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Franklin & Bash

Franklin & Bash

Ripping the law a new one.

2011–2014Ended4 seasons40 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

When they're not hanging out at their favorite hot dog stand pontificating on what they'd go through to enjoy a night with their favorite female celebrities, Jared Franklin and Peter Bash are chasing down their latest clients...sometimes literally. With business cards in hand, they're ready to nab a client within seconds after a car accident, arrest for solicitation or any other incident where their legal services may be needed. Once in the courtroom, they show their flair for the dramatic and the shocking.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Franklin & Bash?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Franklin & Bash to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Franklin & Bash?

Franklin & Bash earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Users.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Franklin & Bash worth watching?

Franklin & Bash's Midcredits score is the 78th percentile of all shows, from 16K ratings across 2 sources. 84% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

78th percentile

Better received than 78% of shows

75th percentile among Comedy76th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)70th
Approval (how many liked it)81st

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

75 /100

70th percentile of all shows

71st percentile among Comedy68th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

84% liked it

81st percentile of all shows

77th percentile among Comedy79th percentile among 2010s
84% rated it 7–1016% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

93rd percentile

16K ratings across platforms

90th percentile among Comedy93rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 22 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a lightweight, silly buddy comedy that prioritizes laughs over courtroom realism.

Fans praised

  • Sharp witty dialogue and pop-culture banter
  • Excellent chemistry between the two leads
  • Fun, lighthearted escapism with a buddy-comedy dynamic

Detractors panned

  • Juvenile frat-boy tone and constant objectification of women
  • Absurd, predictable plots with no legal realism
  • Lack of character growth; feels written for teenagers

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

leads have great comedic timing and chemistry; detractors call performances wooden and Zach-Morris-esque

DialogueDivisive70

quick, witty banter and one-liners; detractors find it corny and juvenile

HumorDivisive68

consistently funny for fans; detractors call it forced and cornball

CharactersDivisive45

charming main duo but zero growth; women written as objects, supporting cast praised then lost

OriginalityDivisive40

familiar blend of Boston Legal and Entourage; nothing groundbreaking

Plot and storyDivisive30

absurd case-of-the-week with laughable legal tactics; predictable and formulaic

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 19 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 21 points higher than critics.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Franklin & Bash like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
WarmJoyful
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe series plays its buddy-lawyer premise with a light, unpretentious comic sincerity, never cynical about its characters.
The rideThe show maintains a consistently light, comedic mood across its run, with warm character interactions and joyful courtroom victories.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure for its case, with occasional overarching arcs.
Episode formatEach episode presents a new legal case while also advancing the ongoing personal and firm dynamics of the main characters.
Season formatSeasons continue the same story and character arcs, though episodes are mostly self-contained.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves viewers with a light, enjoyable memory of the characters' antics, not a lasting emotional weight.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows the two lawyer friends using unconventional methods to win a case, best described as a comedy centered on their buddy relationship.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipLoyalty · 7% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series revolves around the lifelong friendship between Jared and Peter, and their loyalty to each other as they navigate the legal world.
StanceThe series celebrates the bond between its two lawyer protagonists and their unorthodox approach to the law.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA high-profile law firm in Los Angeles

Content guide

Is Franklin & Bash okay for kids?

TV-14

Franklin & Bash is rated TV-14. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (17/100), sexual content at moderate (47/100), language at moderate (52/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (56/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • Germany16
  • France12
  • Austria12
  • IndiaU
  • Netherlands16
  • PhilippinesG
  • PortugalNR
  • Russia16+
  • Spain13
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 71%
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (25 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Franklin & Bash have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Franklin & Bash?

Cast

Mark-Paul Gosselaar
as Peter Bash
Breckin Meyer
as Jared Franklin
Reed Diamond
as Damien Karp
Malcolm McDowell
as Stanton Infeld
Kumail Nanjiani
as Pindar Singh
Dana Davis
as Carmen Phillips
Garcelle Beauvais
as Hanna Linden
Alexandre Crépet
as Jared
Stephanie Carpentieri
as Infeld Daniels Receptionist
Rhea Seehorn
as Ellen Swatello

More like this

What are shows like Franklin & Bash?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Franklin & Bash include Boston Legal (2004), Ally McBeal (1997) and Reasonable Doubt (2022).

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What other shows share a tag with Franklin & Bash?

10 other shows share the rarest tag below, up against: lawyer. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.