TV Review: ‘Franklin & Bash’ – “The Curse of Hor-Aha”

Article first published as TV Review: ‘Franklin & Bash’ – “The Curse of Hor-Aha” on Blogcritics.


As much as TNT’s Franklin & Bash changes, it also stays the same. It has undergone cast shifts before, but in the fourth season, which returned last night, we may see the most dramatic rotation yet. Which is why it’s extra remarkable that the premiere, “The Curse of Hor-Aha,” seems pretty much the same as any other episode of the series.

Time Jump

Right off the bat, we get a four month time jump where our titular characters are now running the law firm (although they remain living in Infeld’s beach house). Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) himself is working as an auto mechanic, having taken a blow for the Rachel King (Heather Locklear) fiasco. Rachel is locked up, so we don’t see her, and likely won’t again, at least not for a long while. Other employees are jumping ship, unhappy with the new management style, and that includes F&B’s loyal compatriots, Carmen (Dana Davis) and Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani).

What this means for Franklin & Bash is that Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) either need to grow up or get Infeld back. They prefer the latter, of course. In their current case, which involves “The Case of Hor-Aha,” they are as goofy as ever. In the office, they can’t stay out of trouble, which is probably why they haven’t managed to garner any respect. The new investigator they’ve hired, Dan Mundy (Anthony Ordonez, Job for Gino), is an enabler and a weirdo. Needless to say, they’re not doing well, and the firm is losing money and personnel rapidly.

Departures

It’s disappointing that Carmen and Pindar have left. We get brief explanations for both absences, and it doesn’t seem like they fled for the same reasons the others did. But they are valuable characters for the show, even if they’ve been marginalized for most of it, who will be missed. Let’s hope they at least pop back up as guest stars sometime this year.

Since it seems like getting Infeld back into his office will be an arc, rather than a quick fix, there has to be some balancing force on the show to keep the guys in line in the meantime. In the past, this has mostly fallen to Damien Karp (Reed Diamond) and a couple of different women, who are no longer around. Damien has also quit (and it’s worth noting that he is no longer listed on the cast page of the official website) and is purposely seeking cases where he can fight the guys in the courtroom, petty as ever. So obviously, the show needs a permanent presence at Infeld Daniels (now renamed Infeld, Daniels, Franklin, & Bash) to stabilize things.

Anita Joins Franklin & Bash

Enter Anita Haskins (Toni Trucks, Hostages), a well-educated, no-nonsense woman who is willing to work for them if they actually let her go to court, which they are desperate enough to do, and other reputable law firms won’t. She seems, at first glance, to be a pretty standard straight (wo-)man, there to hamper them, but not too harshly, like her predecessors. But it’s hard to tell for sure because she doesn’t show up until near the close of the hour.

Before Anita is introduced to Franklin & Bash, we see Ellen Swatello (Rhea Seehorn), previously an assistant district attorney, is now on staff at the firm. Ellen is a recurring part, and unfortunately, her new position has not come with a corresponding upgrade for the delightful Seehorn. One assumes the office isn’t going to keep both Anita and Ellen around, but how cool would it be if they did? After all, two tough females teaming up on Franklin & Bash might finally be able to rein them in.

The case-of-the-week is standard and takes up most of the running time, as usual. I like Franklin & Bash because it isn’t just a procedural, but unfortunately, it is mainly that. If you were entertained the first three years, though, you’ll probably like this one, too, because even though there has been some musical chairs among the players and a new challenge introduced, it’s still very much the show you’ve become accustomed to.

Franklin & Bash airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

MOZART Such Sweet Music

Article first published as MOZART Such Sweet Music on TheTVKing.

After having watched thee of the five new Amazon drama and comedy pilots, I was very disappointed with this year's crop. Luckily, the last two in the line up have been quite good, redeeming the website a bit for its content. The final pilot I viewed, Mozart in the Jungle, is a look "behind-the-scenes" at symphony members in New York, certainly something not seen before in a television show. Add to that the promise of great music and some really good casting, and I'm sold.

The central character of Mozart in the Jungle is Hailey (Lola Kirke, sister of Girls' Jemima Kirke). She's an oboist stuck teaching music lessons to pervy kids and filling in for pit orchestras, such as the one she is currently doing for Oedipus (American Idol's Constantine Maroulis). At that gig, she befriends Cynthia (Saffron Burrows, Boston Legal, The Bank Job), an experienced musician happily willing to give advice to the younger girl, and whom even gets Hailey an audition with the New York Symphony, the dream job.

It's easy to see the relation between Lola and Jemima, especially when Hailey has to deal with her student, whom she forgives for his dirty text messages about her when he helps her out. But Lola also stands on her own, finding a fun, soulful quality to the role. She plays Hailey in a very realistic, fully-formed way, someone we can relate to, but also someone unique. This is a good protagonist to have.

I was disappointed that Burrows is stuck doing an American accent. It's not that she's bad at it, it's just that it's so much more satisfying to hear her in her native tone, and it seems like an English lilt would match a sophisticated musician quite well. Either way, though, she excels at playing the kind diva, someone hard to pigeonhole, but who does not disappoint.

