” to Air September 1st”

  1. Lee

    I’m looking forward to this. I like Feige’s writing for the most part, though I thought his book was kinda so-so and that his own self-criticism that he has strayed very far from what we do while still trying to wave the “I’m one of you banner” is spot-on. Most of all, I’m hoping there’s not too much sex so that my 3 year old can watch it and start to understand what I do.

  2. SHG

    Misgivings aside, I’m still rooting for Feige.  He may have strayed, and may be stretching a bit to continue to wear his Bronx PD mantle, but still, he’s one of us. 

    And if they have beautiful ADAs in the Bronx having sex with handsome PDs in the courthouse, then you know it’s all true!

  3. Feige

    Thanks for the well wishes. Sadly, having been out of the work for almost four years, I’ve been reduced to imagining myself as someone who believes in the work rather than someone who does it.

    I hate to say it, but RTB is probably not gonna work for young kids (though a 13 year old friend recently claimed to have liked it).

    Finally, please do watch more than just the first episode before deciding how you feel about the show. It evolves quite a bit as we all find our groove. Be patient and I don’t think the show will disappoint, and of course, grant us a little TV license.

    D.

  4. Lee

    I will certainly be watching through the first season barring absolute catastrophe. Sorry to hear I won’t be able to share it with Kennedy, then she does watch UFC with me.

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