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Review: Franklin & Bash, S1, E6 – “Big Fish”

  • By

  • July 6, 2011

  • 7 mins to read

Airdate: Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 9:00 pm ET on TNT

Rating: ★★★★★

Franklin & Bash is brilliant. And it gets even more brilliant each week. To say nothing of Jason Alexander, this week’s guest star in “Big Fish”—because he’s brilliant too.

Franklin and Bash checking out their advertising on Margot's back while Karp and Lang look on

I’ve seen advertising of all sorts but I’ve never seen it displayed on a woman’s bare back. Yet that’s just what the guys do and it pays off when a bikini clad Margot (Alyssa Julya Smith) brings Carter Lang (Jason Alexander) roller blading into Infeld Daniels seeking Franklin and Bash’s help. In an Enron-like move, Lang gave himself $20 million while his company—and Mom ‘n Pop type shareholders—went down the tubes. Now, thinking he has only two months to live, this “big fish” wants our dynamic duo to help him liquidate the company’s assets to compensate the shareholders for his “more regrettable executive decisions.”

Stanton (Malcolm McDowell) counting Lang's cash retainer

Stanton (Malcolm McDowell) isn’t wild about taking on Lang as a client. “You know, I’ve dealt with a few of these Carter Langs in my time, and I must say, these death bed conversions make me very skeptical.” Oh how right he is. After Lang is arrested several times, the case takes a big turn when Franklin and Bash find out he’s been misdiagnosed and isn’t dying after all! Lang makes a big mistake, though, when he threatens them with something that could land them in jail. I have to say, I love how Franklin and Bash turn it around on Lang.

Franklin, Lang and Bash discussing Lang's problems

Jason Alexander is to be commended for his depiction of Carter Lang. He actually makes me dislike Lang even though I’m a huge Alexander fan. At first, he displays a boyish charm while eventually showing us the true definition of mean, callous and uncaring when his true character is revealed later on. He’s as smarmy as they come. And don’t you just love to hate smarmy characters? But nothing can bring a smile to my face as easily as Alexander when he smiles, making his eyes crinkle the way they do. In this role, he’s right up there with the likes of Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad, and Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Abha Jaya (Sarayu Rao) is the other “big fish” this week. Karp (Reed Diamond) and Hanna (Garcelle Beavais) enlist Pindar’s (Kumali Najiani) help in landing her as a client because, of course, he and Abha are both of East Indian descent, although they deny that when Carmen (Dana Davis) calls them on it. Pindar and Abha connect based on their mutual phobias though, as Pindar explains. “The client and I have a lot in common. Overlapping phobias, we both collect Pez dispensers, we both kept all our baby teeth.” Abha even agrees to go to Pindar’s for a meeting because he’s agoraphobic. And this is where the real fun begins.

Lang accepts the vendor's offer of the hot dog cart after Lang gives him a stack of hundreds for a pretzel

I love the quizzical looks Karp and Hanna have as if they can’t believe what they’re seeing when they take Abha to the Man Cave. Pindar has totally cleaned up both the house and himself, looking quite the professional in his suit. What really makes me laugh is when Carmen comes out carrying a tray. “Tea?” Who knew Carmen had that in her! Unfortunately, when things seem to be going well, Ahba spies a sign hanging on the refrigerator which reads, “Proof.” The problem is the word is made out of toenail clippings!! Eww, who does that? I feel so bad for Pindar because Karp blames him for losing the client when it’s not his fault at all. But Pindar saves the day when Carmen comes up with an unusual way of winning Abha over during a lunch meeting at her restaurant.

Favorite lines:

On seeing the police in the office just as Lang comes in:

Bash to Franklin: “Oh, if you’re getting me the ironic male stripper again, it’s not the time.”

Franklin: “It’s always time for strippers.”

On dumping $1,000,000 in cash on the table in court as bail money,

Ellen Swatello (Rhea Seehorn) the prosecutor: “Oh look, they washed off all the blood.”

In court:

Franklin: “Your Honor, what we’re doing here is kind of arguing by analogy.”

Judge: “Well then, here’s an analogy for you. If this court were a creek, you, counselor, don’t have a paddle.”

Again in court:

Judge: “Did you just tell your client to shut up?”

Bash: “Go screw yourself seemed inappropriate, Your Honor.”

And of course, there’s Pindar’s tee shirts. Last week, his shirt read, “I Only Look Illegal;” this week, it’s “No, You’re Weird.” As I said at the start, brilliant – just brilliant.

Tune in to Franklin & Bash, Wednesdays at 9/8c on TNT. For more information on the show, go to http://www.tnt.tv/series/franklinandbash/?SR=sr3_511472_go.

To connect via Twitter, follow Franklin & Bash @FrankandBashTNT and Like the show on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FranklinBash.

All photos courtesy of Trae Patton. © 2011 Turner Broadcasting/TNT. All rights reserved.

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!

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!