A Masterpiece!

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Benches evidently wants to be Scrubs mixed with Suits. Unfortunately, such a promising premise is let down by flat jokes, poor delivery and bad casting; it's also not silly enough to keep up with the surreal humour you find in successful comedies (30 Rock, Community, Arrested Development and the like) but instead relies on very tired scenarios to eek out the laughs.I was really looking forward to this as Jay Harrington absolutely made Better Off Ted as the put-together protag - such a travesty that it got cancelled. Sadly, his role in Benched as the work-shy swindler Phil just doesn't fit - it would have been potentially better for him to be Trent (but a more interesting version). He also comes across as if he knows the show isn't going to last, and doesn't put any effort into...not putting any effort in.Eliza Coupe is...angry. I know that's supposed to be 'funny' and endearing, but she just comes across as irritating and unbelievable (a lawyer but all-too-gullible for example). Someone else as the female lead would have saved the day (Christina Applegate? Gillian Jacobs? Jaime Presley?) A wasted opportunity. I hope the show makes better use of such talent soon, or else I fear it'll be curtains.

I know the show is only three episodes in, but from what I've seen, I believe it has real potential.I think the premise of this show is quite good. A once high-powered attorney now having to serve as a public defender sounds like it has a lot of potential for funny situations for the characters to get themselves into and for humorous side characters to be introduced.For the most part, I am unaware of any of the actors in this show with the exception of Eliza Coupe (Nina Whitley) and Oscar Nunez (Carlos). Coupe is a talented actress and comedian who also portrayed Denise on the medical sitcom drama "Scrubs" who I'm glad to see in something else. Nunez has done good comedic work on "The Office" and Jay Harrington (Phil Quinlan) has so far given some good comedic performances in the show.The one issue I have at the moment is that of the main character, Nina. While Eliza Coupe has done a good job at bringing the character to life, I feel at the moment she is a bit annoying and unlikable, which is understandable given where she came from and the job she now has, but it's a bit of an off put for me. Though, it's only been three episodes so I'm sure that Nina is another Michael Scott (Steve Carell) from "The Office" or Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from "Parks and Recreation", a main character who I find annoying who I will learn to like after getting to know her better.It's only the start of the series so it's a little bumpy, but most series are at the beginning and just need to find its footing. That's the case with "Benched" and I am eager for the next episode because, as I've already said, I think this show has great potential.

A female lawyer (Eliza Coupe) has the standard breakdown (a mascara soaked frenzy of vitriol while the elevator is closing, but doesn't close all the way..riotous.) So she is relegated to the crude and wacky world of the public defender's office w/ a racist boss, a lascivious male co-worker, a fat intern, and the hot ex-fiancée whom she didn't know was working there. Have you seen this all before? In 3 seconds we could tell that Nina likes to drown her sorrows in the occasional bottle of Pinot Noir, that her mother fears for her singledom, that she power drinks Starbucks, and will be ruminating over the booty call she had with her ex with a half pound bag of Peanut M&Ms. This is all going to happen because it's been cranked out since Mary Tyler Moore aired.Coupe (a little too wink wink nudge nudgey) does try, I'll give her that. It's obvious she can be adept at comedy. Rest of the cast; same. There is an audible thud after most of the jokes. By and large, Cringe-worthy mediocrity.

If you're into comedies about lawyers and courts you might find your new favorite show in this one.A woman lawyer loses her job after an incident in her high-powered corporate firm and ends up in public defender's office, defending cases faaaar from glamorous! So it is basically a "fish out of water" comedy. The fancy attorney goes to defend poor people in a smelly courthouse.Obviously you can expect lots of awkward moments that our heroine is getting into and this is where Eliza Coupe (as Nina the lawyer) is shining. The supporting cast is also very good and especially Fred Melamed who plays the sarcastic (but fair) judge.Overall seems like a good comedy, way better than the ridiculous "Bad Judge", so if this is your thing, check it out!