Hailey is going to have a lot of adjustment joining the group because the symphony itself is undergoing change. Seasoned conductor Thomas (Malcolm McDowell, Franklin & Bash, A Clockwork Orange) is pushed into an emeritus position by Gloria (Broadway star Bernadette Peters), a post that is supposed to give him continued influence, but allows her to steamroll him a bit. The new conductor, Rodrigo (Gael García Bernal, The Motorcycle Diaries), intends to clean house, much to Thomas' dismay. At least Thomas still has Cynthia, for sex anyway.

These power struggles are familiar, but like the canceled Smash, it seems novel to see them unfold in this new setting. It could be that the stars inhabiting these parts are just so good, but this dynamic does not seem stale. This will be a driving drama factor, should the pilot be ordered to series, that should make the plot quite compelling, above and beyond the story of Hailey herself.

Hailey should still figure prominently, though. Besides the new job, she also has a new beau, dancer Joshua (Peter Vack, I Just Want My Pants Back), which causes friction between Hailey and her roommate, Lizzie (Hannah Dunne, Frances Ha). This is a young-person problem, and Hailey is still a young person, allowing herself to be pulled out of bed to get drunk and party, though she knows she shouldn't. Mozart in the Jungle should chronicle her growth into adulthood, a necessary development as a symphony member, and that will be interesting, too.

These types of different facets to the characters make Mozart in the Jungle more than just one thing, which is always a plus when developing a TV show. On one hand, we have the silly party scene with the shot-and-play competition. On the other, Joshua Bell guest stars as himself, playing with the symphony. And, to someone who was music minor in college and who participated in bands and ensembles for a decade, it appears McDowell and Kirke can fake it quite well as professionals in the field, which lends credibility. Overall, Mozart in the Jungle seems to be the total package.

Mozart in the Jungle's "Pilot" is available now for streaming on Amazon.com.

FRANKLIN & BASH "Alive" Again

Article first published as FRANKLIN & BASH "Alive" Again on TheTVKing.

TNT’s FRANKLIN & BASH is pretty much exactly what people mean when they talk about summer fluff television. Similar to the old USA shows, FRANKLIN & BASH follows two silly, fast-talking lawyers, Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), as they charmingly get into trouble, then show true compassion as they win emotionally-charged cases.

Season three kicks off this week with two new hours, “Coffee and Cream” and “Dead and Alive.” I can’t really say there is anything startling about the case-of-the-week in either. They are pretty typical of FRANKLIN & BASH installments, with the boys having to color outside the lines, but in the end, helping their clients. In the first, twin magicians want the guys to keep their secret while avoiding legal charges, and in the second, they must prove a man is still alive when a clerical error considers him dead.

These episodes are fun enough, and what fans of the show expect. They don’t stretch reality much further than other courtroom dramadies have done, and there are enough humorous moments to keep viewers entertained. A drop by Piers Morgan’s (guesting as himself) show seems slightly outrageous, but allows a nice introduction of a new character.

The problem is, the titular duo just don’t go far enough anymore. When the series first premiered, they seemed completely goofy, off in left field. As the show has gone on, their actions just aren’t shocking. Maybe we’ve grown used to their antics, or maybe the writers have just run out of ways to top themselves, but it’s more ‘business-as-usual’ than ‘wow!’ by now.

Luckily, while mostly procedural, there is a little bit more than that going on, and this third year may just be the one where everything changes. The most obvious development is the introduction of Rachel King (Heather Locklear) as the new boss. She immediately rebuilds the wall between Franklin and Bash’s offices, and cracks down harder on the rules than previous leadership.

The thing is, though, she isn’t that huge an adjustment. She lets Bash and Franklin do what they do, but just wants to keep better tabs on them. Maybe she’s evaluating the circumstances before taking much drastic action, or maybe she sees the benefit of their behavior. She is definitely a long-game player, which means her motivations won’t become clear for some time. Yet, her hindrance of the pair is more for show than making any real impact in the dynamic.

Lest anyone fear the eccentric head of the firm, Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) is gone, worry not. He may hand over the reins to King, who is actually Hanna’s (Garcelle Beauvais) replacement in the cast, but he’s still present. He has just decided that he isn’t a firm enough hand for the guys, and so is letting someone else do the dirty work.

What’s interesting to me about Rachel’s arrival is how Damien (Reed Diamond) is affected. At first, he is upset that Uncle Stanton is letting someone else take over the business, but then Rachel helps Damien prepare for an eventual judgeship. Who is Stanton grooming? He’s moving around a lot of pieces, and it looks like only he and Rachel may know what’s going on for now.

Besides the professional developments, Bash also gets a serious love interest. We know he isn’t a womanizer, at least not completely, and is open to love. But it’s nice to see someone brought in via a natural development who can turn his head and whom Bash doesn’t immediately figure out. This gal is introduced as someone who can hold her own, strong, but with a sense of humor. They have a nice chemistry, and I really hope this goes somewhere.

Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani) and Carmen (Dana Davis) are still around, too. In fact, the former has a very important story in “Coffee and Cream” that affects the entire team, drastically changing one element of the show, which I won’t spoil. It’s both hilarious and heart breaking, going a little darker than the series has before, but forcing evolution in a way that feels right.

