Benched

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For the "Modern Family" episode, see Benched (Modern Family).
Benched
Benched intertitle.png
Genre Comedy
Created by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 12
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Michaela Watkins
  • Damon Jones
  • John Enbom
  • Mark Gordon
  • Andrea Shay
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) ABC Signature
The Mark Gordon Company
Distributor Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network USA Network
Picture format <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Original release October 28 (2014-10-28) –
December 30, 2014 (2014-12-30)
External links
Official website

Benched is an American single-camera comedy television series, created by Michaela Watkins and Damon Jones,[1] about a high-powered corporate lawyer's fall from grace into the rough-and-tumble world of a public defender. The series stars Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington in pivotal roles with Maria Bamford, Jolene Purdy, Carter MacIntyre and Oscar Nunez as the supporting cast. The show's first season premiered on USA Network on October 28, 2014.[2]

On January 14, 2015, USA Network cancelled Benched after one season[3] because of low ratings. The series premiered to 870,000 viewers in October, and while it held steady for much of its 12-episode run, its showing remained modest.[4] Despite cancelation Benched received mostly positive reviews during its short run with the pairing of Coupe and Harrigton being pointed as the highlight of the show.[5]

Cast

Recurring

  • Maria Bamford as Cheryl, one of Nina's colleagues, described by the USA Network website as "useless and empathetic" and the "comic relief" of the office[9]
  • Jack McGee as Burt, Nina's boss at the public defender's office
  • Gary Anthony Williams as Geoffrey, the new boss who replaces Burt, who is on extended-leave after having surgery.
  • Cedric Yarbough as Morris, the by-the-books bailiff in Judge Nelson's courtroom
  • Peter Spruyt as Larry, one of Nina's co-workers who's been given the nickname "Boring Larry" by everyone in the office.
  • Fred Melamed as Judge Don Nelson, the impatient judge who usually has it out for Nina
  • Catherine Reitman as Debbie, Nina's former colleague in her old lawfirm. She was also given the promotion at Nina's old lawfirm that she expected to get.

Development and production

On May 17, 2012, the American cable television network USA ordered a pilot presentation directed by Michael Fresco, from the script by Watkins and Jones. Eliza Coupe signed on to star in the lead role of the series, produced by John Enbom, Mark Gordon and Andrea Shay.[10] On January 24, 2014, a 12-episode first season was ordered, with Jay Harrington joining the series.[11]

Casting announcements on the remaining series regular roles began in the following February, with Oscar Nunez cast in the series regular role of Carlos, a public defender and new colleague of Nina's.[6] Shortly afterwards, Jolene Purdy was cast in the series regular role of Micah, an intern in the Public Defender's Office.[7] Carter MacIntyre was the last actor to join in the series regular role of Trent, Nina's former fiancée and professional nemesis.[8]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
1 "Pilot" Michael Fresco Michaela Watkins & Damon Jones October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28) 0.87[12]
2 "Downsizing" Claire Scanlon Andy Berman November 4, 2014 (2014-11-04) 0.98[13]
3 "Hooked & Booked" Claire Scanlon Lindsey Shockley November 11, 2014 (2014-11-11) 0.77[14]
4 "Sell It" Victor Nelli, Jr. Damon Jones & Michaela Watkins November 18, 2014 (2014-11-18) 0.75[15]
5 "Shark, Actually" Tristram Shapeero Joanna Calo November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25) 0.78[16]
6 "Rights & Wrongs" Victor Nelli, Jr. John Enbom December 2, 2014 (2014-12-02) 0.93[17]
7 "Curry Favor" John Enbom Michaela Watkins & Damon Jones December 9, 2014 (2014-12-09) 1.00[18]
8 "Diamond Is a Girl's Worst Friend" Tristram Shapeero Ben Smith December 16, 2014 (2014-12-16) 0.75[19]
9 "A New Development" Michael McDonald Jim Cashman December 23, 2014 (2014-12-23) 0.87[20]
10 "Solitary Refinement" Michael McDonald Jessica Conrad December 23, 2014 (2014-12-23) 0.64[20]
11 "Campaign Contributions" Eric Appel Ari Berkowitz & Scott Hanscom December 30, 2014 (2014-12-30) 0.85[21]
12 "Brief Encounters" Eric Appel Andy Berman & Lindsey Shockley December 30, 2014 (2014-12-30) 0.72[21]

Reception

Benched received positive reviews from television critics and holds a score of 63/100 on Metacritic.[22] It also holds a 67% fresh ratings on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes with the site consensus stating, "Benched's talented ensemble raises the show above its trite writing, resulting in a nicely diverting half-hour of comedy."[23][24] Alexa Planje of The A.V. Club gave the series the most praise saying, "From the writing, to the cast, to impactful details like the spot-on styling and sets, Benched exudes confidence and commitment."[25] Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly lauded the series and Eliza Coupe's performance and said, "Benched is more lightweight [than Enlightened], but it's encouragingly funny thanks to Coupe, whose attempts at anger management showcase impeccable comic timing."[26] Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post also gave a positive review writing, "It's rare to come across a comedy that displays such admirable focus and delivers such smartly packaged slices of diverting escapism. More, please."[27] On the negative side Los Angeles Times wrote, "Benched is nowhere near as funny as it thinks it is, mainly because Watkins and Jones seem to believe that the endless humiliations of a thin, attractive, previously well-compensated blond woman are all it takes to make people laugh."[28]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://deadline.com/2015/01/benched-cancelled-usa-one-season-1201350501/
  4. ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/usa-cancels-benched-763975
  5. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/benched
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.usanetwork.com/benched/cast/sheryl
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/benched
  23. ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/benched/
  24. ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/benched/s01/
  25. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/review/benched-legal-comedy-s-actually-about-something-210862
  26. ↑ http://www.ew.com/ew/tv/tonights_best_tv/0,,2,00.html
  27. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/28/benched-usa_n_6062512.html
  28. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-usa-network-benched-review-20141029-column.html

External links

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