Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E4 - "Bro-Bono"

Airdate: Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 10/9c on TNT

Rating: ★★★★★

Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E4 - "Bro-Bono" 1

Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) in court

Things aren’t what they always seem to be, especially in this week’s episode of Franklin & Bash. The fun starts right away when Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) throw Karp (Reed Diamond) a 50^th birthday party in his office. But wait. Not only is it not his birthday, he’s nowhere near age 50!

Hanna (Garcelle Beauvais) and Karp aren’t doing very well working on a divorce case together. I guess it brings up too many bad memories of their break-up years ago. Their client is Maya Paxton, a beautiful woman who is suing her husband, Rick (Harry Hamlin) for breaking the infidelity clause in their prenup. There’s a slight problem though—Rick’s lawyer accuses Maya of cheating too. After really pissing off Rick and his attorney in arbitration, Maya asks Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) to assign Franklin to the case. It really gave me a chuckle when Stanton comes in to tell him and waves at the laptop, saying hello to Pindar (Kumail Najiani).

Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E4 - "Bro-Bono" 2

Franklin and Rick Paxton discussing their "mutual problem"

It should be illegal to have this much fun in one television series. These boys really know how to mix work with play. Plus, I can’t express enough how sharp and witty the dialogue is in this show. For instance, when presented with evidence that both Paxtons are sleeping with the same woman, Franklin quips, “How very green of you!” He proves Rick didn’t sleep with the woman though, due to his “flaccid penis.” I had to smile when Rick blames his impotence on environmental issues, specifically, the black mold in his house and Franklin counters he has the same problem, although for him it happens when ABBA is playing. LOL!

Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E4 - "Bro-Bono" 3

Partying Franklin & Bash style in the Man Cave

I love the parties in the Man Cave and this week, it serves to introduce us to Danny Dubois aka Double D (as in the bra size), a man who used to be Franklin and Bash’s friend. Over the years they’ve lost track of each other, which is just fine with Franklin. Actually, Danny is more of a frenemy than a friend of Franklin’s. Danny has been charged with assault and DUI and is now turning to his old friends for help. Bash is only too willing to step in even though he’s no longer “tapping that,” meaning the District Attorney. Let’s just say he uses some unconventional methods of getting at the truth.

The fun part of this case revolves around Danny’s grandmother and her troupe of friends, in particular Nanette Norton. They are needed to prove Danny only had two beers before being called to the club where the assault happened. Last week, I was ready to count Pindar out of the game as an unnecessary character, but this week, he proves his worth when he asks Franklin & Bash to take on the old crones. “I love old people. I tried to live in a retirement home once – they’re clean, there’s no stigma to being housebound and the food is delicious. Let me handle this.” And he does, perfectly preparing Nanette, who he has a crush on, for her courtroom testimony. How funny is it when Pindar shouts, “Oh my God! My Nanette’s a whore!” from inside Bash’s pocket during cross-examination! After proving his case in court by having Franklin drink beer (don’t ask, you have to watch to understand), Bash has to step in for Franklin in the Paxton matter because Franklin is too drunk to drive. Needless to say, Franklin has to give the closing for Bash in Danny’s case and let me tell you, drunk Franklin is hysterical!

Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E4 - "Bro-Bono" 4

A drunk Franklin taking a breathalyzer test in court

Pure hilarity ensues when Danny’s grandmother and friends show up at the Man Cave and start playing a Cocoon drinking game! The best, by far, though is the romantic music playing when Pindar first sets eyes on Nanette when she walks into the Man Cave. I wonder if this relationship is going to continue. I guess that would be too difficult.

Some additional thoughts:

I think Karp has pulled way ahead of Franklin in the horse race with that awesome guitar playing!

I love when Pindar apologizes, via laptop, to the old people, saying he couldn’t be at the meeting because he’s in London, and Carmen (Dana Davis) calling “Bullshit” from off screen.

I had to leave out the names of certain guest stars because I couldn’t find them anywhere!

Hanna is one cool chick when she confronts Franklin for telling everyone they didn’t have sex. “I don’t care what people think – ever. And if they find out the truth that we had crazy, headboard banging sex, and that I had 19 orgasms that made me see flying unicorns, that’s fine by me. Because I’m a big girl, and I’m responsible for everything I do, whether it’s in the courtroom, or in the bedroom.” You go Hanna!

Tune in to Franklin & Bash Wednesdays, 10 pm ET/PT only on FX.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!