There are definitely signs in both “Coffee and Cream” and “Dead and Alive” that the series and its main players are growing and changing, even while the central plot remains predictable and rote. There are some strong characters here, and should the more serial arcs be pursued, there could really be some movement in the coming weeks, which would be welcome. Otherwise, it remains the television equivalent of the summer blockbuster: a nice way to pass the time, but neither filling nor deep.

Community Christmas in April

Article first published as Community Christmas in April on TheTVKing.

NBC's Community celebrates Christmas this week with "Intro to Knots." Jeff (Joel McHale) throws a holiday party at his apartment for the study group and Chang (Ken Jeong). Annie (Alison Brie) invites Professor Cornwallis (Malcolm McDowell) when she learns he is giving them a poor grade. Hijinks ensue when Chang ties up Cornwallis, and Cornwallis begins playing mind games with the study group.

I really dig the concept "Intro to Knots" is going for, even if the execution leaves something to be desired. Cornwallis, a wonderful professor to add to Community's recurring cast, getting into the heads of our main characters for his own amusement, and the study group triumphing over him, is a classic Community story. It exposes some things about our cast, and forces them to look at themselves, again.

The problem is, the plot only goes half-heartedly into things. Aside from revealing that Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) is in the running for valedictorian against Annie, nothing major comes out. Cornwallis has the opportunity here to really break down the group dynamics, and he just casually figures out there's a love triangle between Jeff, Troy (Donald Glover), and Britta (Gillian Jacobs), not even picking up that Annie is part of it. Weak sauce.

It's surprising that Annie is left out of the romantic analysis when "Into to Knots" provides her and Jeff a small alone scene, one of the best they've had this season. We get to see Annie trying to play house with Jeff, and it's a reference to the unkindled feelings between them. I think Jeff and Annie should end up together, and while he's not mature enough for her yet, nor she him, he has been making great strides this year, and could be ready to give it a go by season's end. I hope this scene is a promise of things to come, as hinted when Jeff likes her curtains.

Jeff has been growing a lot this season, but faces a backslide in "Intro to Knots" when he admits to tanking his part of their group project for Cornwallis. The others don't judge him, and we can see why when Jeff not only tells Britta that he is only keeping with the persona he has built, but he also delivers a heck of a speech about they are all flawed people who keep screwing up. Jeff may not take a step forward this week, but his self-actualization is promising. Plus, the party may be his attempt to make up for the guilt he feels at screwing up their grade, a good sign.

I could nitpick and say Cornwallis is stupider than he should be be accusing Jeff of untying him when Cornwallis gets free while everyone is distracted by the Dean (Jim Rash). Jeff is the one by the door, so everyone is seeing him the whole time and he is the one with the least opportunity to betray the others. However, I think Cornwallis is just trying to distract the group and get them to turn on each other, and in the moment, when Jeff is winning against Cornwallis, it's the emotion that the professor plays to more than logic, so it sort of makes sense.

I am not sold on the continuing rivalry between Annie and Shirley, which seems to come out of nowhere in the fourth season. I like that it gives Shirley more play in the larger scenarios, as she tends to be often forgotten in years past, but I'm not sure bickering is the way to go about expanding her role. She is a proud, strong, smart, busy mother. Why can't that be her story?

That said, as much as I love Annie, I really hope Shirley gets to be valedictorian. Annie will have other endings, but for Shirley, it would be a great, triumphant way to finish off the character.

Most of the players just get fun little moments this week. The Dean tries to intrude, and for some reason, gifts them all kittens. Everyone buys Jeff Greendale wear, which for some reason is funny. Troy gets a little jealous of Jeff and Britta's past. Troy makes a little bit of effort, though just a bit, to fulfill Abed's (Danny Pudi) Die Hard Christmas wish. And Chang has issues with knots and a fascination with bubble wrap. All of this is mildly amusing, even if not as smart as Community fans are accustomed to.

There are hints in "Intro to Knots" as to what this season is building towards when they take a moment to remind us of the dark timeline from "Remedial Chaos Theory." Evil Abed is still around, and has still vowed to destroy the group. Is he the one pulling Chang's strings? Will he be the bad guy that must be battled in the season finale?

I don't know if I like this. Before, one could dismiss Evil Abed's continued appearances as part of Prime Abed's fantasies. To really commit to Evil Abed being the villain, and this cannot be dismissed as Abed himself, given that Abed is with the group when Chang calls his master, is very strange, even by Community's standards. It also doesn't explain away why Abed sucks this year, something I desperately want a justification for, unless Evil Abed has taken over Abed, but then he couldn't be Chang's controller, so it doesn't quite fit.

I am also highly disappointed that Pierce (Chevy Chase) is said to be with Gilbert (Giancarlo Esposito) in this episode, rather than still lost in the woods. As I said in last week's review, Pierce getting lost is lame compared to other possible scenarios. But since the writers did it, they should stick with it. I don't see the point of drawing things out now, knowing Chase will not return in the next few episodes to finish out any kind of story.

"Intro to Knots" gets a few things right, but also quite a few things wrong. And the plot being set up for the rest of the season in this week's installment only makes me dread how the final weeks of the series could be screwed up even more, rather than building excitement. This could be considered the beginning of the end for Community, and not in a good way.

