TNT's Franklin & Bash

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I said it died a death after one season, not that it got canceled.

It wasn't canceled and it is returning, so explain your comment.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I said it died a death after one season, not that it got canceled.

Yes, because DEAD means renewed.

Who are you? Miracle Max?

[detective392]

Early Review

Advance Review: Premiering Wednesday night, the pilot episode of Franklin & Bash tries too hard. Of course, it's tough to fault a pilot for trying hard. It is, after all, the only first impression a television series is ever going to make. It needs to sell its premise and its characters and establish what you're likely to expect in episodes to come, all in under an hour. Franklin & Bash's pilot has the added responsibility of separating itself from the countless lawyer programs that have come before it. And in trying hard to make you like it, the series' first episode was a bit unsurprising, rushed and cliched.

This pilot episode wants you to find an instant connection with the people and the setting, but in doing so, it delivered characters you already know in an environment you've seen numerous times on television. Franklin is Jared Franklin, a fast-talking man-child in lawyer clothes played enjoyably enough by Breckin Meyer. Bash is Peter Bash, an equally fast-talking man-child in lawyer clothes with just a bit more common sense and seriousness. He is played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Both actors are well-placed in their respective roles and deliver their over-stylized dialogue well. I'm not entirely convinced by the pilot that they are old friends who've been through everything together and will always have each others back, but the seeds for such convincing are there.

Here comes the Franklin. Here comes the Basher. We're Demolition.
But there's little time to establish such things in this pilot, so their quick-witted repartee was a short cut used to imply their long history. The episodes needed to take a number of these shortcuts to establish the tone and premise of the series and it did so mostly using stereotypes. There's the stodgy law firm led by an eccentric mastermind (Malcolm McDowell, continuing the strong casting). There's the quirky research team that includes a lady ex-con and an agoraphobe. And then there are the court cases in this pilot, which are completely incidental to introducing all of the characters and relationships. But that's one aspect of the series hinted to in the pilot that I liked. If these characters become more fully realized, it might be fun to focus on the people instead of the ripped-from-the-'90s-headlines of the court cases.

But the pilot doesn't have time to fully realize anything. Since this episode is trying to win you over on its first try, it relies too often on familiar clich�s and stereotypes. This isn't to say the series couldn't be enjoyable. In fact, with more expansion on who these characters are and a less frantic pace, Franklin & Bash could be rather entertaining. But as a standalone episode, "Pilot" was just okay. This could turn into a summer series worth checking out, but for now, it's not one worth worrying too much about missing.

Will be watching tomorrow night.

http://tv.ign.com/articles/117/1171586p1.html

[WyldeMan45]

If I can get through the pilot, this will officially hold the record for longest lawyer show I've ever watched, lol.

[MD-Blu]

I thought Steven Weber was gonna be one of the cast members? I thought I read that somewhere awhile ago.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by MD-Blu

I thought Steven Weber was gonna be one of the cast members? I thought I read that somewhere awhile ago.

I don't think I ever heard that and can't find his name attached to it anywhere.

[Bizdady]

Hmmm I out of stuff to watch so I might this Zach Morris show a go tonight, see if it catches my attention.

[fatediesel]

I've heard nothing good about this show but I'll give it a chance. There's not much I watch during the summer outside of a few cable shows so if it's even decent I'll probably keep watching it.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I've heard nothing good about this show but I'll give it a chance. There's not much I watch during the summer outside of a few cable shows so if it's even decent I'll probably keep watching it.

It's a TNT original about lawyers starring Zack Morris, I ain't expecting much either, lol.

[jarth3000]

I thought it was pretty good; they did try a bit too hard, but overall it was better than a lot of the stuff out there these days. The cast is pretty strong and it looks like from the preview for next weeks episode that they've got a lot of good supporting actors coming in for episodes.

[Bizdady]

Ya I liked it, got nothing better to watch till Rescue me picks up again soon so I added it to my series recordings on the ole dvr. Will definately give it a go.

[WyldeMan45]

Breckin's character is really immature that's for sure. All the wood jokes come on dude you're better then that.....However, I must admit I did enjoy his tactic with Mircea Monroe that involved her jiggling herself in court, lol. Damn those some big naturals.

I don't like Pindar at all though, what a highly obnoxious character, and I've never thought that agoraphobics make for interesting tv, it's been done many many times and it's never been done well.

I will watch again next week though since Justified's Natalie Zea is the guest and appears to have f*cked her husband to death.

[kidd_91]

yesterday's episode had some good laughs, nothing else new coming on this summer so it gets the nod on my DVR.

[detective392]

TNT’s 'Franklin & Bash' Opens with 2.7 Million Viewers

TNT’s FRANKLIN & BASH Opens with 2.7 Million Viewers,
While Peabody Award-Winning Men of a Certain Age Draws 1.8 Million

TNT’s summer season got off to a solid start last night. The new legal dramedy FRANKLIN & BASH summoned 2,746,000 viewers for its series premiere and proved to be a hit with young adults, according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research. The Peabody Award-winning Men of a Certain Age, one of the most acclaimed series on television, followed with 1,846,000 viewers.

FRANKLIN & BASH, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, scored strong deliveries among key adult demos, with 1,145,000 adults 18-49 and 1,224,000 adults 25-54. The show did particularly well among adults 18-34, with 554,000 viewers in that younger demo.

The critically acclaimed Men of a Certain Age, starring Ray Romano, Scott Bakula and Andre Braugher, also averaged 591,000 adults 18-49 and 825,000 adults 25-54. The show is expected to boost its adult demo deliveries by at least 50% when final Live + 7 data becomes available in two weeks.

In FRANKLIN & BASH, Gosselaar and Meyer star as two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm. The series also stars Malcolm McDowell, Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais. FRANKLIN & BASH is produced by Four Sycamore Productions, Left Coast Productions and FanFare Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television, with Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls and Bill Chais serving as executive producers.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...million/94530/

[Groo The Perverted]

Watching the Premiere now. Nice to see Journeyman's Reed Diamond in here. With Kevin Falls being part of this, maybe we'll see Kevin McKidd and the luscious luscious Moon Bloodgood.

Like it so far.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

Watching the Premiere now. Nice to see Journeyman's Reed Diamond in here. With Kevin Falls being part of this, maybe we'll see Kevin McKidd and the luscious luscious Moon Bloodgood.

Like it so far.

Moon is on Falling Skies, so maybe she could guest sometime being both are on TNT.

[ChiefSequatchie]

I DVR'ed this on a whim and finally got around to watching it a night or so ago because I needed the space on my DVR and I have to say I was surprised on how much I enjoyed it. Sure it wasn't great but I put it in the same league with Fairly Legal on USA.

Its seems like it will be a fun show to watch what surprised me other than the full backside nudity was I especially liked Malcolm McDowell's character why it really surprised me was because I have never really been a fan of his.

[jlaavenger]

I think it's a great show. It's not something I let sit in the DVR long. I usually watch it or White Collar as soon as they come on.

[Skunkape78]

I have to admit, I was very skeptical about this show, but I've enjoyed it so far... It is what it is... I did enjoy the Killzone 3 plug in the last episode too...

[Wingman1977]

This show kicks mega ass. One of the best shows I've seen on tv along with Falling Skies (which is also on TNT).