Benched - Picked up to Series by USA Network

USA NETWORK PICKS-UP HALF HOUR ORIGINAL COMEDY SERIES ‘BENCHED’

The Series Stars Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington and is From ABC Signature and the Mark Gordon Company

UNIVERSAL CITY – January 24, 2014 – USA Network has picked-up the ABC Signature and The Mark Gordon Company produced courtroom comedy BENCHED. The series stars Eliza Coupe (“Happy Endings”) and Jay Harrington (“Better Off Ted”) and marks the first series out of ABC Signature, the boutique division of ABC Studios. The pick-up was announced today by Chris McCumber, President, USA Network.

“BENCHED is one of those unique series that creates an immediate connection with the audience. The lead is played brilliantly by Eliza Coupe, who has undeniable chemistry with Jay Harrington’s character,” said McCumber. “With Mark Gordon and his incredible pedigree behind this project, we are proud to add BENCHED to our line-up of original comedies.”

“We are thrilled to have such an incredibly creative team in front of and behind the camera on BENCHED,” said Melanie Frankel, Vice President Comedy Development, USA Network, “The auspices that this project attracted are a true testament to the fantastic script that Michaela and Damon wrote.”

BENCHED is USA’s first series pick-up of the year. The network also has several drama pilots in the pipeline including COMPLICATIONS, THE NOVICE, RUSH and THE UNTITLED JABLONSKI PROJECT. In November, USA picked up the event series DIG, an action adventure drama from co-creators and executive producers Tim Kring (“Heroes”) and Gideon Raff (“Homeland”).

BENCHED is a single-camera half-hour courtroom comedy that focuses on Nina (Coupe), a dedicated, career-driven corporate attorney who has a very public nervous breakdown after getting passed up for an expected promotion, and finds herself working as a public defender. Her personal and professional worlds are turned upside down when she joins the ranks of the legal world's underdogs and very quickly realizes that the law isn't quite as fair as she once thought. Jay Harrington stars as Nina’s new colleague, Phil, a tall, dark and handsome, if not a little scruffy, public defender and avid gambler.

The series is from executive producers and writers Michaela Watkins (“Saturday Night Live,” “Trophy Wife”) and Damon Jones (“Halfway Home”). John Enbom, co-creator of the critically acclaimed comedy "Party Down," is also an executive producer. Mark Gordon (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds,” “Ray Donovan”) and Andrea Shay (“Family Tools”) are executive producing for The Mark Gordon Company.

Source:

USA Network