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Community invaded once more by Germans

Article first published as Community invaded once more by Germans on TheTVKing.

NBC's Community has floundered quite a bit in its fourth season, coming up with stories that generally fit in the tone and scheme of the series overall, but feeling a bit hollow underneath, the characters just not being as smartly written as they are before, and the plot not quite as tight.

I'm happy to report that this week's installment, "Alternative History of the German Invasion," is the first episode to overcome these problems and deliver. I won't claim it's the most creative or funniest installment of Community, but it does get everyone right, is just weird enough to work, and there aren't all the obvious holes I've been able to poke in the other three chapters this year.

The premise is that the study group begins their alternate history class with their new professor (Malcolm McDowell, Franklin & Bash, Entourage), only to find out that the Germans they tussle with in the past are also taking the class. The Germans' new leader (Chris Diamantopoulos, 24, The Office) takes over the group's usual meeting room, and then even their table, too. But when our heroes try to reclaim their designated spot, they learn that the rest of the campus sees them as the villains.

It's interested to get this flipped view of the main cast. We are so used to the story being focused on them, it's odd to step back and see that all of the people around them are sick of it. I guess, in the real world, we would also object to their egocentricity and the tightness of the impenetrable clique. The scenes where the action flashes back to previous episodes, demonstrating how Jeff (Joel McHale) and the others treat their classmates, is eye opening, and will change the way I view Community from here on out.

But beyond that, this plot also ties into the title of the episode and the new history class they have just started, so much so that they assume that the professor is just trying to teach them a lesson, making them seem even more self-involved than they already are. It's a neat trick, looping back in on itself, and something Community has a track record of excelling it, even if they haven't lately.

I love that the Germans are the choice to use as the bad guys because, not only do we get some wonderful Hogan's Heroes (or Hogan's Villians) callbacks, the latest in a long line of TV references the show makes, but it's so unexpected. When reduced to goofy stereotypes with thick, fake accents and fiendish conquering attempts, viewers' minds will automatically pigeonhole the modern day German students into the same category as the wartime enemy of the 1930s and '40s. Thus, when the twist is revealed, it's all the more surprising and brilliant.

Add to that the forbidden friendship that Abed (Danny Pudi) strikes up with one of the rivals (Alex Schemmer, Weeds), and Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) running gag of trying to get home to her kids, only to be blown off on a suggested outing after the conflict, and there are some great layers to the half hour, too.

At the conclusion of season three, Jeff realizes its OK to be nice. He has been trying for the last few episodes to stick to those guns, but without the support of his friends, he has no chance. Thus, it's gratifying to see them all coming 'round once they realize their mistakes, painting and fixing up other study rooms so that other groups on campus might have the same kind of special thing that they have. It's a love letter to Greendale and the fans, and it might just mean that Community leaves these characters as beloved alumni, rather than Seinfeld-esque jerks.

Though, they haven't completely learn their lesson yet, as we see when Abed and Troy (Donald Glover) refuse to do the nice German's podcast in the tag at the end.

I would like (OK, like is the wrong word here) to mention that Pierce (Chevy Chase) seems more and more checked out with each passing week. He is already separating himself from the group and their reality, which is a nice, if regrettable, set up to his impending departure. At least it can be written in a way that makes sense, rather than his absence being sudden and jarring.

Elsewhere, the Dean (Jim Rash) is tasked with caring for Chang (Ken Jeong) during his Changnesia. At first, the Dean doesn't buy that "Kevin" is reformed, assuming this is some evil plot by Chang. Then, when Kevin turns himself in to the police for the past wrongs the Dean tells him about, the Dean finally buys his story, happy to help work with Chang if he has really turned over a new leaf.

I keep waiting for the reveal that this all an elaborate scam by Chang, and I do think that it probably is. But I applaud the way "Alternative History of the German Invasion" keeps us guessing. Even if Chang is the ultimate bad guy, he has gone so far that something like this is necessary to bring him back into the fold, so he gets to show off his genius as well as his ugly intentions. Plus, when the Dean judges Chang for putting his name into words, it's an ironic ball of humor that I cannot get enough of.

Jeong does make some interesting choices in the way that he plays the seemingly brainwashed Chang. Why does he pull the stuffing out of the Dean's pillow? I don't know. But it's these small touches that make the overall picture more odd and enjoyable.

"Alternative History of the German Invasion" may not rank among the best episodes of Community at this point, but I would argue it's the best of the season so far. If it's taken three weeks for the writers to get into the groove, minus those of their number they have lost, that's an acceptable sacrifice, especially if they keep up the consistency and quality going forward. I am happy to let a bit of my pessimism about this season fade away, and am very much anticipating the next zany adventure.

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Unleash the Franklin & Bash!

TNT's Franklin & Bash completed their sophomore run this week with "6:50 to SLC." Bash's (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) law license is suspended because he misses a payment, which makes representing his buddy, Tommy Dale (Chris Klein, Wilfred), who is having problems with his campaign for governor, difficult. Meanwhile, Leonard Franklin (Beau Bridges) of Franklin & Franklin would like to purchase Infeld Daniels, whether Stanton (Malcolm McDowell) likes it or not.

