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Season 1 – Benched

2014 Comedy List
69% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 75% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
Lawyer Nina Whitley is at the top of her game but gave up a lot to get there. When she learns that she won't be a partner at her firm and her old fiance is newly engaged, she snaps, getting her shunned from corporate law. She must work for the underdog after she gets a job in a public defender's office that's understaffed and underfunded. New colleagues include apathetic serial gambler Phil and dedicated Carlos. As for Trent, Nina's ex, she'll see plenty of him -- as an adversary in the DA's office. Read More Read Less
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Benched — Season 1

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Benched — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Benched's talented ensemble raises the show above its trite writing, resulting in a nicely diverting half-hour of comedy.

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Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Maureen Ryan Huffington Post It's rare to come across a comedy that displays such admirable focus and delivers such smartly packaged slices of diverting escapism. More, please. Oct 29, 2014 Full Review Tim Goodman Hollywood Reporter A legal comedy that has a few big laughs, some groaners and a steady stream of that's-decent-enough jokery. (And yes, I know that's not a word.) Oct 29, 2014 Full Review Emily L. Stephens AV Club The stellar cast's snappy, confident delivery brightens up a sometimes scattershot script. Rated: B+ Oct 29, 2014 Full Review Randy Dankievitch TV Over Mind It's a bit of stretch to ask any comedy to maintain that balance for forty-plus minutes; Benched is able to do it, though, anchored by a couple of fantastic scenes to close out the season. Mar 4, 2020 Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media This could have been just another bland and forgettable show. But Benched rises above its somewhat stale premise with bold, fresh writing and a cast with crack comic timing, given lines with verve and crackle. Rated: 3/5 Nov 14, 2014 Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Former Happy Endings star Eliza Coupe headlines Benched, a funny enough comedy set in legal circles that gets off to a weak start but quickly recovers. Oct 28, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
Nik O Actually funny so of course it was cancelled. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/30/23 Full Review andrei d More like fired/quilty Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Very funny and well-written! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Eliza Coupe aka.star of ABC's Happy Endings proof that she can steal all attention in new USA network's comedy Benchend all by herself . All pilot episode you think where she was all this time? And maybe she the next one queen of comedy? Maybe the last question will be hard to answer immediately so you must see more episodes (all season) because great scripted comedy with outstanding performance it's full package,and Benchend have all of this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Except for the over abundance and over use of foul language...this is hilariously funny and very entertaining. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Benched — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 28, 2014 Pilot After giving up everything in her climb to the top, a corporate lawyer is passed over for a promotion, causing her to have a meltdown. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 4, 2014 Downsizing Hoping to be accepted back into the corporate world, Nina gives a speech, but it goes awry; the gang struggles to fit in. Details Episode 3 Aired Nov 11, 2014 Hooked & Booked Phil tricks Nina into believing that public defenders voluntarily go to jail; Phil and Boring Larry take Carlos out for a night on the town. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 18, 2014 Sell It Nina realizes she may need help influencing jurors; Phil and Trent face off in front of a grumpy judge. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 25, 2014 Shark, Actually Nina worries that she is being played; a stenographer rejects Phil's advances because he is too immature. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 2, 2014 Rights & Wrongs Nina is forced to compromise when her refusal to lose cases to Trent begins to clog up the court system; Carlos quits smoking. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 9, 2014 Curry Favor Nina finds a new friend in a forensics analyst; Nina's new friend takes the meaning of loyalty too far; Carlos is forced to stay with Phil for a few days. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 16, 2014 Diamond Is a Girl's Worst Friend Nina makes a bet when she is assigned one of Phil's former defendants; Micah criticizes Phil's and Carlos' behavior in court. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 23, 2014 A New Development Nina discovers that Trent and the district attorney's office are involved in a plot to arrest the city's homeless; Cheryl turns to Nina for help. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 23, 2014 Solitary Refinement An old friend asks Nina to set her up with Phil; Nina goes on an ill-fated double date; a female judge begins paying attention to Carlos. Details Episode 11 Aired Dec 30, 2014 Campaign Contributions Nina insists on helping Phil win an award; Trent brings his 10-year-old "little brother" to court for one week. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 30, 2014 Brief Encounters Nina must make some hard choices after secretly reuniting with Trent; Morris calls out Phil for being glib. Details

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Benched — Season 1

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Michaela Watkins, Damon Jones, John Enbom, Mark Gordon, Andrea Shay
Network
USA
Rating
TV-14 (D|L)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 28, 2014