Malcolm's mom turns up as judge on TNT

By ANN ZIVOTKSY - For the North County Times | Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:27 AM PDT ∞

Jane Kaczmarek played a woman with questionable mothering skills in "Malcolm in the Middle." Now she's playing a courtroom judge who should probably be disbarred.

"As an actress, you always have to believe what your character is doing is right," Kaczmarek said during a telephone interview for the new TNT legal drama, "Raising the Bar."

She said she always believed her character Lois, the mother in "Malcolm in the Middle," was justified in her actions, and believes this new character, Judge Trudy Kessler, is also doing what makes sense for the character.

"Legally, she's not doing anything illegal. She's following the letter of the law," Kaczmarek said about Judge Kessler, who rules her courtroom with an iron fist and personally battles a young, idealistic public defender by throwing him in jail for contempt. She uses her powers to reject plea deals and dole out maximum sentences. "My hunch is at some time she was as idealistic as the (public defender), and she's shut down that part of herself."

Created by veteran television producer Steven Bochco, "Raising the Bar" is the second time Kaczmarek has worked with Bochco on a legal drama. She portrayed police Officer Clara Pilsky in "NYPD Blue" and is looking forward to Bochco's new approach to the genre.

"I had never really seen a character like this on television before, where the judicial side is shown. Usually the judge is in and out of an episode. Steve Bochco was really interested in presenting all three sides of the legal system ---- the prosecution, the defense and the judicial."

The competition for television legal dramas is crowded ---- the "Law & Order" and "CSI" franchises contribute six shows themselves ---- so a new show needs something to stand out from the crowd. Steven Bochco, an expert at great shows with great characters, manages to make "Raising the Bar" stand out, if only a little.

Set in the public defender and district attorney's offices in Manhattan, "Raising the Bar" centers on an idealistic defender (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) who battles the system, his boss and the judge for his clients. He's joined by attorneys on both sides of the system who may argue with each other during work hours, but gather at night for drinks in their favorite pub.

While the other attorney characters in this series blend together a bit ---- except for the secretly gay judicial clerk who appears to have an very interesting storyline ahead of him ---- the district attorney (Currie Graham of "Boston Legal") and the crazy judge (Kaczmarek) each make great foils for the attorneys to rally against. Gloria Reuben ("ER") is equally strong as the compassionate public defender.

At a time when many legal dramas are feeling old and tired, "Raising the Bar" adds fresh flavor for viewers who enjoy spending their television time in court. "Raising the Bar" premieres at 10 p.m. Monday on TNT.

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Carlsbad Gourmet's Strawberry Barbecue Sauce finally gets to shine in primetime. The locally created and made specialty food item is featured on "Road Tested With the Neelys" at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Food Network.

Owner Russ Bruhn is spotlighted in the episode, which shows Bruhn cooking in the middle of a strawberry field with show hosts Patrick and Gina Neely. Filmed earlier this summer, the episode was broadcast previously, but never in the primetime slot that the show now has. Whale Tails tortilla chips and Firecracker Chocolate, also made in San Diego, are also featured in the show.

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If the beach is too crowded this Labor Day weekend, camping on the couch might sound like a good idea. Here are the top television picks for each day in this three-day weekend:

Friday

-- Marlon Brando films, Turner Classic Movies. After a day of Brando's lesser films ("Julius Caesar," "Guys and Dolls"), the movie channel screens three classic Brando movies: "On the Waterfront" (5 p.m.), "Mutiny on the Bounty" (7 p.m.) and "Apocalypse Now" (10:15 p.m.)

Saturday

-- "The Starter Wife" marathon, 8 a.m., USA. Debra Messing is returning in October with the second season of this drama about a woman who restarts her life after her husband, a Hollywood executive, dumps her. The six episodes of the first season, which also stars Australian actress Judy Davis in a great part as the best friend, will be shown.

-- "Axe Men" marathon, 7 a.m., History. The first season's 13 episodes will be broadcast and viewers can decide, as they take a holiday from their own jobs, whether they would prefer to be climbing and chopping down trees.

-- "Ice Road Truckers" marathon, 11 a.m., History. If logging doesn't sound like a good job, how about driving tons of materials over roads made from thin ice? The second season of the popular History show gets its own day.

Monday

-- "Dirty Jobs" marathon (9 a.m., Discovery Channel) and "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" marathon (9 a.m. Travel Channel) give viewers a chance to make their own jobs look better. Yes, there's work again on Tuesday, but at least it doesn't involve eating the strange foods that Bourdain gobbles down.

-- "The Closer" marathon (11 a.m., TNT) recaps the third season, leading up to a new episode at 9 p.m. The past season of "Army Wives" is also reviewed in a marathon that begins at noon on Lifetime.

Ann Zivotsky writes about television for the North County Times. Contact her at nctimestv@cox.net.