It's a shame that Franklin & Bash has become such a procedural. Even in this episode, which spends at least half of its time focusing on firm politics, there is a case of the week that must be dealt with. In the beginning, that was OK because Franklin and Bash often made these cases fun and exciting with their big stunts. In this one, not so much.

Yes, there were great guest stars in "6:50 to SLC," like Klein and Paul Schulze (Nurse Jackie), who played Dale's campaign manager. And the story of two wives cheating on their husbands with each other is pretty scandalous. But they somehow made this boring, probably because of how toned down the two lead characters have become in court. In a story about Bash's old friend, this should never have been allowed to happen. It may be more realistic, but it's not as much fun to watch.

The other story, where Franklin's (Breckin Meyer) father tries to steal the firm right out from under their boss, is much more compelling. Stanton is a larger than life character, played a by a brilliant acting veteran who bites into the role with gusto. So when he is threatened and his vulnerabilities are laid bare, it makes for very engrossing television. Stanton shows his age a bit here, but he also shows his scrappiness and shrewdness, which got him to where he is today. The resolution is shocking and smart.

Stanton must reveal the real reason he hired Franklin and Bash and made them partners. They are a poison pill, a tool he can use to self-destruct the firm. They are not happy at all to learn this, two years (or only one year?) after they began working for him. But they do what must be done because they are stand up guys, making a huge fuss on an airplane. Stanton's later apology, and the boys' forgiveness, shows that there is a deeper bond here than a cynical arrangement. But their relationship with their awesome boss is rocked a bit, in a good way.

The other moments of greatness in "6:50 to SLC" come from Carmen (Dana Davis) and Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani). These are entertaining, quirky characters, who do not get nearly enough plot. Sure, it's nice to see Franklin and Bash make peace with Karp (Reed Diamond) and Hanna (Garcelle Beauvais), but I would trade an emotional Hannah scene for a funny Pindar bit any day. Again, going back to the complaint that Franklin & Bash has mostly become a rote procedural, more of these two characters would punch up the episodes.

Some hopes for season three, besides more outrageous antics and screen time for the boys' employees? Bring back their flying ban as a plot point, and make sure that Shiri Appleby returns for a sizable arc. It might be nice to see how Franklin handles a real relationship, and what she can do to the dynamic of the group.

This law show may have lost its way in the second season, becoming more predictable and monotonous. Hopefully, there will be a season three, which gives them time to make up for it.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Originally posted on TheTVKing

FRANKLIN & BASH Season 2 Premiere Review

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer and Garcelle Beauvais : Photo : Trae Patton/TNT

TNT's FRANKLIN & BASH returns tonight with the season two premiere, "Strange Brew." Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) would like to make Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselar) full partners at his law firm, where they have been working. To do so, the duo must earn the votes of two thirds of the existing senior partners. Infeld sends them to meet with a beverage company head (Kevin Nealon, Weeds), who, if they woo as a client, will help their chances. Unfortunately for them, keeping the client happy may mean abandoning their values.

FRANKLIN & BASH is about two lawyers who care about more than just the law, or their careers. They care about people. Their bold, outlandish stunts are part of their draw, but the real reason Infeld is so in awe of the boys is because they bring something to the firm that it's lacking. Infeld is ingrained in his ways, though, and so he doesn't always give them a leash of unlimited length. "Strange Brew" tests the resolve of all three, as Infeld insist they keep the client happy, and Franklin and Bash think about how much they might want a spot at the big table.

The series is pretty light-hearted. As such, while FRANKLIN & BASH may flirt with heavy drama, it stops short of committing to it altogether. Things work out in the end because the core fan base doesn't want the story to end on a downer. The characters can face tough situations and question themselves, but at the end of the day, the good guy must win, and justice has to prevail. It's not a new formula, but it's certainly one that regular viewers of this particular show count on. In this, "Strange Brew" may take the path of least resistance, but that's what the people are looking for them to do.

This does not make FRANKLIN & BASH a bad show. While it will never sweep the Emmys or any other awards ceremony, it is still very entertaining. That is why, even when the ending might seem a little too neat, it is still a good episode.

Besides, Franklin and Bash are not the only ones affected by their promotion. They have friends to consider, too. Their new position allows them to hire Carmen (Dana Davis) and Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani) full-time. This is good, because as a subplot of the episode reveals, Pindar is in need of the mental health care that will come with being a permanent employee. Some of his social problems can now be traced back to his ex-roommate's girlfriend, whom Pindar clearly had an attraction towards. Though, how Pindar deals with the woman speaks to a previously existing condition.

Becoming senior partners is not without risk. Hannah (Garcelle Beauvais) tells Damien (Reed Diamond) she supports the change because of a moral clause that might help them get Franklin and Bash fired for good. Is Infeld aware of this clause, and does he already have a plan to get around it, like he negated the five year waiting period that would have delayed partnership for some time to come? Or is he just not considering the implications, as he sometimes doesn't. Franklin and Bash's behavior will not change, and to keep the show going, they will not be fired, no matter how much Hannah and Damien scheme against them. So where is this plot going? Perhaps it's just a new source of ongoing, low-stakes conflict for the coming season.

