Raising the Bar (2008)
Jerry Kellerman
In his fourth collaboration with Steven Bochco (premiering Sept. 1, at 10 p.m. ET on TNT), Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays a passionate public defender who cares more about how his clients are being treated by the system — which includes his frenemies in the D.A.'s office and a power-hungry judge played by Jane Kaczmarek — than getting a haircut. ''I had no idea hair was such an issue for people. It's become a talking point,'' Gosselaar says. (He's actually had the controversial longer locks since NYPD Blue ended.) Also worth discussing, that longstanding relationship with Bochco: ''I'm very loyal, and he is as well. I think he likes me because I like to work. I just want to act; he just wants to write. We share that same attitude. And he's a really good guy. If I have life issues, I'll ask him, and he gives advice. He feels like family to me.'' (He also throws good barbecues, we hear.)