Benched

It's a crowded place on TV and I didn't expect this to supplant so many great shows on my viewing schedule when it's not too much a variation of the stock sitcom. However, I was surprised that adds something a little new to the equation.

Eliza Coupe stars as former hotshot lawyer Nina Whitley who is banished from the high-priced world after a public meltdown cost her her job.

She takes a job as a public defender where she often doesn't have enough resources or time to do a halfway decent job with her clients. Because of these constraints and this satiric bent, this half-hour comedy gets to the nuts and bolts of the legal system better than many legal dramas.

Nina's office is full of people who aren't on the same wavelength as her. Her arch-nemesis (and potential love interest) Phil does not take the job as seriously and as he's the ring leader of sorts, Nina is often the fish out of water.

Coupe is the rare actress whose stunningly beautiful yet can convince the audience that her character would have trouble landing a date.

The chemistry among the cast is impeccable and Oscar Nunez and Jay Harrington find themselves in roles that are complete reversals from their last TV roles of Oscar on "The Office" and Ted from "Better off Ted" respectively. The brilliant Maria Bamford is underutilized however but hopefully that will change.

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!

Benched is something special, IMHO. The characters are flawed but are fighting the good fight. The supporting cast is excellent and create a quirky and rich environment. I've had real laughs watching this show and that's the highest praise I can give. Thumbs up, way up!

Let me add that for a show to be great, like this one is, it has to hit on all cylinders. From writing to acting to directing, this show has what it takes. If it doesn't get renewed for another season it's a TV travesty.

If it were up to me I'd give this show two Golden Globes, so Nina could have a matching set.

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.

The writing for this show is smart and funny.

In the first episode, Nina Whitley (Eliza Coupe)--a corporate lawyer living the good life--finds her life spiraling out of control after her ex-fiancé calls to let her know he has a new fiancée. She does some things at the workplace that cannot be undone and before you know it, she is working at the Public Defender's office, representing another class of client. She has to learn how to deal with juries and those of a lower social station.

This isn't so much "fish out of water" as it is fish in a smaller, dirtier pond. And Eliza Coupe is the perfect actress for the writers to write for. Sort of a cross between Cameron Diaz and Taylor Schilling, with a dash of "New Girl" Zooey Deschanel, she has great timing and a real talent for physical comedy.

The rest of the cast is tremendous. And the series is still young, with plenty of time to develop their personalities. The writers spread the punchlines between the supporting roster, neglecting no one.

Nina sometimes flies out of control, but she always knows when she is doing it, as if she is watching her own car accident in slow motion and can't avert her eyes. Her self-consciousness is a lovable part of her personality. Now, if she can just expand her awareness to include (the well being of) others, she knows she can become a better person. The journey promises to be filled with laughs, many of them out loud.