Another great thing about "Strange Brew" it the wealth of guest stars. Besides, Nealon, Martin Mull (Clue, Sabrina The Teenage Witch) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, Oz) both play judges for various trials that Franklin and Bash bring to court. Kat Foster ('Til Death) is an attractive cop that Bash hits on while fighting a case against. Eddie Jemison (Hung) is an old friend of Franklin and Bash's, who was arrested by the hot cop. Is this a sign that good comedy actors are now lining up to appear on FRANKLIN & BASH?

Basically, "Strange Brew" is a return to same zany-hijinks-in-a-legal-setting recipe that attracted viewers last year. The quality of the stories and acting remains about the same. In short, it's mindless summer fun. FRANKLIN & BASH airs Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

Article originally published at Seat42F.com

"Shawn rescues Darth Vader" in Psych

     In the sixth season premiere of USA's Psych, "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader," Shawn (James Roday) rescues Darth Vader. Or, more accurately, Shawn breaks into a diplomat's house to steal back a rare Darth Vader action figure for a kid. While there, Shawn encounters a dead body, and soon he's in over his head. With Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) close to finding proof that Shawn is not a psychic, as well as digging for the truth about Shawn and Juliet (Maggie Lawson), Shawn must solve the case and maintain his cover. 

     Psych often attracts good guest stars, and "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader" continues that trend. The ambassador whose house the murder takes place in is played by Malcolm McDowell (Franklin & Bash, Entourage), and his assistant is Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome). Neither performer distracts from the main plot, nor upstage the lead characters. However, their professionalism and excellence enhances the story, keeping viewers from being taken out what is going on.

     The murder is merely one of the plots going on in this episode, and certainly not the most important. As stated, one big event is Lassiter closing the noose around Shawn. After Lassie suspects that Shawn and Juliet are dating, he gets Shawn hooked up to a lie detector. The motivation here is his feeling betrayed by his partner, but Lassiter also takes the opportunity to question the legitimacy of Shawn's psychic abilities. Thank goodness Henry (Corbin Bernsen) taught Shawn how to beat a lie detector as a child, and Shawn makes it through unscathed.

      Lassiter overreacts, of course, to the news that Jules is secretly with Shawn. Juliet has good reason for hiding this tryst from her partner, and she can still be trusted by him about everything else. Without good reason, Juliet would not lie to Lassie. On the other hand, there's a great throwback to the "Pilot" of the series, when Lassie mentions Shawn getting his previous partner, Lucinda (Anne Dudek, Covert Affairs, House), transferred. Interestingly, Lassie is / was in love with Lucinda, which draws a sort of parallel between Shawn and Juliet, and may explain why Lassiter takes trust so seriously. Hopefully, Lassie's platonic affection for Juliet will prevent him from seeking revenge on Shawn.

     This relationship could effect Juliet's job if Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) decides to pursue it — she learns about it when Shawn admits to being in love with Juliet while hooked up to the lie detector. Vick seems to let Juliet off the hook, but we'll see if that continues next week.

     Also, it's worth noting that Shawn confesses his feelings before steeling himself to beat the machine, so he's most likely sincere. Whether Juliet may call this into question when she inevitably finds out that Shawn is lying this whole time about being a psychic remains to be seen, but it probably won't be an issue. It seems like Juliet may already know the truth about her guy, but allows him the fib as long as Shawn helps them solve their cases. After all, without the psychic gimmick, Shawn wouldn't get all of his consulting gigs with the police.

     The real problem with "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader," if there is one, is that Psych sticks with the shortened version of its theme song this week. The short cut is quite mediocre, though updating the images does excite this viewer slightly. Sometimes Psych runs a longer, extended version of the tune, which is truly amazing. Any episode without the longer cut is disappointing, and after going without a fresh episode for nearly the last 10 months, a fix of the good stuff is needed. Perhaps next week?

     Psych also stars the very funny Dulé Hill. Watch it Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

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     Please click here to get DVDs and streaming episodes of Psych.

Article first published as TV Review: Psych - "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader" on Blogcritics.

Franklin & Bash end on a high note with "Go Tell It On the Mountain"

     TNT's Franklin & Bash ends season one with "Go Tell It On the Mountain." In the episode, the body of Infeld's (Malcolm McDowell) long-missing best friend is found, and it is clear Infeld killer him. Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) try to defend their boss, even after Infeld admits to being guilty. Their job is not made easy as a senior partner from New York (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica) arrives, and tries to play Damien (Reed Diamond) and Hanna (Garcelle Beauvais) so that she can take over the office. In the meantime, the titular duo also help a Mexican wrestler (Danny Trejo, Grindhouse), who seeks to keep his character. Franklin takes an interest in the wrestler's daughter.

     Infeld is an eccentric in the tradition of Denny Crane, but killing a friend makes things a tad more serious than the series usually treads. The fact that he did so to save the rest of their party makes it an acceptable action, but still regretable. The plot thread for this final story actually begins in the penultimate episode, giving it a bit more heft and importance. Helfer's character coming in and perfectly creating chaos surrounding the Infeld trial is nearly flawless, and this makes for easily one of, if not the, best episode of the freshman season. It's why I am so happy that Franklin & Bash has already been given a second year order.

