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zwolanerd

I guess I just like liking things

benched

This doesn’t look much like Eliza Coupe to me.

I’ve been watching the USA Network’s show “Benched” for a few weeks now – not continuously, mind you, just when it’s been on. Or later, usually, since DVRing things is better because you can fast forward commercials. But doesn’t not watching commercials mean shows you don’t like don’t make as much money? And then when they don’t have enough money, they go off the air, leaving us with Big Bang Theory and its ilk?  Quandary.

Anyway, I’ve been watching it for two reasons: Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington. Eliza was on Scrubs in seasons 8 and 9 and was marvelous. (I’ve heard she was also marvelous on Happy Endings, but I haven’t seen that). Jay you might remember from a different show that we all love. Yes, we ALL love it. ALL OF US.

So pretty much when I saw they were doing a show together, I knew I had to at least give it a try. It’s basically an updated Night Court focusing on the public defenders. That’s pretty much everything you need to know going in.

I like it… mostly? There are some very funny things that happen, certainly. Eliza can do some pretty great physical comedy, and her comic delivery is quite enjoyable.  I still can’t quite wrap my head around these cable sitcoms that use slightly naughtier language than the networks do.  It sticks out. They are apparently only allowed one or two per episode, so when it happens you’re like, “huh?” It’s weird and (I think) unnecessary.

The show is certainly much better than a different cable network sitcom I watch because a former Scrubs actor is on it, that’s for sure. I don’t want to get into namecalling or specifics or anything, but I wanted more Dr. Cox and less everything else from that one. Ah well.

Oscar Nuñez and Maria Bamford are also in Benched, along with a few other faces you might recognize from elsewhere. These are the kinds of hard-hitting, in-your-face facts you get from reading zwolanerd. I mostly want you to be aware that Ted and Denise have a show together now.

 

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