Mark-Paul Gosselaar on 'Raising the Bar'
Posted by Lorrie Lynch
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (at right, looking like he does in a new TV series) is just 34 but he's had a long TV career. From his days on Saved by the Bell starting 20 years ago, through his long run on NYPD Blue, and including turns in more recent fare like Commander in Chief, he is an official TV veteran. So you know it's a good thing when he's excited about a role, which is certainly the case with his newest character, a public defender on the new Steven Bochco series Raising the Bar. Our Kathy Rowings talked to Gosselaar last week for our coming fall TV report about why he wanted to join the upcoming TNT series and what kind of reaction he's getting to that new longer hair. Read below for her full report.
Because I grew up watching Saved by the Bell (I still catch it in reruns most mornings) I admit that I was more excited to talk to Mark-Paul Gosselaar than I have been almost any other actor. It was a little surreal to have Zack Morris' voice on the other end of the phone, but he was personable and easy to talk to. He's excited about Raising the Bar and is invested in the show, his character - a public defender - and what his character stands for. We talked a lot about how this drama offers a different viewpoint on the criminal justice system, because it shows things from the perspective of public defenders, not just big-shot attorneys, which Gosselaar feels strongly about. "On these other shows, it's always taken for granted that police and law enforcement are good and the prosecutors are thoughtful and temperate and it's all rosy on that side, and then that the public defenders are all schleppy and they don't know what they're doing really want to be private lawyers but can't possibly be good enough to be private lawyers," he said. "We're sort of turning that on its head and showing the other side."
As you can see from the picture above, Gosselaar has a whole different look for the new show. He told me the look was leftover from a pilot he'd shot last year. Bocho hates it, but several other people — including Gosselaar — liked it for the character. "Jerry's all about putting a big middle finger up to the system, and it's kind of another in your face quality about Jerry, so we decided to try it long." Personally, though, Mark-Paul is kind of neutral on the hair length. His wife, he told me, is decidedly not a fan and his young son "doesn't understand why I have hair as long as my daughter. He's like, 'Why do you have to wear hair ties like a girl?'" Gosselaar said.
(photo by Richard Foreman/TNT)
Comments (13)
I used to love saved by the bell and thought Mark Paul was so hot but I gotta tell ya, I'm not diggin' the new hair color. He's so much cuter as a blonde.
i LOVE mark! Im a teen and i think his is sooooo gorgeous! even as a thirty five year old man! his so fine! i watch saved by the bell EVERY week day morning and raising the bar on mondays even though its kinda boring. i watch it for mark.. :)
iam big fan of mark paul gosselaar and when i was child i watch saved by bell and iam in love with mark and my birthday is march 1 1972 and me and mark birthday is same month and same day i like say i love his new show came on and i like to know his email address
send me a email at heromomintown@aol.com
Hey Mark Paul,
I like your new look, but you were much cuter in SBTB! Well I wouldn't say im your biggest fan or anything but i will say I would love to meet you in person! ;) You know You and Tiffani would have made the perfect couple! Did ya'll ever date or anything? If so what happened? And whats up with lisa russel? Shes not that pretty but i guess that doesnt matter, huh? Well you should totally email me @ perkins_chik@yahoo.com!
Love Ya
i love you mark and iam fan of you and i like to meet you in person.
email me back
hey mark
i always watched your old show of saved by bell
you are so cute and still are cute and i love your new series show i watch it and by the way my birthday is the same month and same day its march 1, 1972 but mines is different year and my name is nicole iam big fan of you mark and can i have your email address oxxxox
email me back
nicole
by email is Heromomintown@aol.com
Mark Paul I Think You Are So Cute And im your number one Fan I Love You Bye
Mark Paul I dont Want to talk About the Show but i like it.you are so cute Mark And i just Want to meet you one day Bye
I would've watched the show, but it looks like they cast david cassidy instead of mark paul
I still watch SBTB too and i'm 34 years old.
Thank, for the article. I'm excited about the show
So glad to hear he's back
I saw the show!! I really enjoyed it, and your right Mark-Paul shines and is really good. Can't wait to see the other episodes.