     While Franklin & Bash is a lot of fun, there is some real character development as "Go Tell It On the Mountain" brings things home. Damien and Hanna have some growth, and they have motivations outside of just winning the case of the week. It makes them seem more real and fleshed out in a way the show needs to continue. Of course the main duo have already been given their due, but they are not the only stars of the show. Using Infeld, Hanna, and Damien in wonderful episodes like this one will give the show a much longer shelf life, and keep things interesting enough for viewers to continue tuning in.

     Besides the drama unfolding, a handful of wonderfu guest stars really sell the episode. As mentioned before, Helfer is fantastic, as she usually is. Hopefully her character will return to create more headaches, as she is in a great position to do so. Trejo plays more calm than normal, and keeping his character in a mask almost the entire episode helps. It's not so easy to dismiss the man who makes cult films when some people may not even realize who it is. Plus, it lets Trejo stretch a bit more as an actor. Finally, Star Trek: The Next Generation's Gates McFadden is solid as the judge in Infeld's case. It is very nice to see her back on television, and hopefully she will also return in season two.

     Franklin & Bash will return next summer to TNT.

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Franklin & Bash defend "Jennifer of Troy"

     TNT's Franklin & Bash presents "Jennifer of Troy." In the episode, a woman named Jennifer (Saturday Night Live writer Jillian Bell) claims she is fired from a men's magazine for being too beautiful. Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) take the case, and soon discover she is not at all traditionally hot. Yet, she does have a very addictive personality, and when they discover jealousy is the real motivator behind the firing, they manager to win. Meanwhile, Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) and Damien (Reed Diamond) go into China Town to clear Franklin and Bash's friend, who in trying to help, F & B inadvertently sully the entire firm's name.


     The A story about a girl who thinks she is a hottie is pretty interesting. It calls into question what the definition of beauty actually is. Jennifer is not ugly, and her infectious personality soon garners the attention of both Bash and Infeld. It is said confidence is the biggest attractor, and she has it in spades. She isn't arrogant, but genuinely kind, and interested in helping others. She is extremely outgoing, and very comfortable with herself. It's hard not to start to find her more and more attractive as the episode goes on. Even Hanna (Garcelle Beauvais), who sneers when first learning the details of the case, begins to like their client.

     When it comes down to it, Jennifer is not fired because of her beauty, but because the magazine owner's daughter, Katherine (Rebecca McFarland, Two and a Half Men), grows jealous of the fatherly relationship her dad, Big Mack (Robin Thomas, Life Unexpected), develops for Jennifer. Katherine cannot handle being replaced, so in a way, it is Jennifer's positive elements that attract people that cause her to be fired.

     Should Jennifer's "delusion" be taken away? There are hints that it might stumble slightly when, in the courtroom, Big Mack admits he sees her as a kid, despite the fact that he's slept with tons of women her age. Yet, her smile is firmly back in place by the time they meet in the hallway outside. It would be hard to go through life believing a delusion, especially in the environment where Jennifer works. She has surely been told many times she is not beautiful. Yet, she manages to dismiss those doubters and keep her self confidence. Good for her!

     In the end, that is what makes her beautiful. It's not a fantasy. Men do find her attractive. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. That alone should be a lesson to women who are down on themselves. Jennifer is a real example of how most women can be seen as attractive if they put their minds to it. Kudos to Franklin & Bash for including such a nice, heartwarming message in their show.


     Damien actually shows a bit of a nice side in "Jennifer of Troy." He makes a bet he is pretty sure he will win against Franklin and Bash over Jennifer's case. When he loses, he shows up at their party and hands over a prized possession, his loss for the bet, with no obvious hard feelings or ill will. Is that because he is growing respect for the results they get? Or because he didn't really care about the object anyway? Being a gracious loser makes Damien a little less of a jerk, which is interesting, as his character is introduced as a one dimensional tool. Might there be something more there? Very cool.

     The B plot concerns Gene (Leonardo Nam, Vantage Point), who fixes Franklin and Bash's internet system. They learn Gene has been disgraced in his China Town community, and it considering moving to Chicago. This means he does not have time to fix their latest system crash, and so, for purely selfish reasons, the titular pair go to China Town themselves and serve an injunction against the store owner (François Chau, Lost) who has accused Gene of being a thief. This just makes things worse, as soon bad posters of Bash and Franklin are all over the neighborhood.

     It should not be surprising that Stanton Infeld has a deep interest in China Town and a respect for its culture. He is worldly and eccentric, and China Town is nearby. Why wouldn't he be curious about how the area operates? His desire to get in there and fix the situation surely stems as much from his wish to interact with the Chinese-American people and observe their customs as it is in fixing the good name of his firm.

     The twist in "Jennifer of Troy" is that Gene is in love with the store owner's daughter. Not particularly fresh, but a timeless classic. Of course the shopkeeper has deeper motivations than one frozen rabbit, for which Gene is more than willing to pay for. He wasn't trying to steal it anyway. The man just wants Gene to stay away from his kid, not believing the computer tech is good enough for her. Infeld is able to convince the man to drop all the accusations and allow Gene to stay in town.


     Watch Franklin & Bash Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

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Article first published as TV Review: Franklin & Bash - "Jennifer of Troy" on Blogcritics.

Franklin & Bash premieres on TNT

     TNT's newest series is Franklin & Bash, a legal dramaedy about two men named, well, Franklin and Bash. Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer, Robot Chicken, Road Trip) is a goofball who refuses to sell out or work for his father. Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Saved By the Bell, Raising the Bar) plays much closer to the rules than Franklin, and yearns for some real income. They are assisted by Carmen Phillips (Dana Davis, Heroes, The Nine), an ex-con, and Pindar Singh (Kumail Nanjiani, Michael and Michael Have Issues), who lives with them, and is afraid to leave the house. This works out OK, because Franklin & Bash work out of their home, until they are recruited by Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell, Entourage, Heroes). At his firm, they meet the uptight and slightly sleazy Damien Karp (Reed Diamond, Dollhouse, 24), and the sexy Hannah Linden (Garcelle Beauvais, NYPD Blue, The Jamie Foxx Show).



     While the last thing TV needs is another legal procedural, Franklin & Bash is a lot more fun that Gosselaar's previous short-lived TNT legal drama, Raising the Bar. Perhaps this indicates a willingness by the network to push the envelope, and try something new. With a pilot like this, it is extremely hard to tell how good the series will be, as much of the screen time is devoted to setting up the scenario that the show will spring from. Not only that, but there is a lot going on in this first hour.

     In "Pilot," there are three separate legal cases playing out, quite a bit for any law show to handle, let alone in a first episode. In the first case, Franklin and Bash represent a man who got into a car wreck because of a distracting advertisement. They go up against, and get a settlement from, Infeld & Daniels LLC, which is why Stanton Infeld recruits them after watching them in action. Then the pair split off. Franklin, while not assigned to the case, works to help an airline pilot that Karp is assisting the airline company in tossing all their blame on. Bash clears a woman accused of being a prostitute. Between all of that, they also settle into their new offices and throw a party. How is there time in the day?

     It is a little unclear why Stanton wants Franklin and Bash. Is it for their enthusiasm and antics? That's what they demonstrate in court in front of him. But later in the episode, he sides with Franklin against Karp because he likes how Franklin stands up for what he believes in. These seem to be two conflicting ideas. Are viewers expected to believe Stanton sensed the righteousness behind the stunts right away? Or that he likes how they operate, and the morals are just bonus?

     Equally confusing is just what kind of man Karp is. He sticks to the rules so much that Hanna dumps him for not sleeping with her because it is against company policy. Yet, he is more than willing to sell out the little man to keep a big client for the firm. So he follows the guidelines of the place he works for, but not the law? Is he only choosing self preservation and his career over Hannah? Again, two completely different sides, at odds with each other. Is he a stick in the mud or a sleaze ball?

     Then there's the side bit where Hanna almost sleeps with Franklin, her ex Karp's polar opposite. Just what kinds of guys does Hanna go for? Is she just going to have sex with Franklin because she knows it will tick off Karp royally and get under his skin? If so, that does not bode well for her character. Which is a shame, because Franklin is a nice guy and he seems interested in her. Of course, Franklin's sole criteria for finding a woman attractive is hotness, so he, at least, makes sense.

     What is Pindar's illness? He says he is germophobic, but is fine with a huge party and lots of strangers at his home. Yeah, he takes three showers, but he doesn't hide from everyone. He pukes in Carmen's car, when it's just the two of them, but holds it together on a crowded city bus with a man sneezing right next to him. Franklin and Bash treat him like he's perfectly fine, laying a heavy guilt trip on him if he fails to show up in court, and they know him well, which points to him not being too severely sick. He overcomes his phobias to save the day, so assumedly, he has gotten over whatever ails him, and can now report to work normally. Why even put those things in in the first place when he can beat them so easily? Viewers cannot be expected to feel for Pindar is he suddenly is paralyzed by the same fears again next week.

     Finally, Carmen seems at odds with her description of "ex-con." What is her crime? Depending on what she has done, she may be sympathetic. Best guess for why Franklin and Bash hire her is that she is smart, pretty, and can put up with them. They seem to have a soft spot for good people stuck in bad situations, so that likely describes her. Hopefully some sort of flashback will show exactly what she was involved in.

     Franklin and Bash themselves are the only really defined characters in "Pilot." They are tons of fun, whether demanding a wall be taken out between their offices, or talking about sleeping with celebrities at a lunch counter. These two are the stars, and they fit the bill nicely. Both actors can do comedy or drama, and both are veterans of the industry. Great casting move on two counts. It's like a better version of The Defenders, the already canceled freshman show from earlier this year.

     Really, the cast is terrific all around, but the writing is confusing. I guess we are supposed to be distracted by the crazy things the characters do and not to think too much about who they are. And it mostly works for one episode. Which means only time will tell if the series is any good or not, depending on how they move forward. Should the contradictions be sorted out, it could be a very interesting, funny series. Should the writing continue to be weak and make little sense, or the plots fall into a typical procedural, it will not remain on my TiVo. They deserve one more chance.


     Franklin & Bash airs Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     To sign up to be notified when the Franklin & Bash DVD and Blu-rays are released, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Franklin & Bash - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.