Posts from the Past: Franklin & Bash v. Suits

Welcome to a new series where we will offer updates of previous posts from Addicted to Television, The Idiot Box's predecessor. Written two years ago when the summer brought the premieres of two lighthearted legal shows, TNT's Franklin & Bash on Wednesdays and USA's Suits on Thursdays (currently airing on Tuesdays), this post compared the seemingly similar buddy-lawyer procedurals. Of course, after two full seasons of each (Suits has 29 episodes leading in to its third season, which began two weeks ago, while Franklin & Bash has aired 27 episodes, including its third season so far which will end in three weeks) the differences between them are much more apparent. While both generally offer a new case each week, Suits has actually become more serialized over time, with big cases that continue into later episodes and plenty of hostile firm politics. Franklin & Bash meanwhile, sticks more closely to the traditional legal procedural format with little serialization outside of individual character development. Although a show about lawyers and their cases/firms is nothing new, each series attempts to liven up the proceedings with its own fresh take and style on this familiar genre.

Yes Franklin & Bash is the more straightforward of the two, but its also more outrightly comedic, as both the characters and the cases can be a bit off the wall. The show follows bus-stop bench defense attorneys Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, forever Saved by the Bell's Zack) who abandon their strategy of running after car accident victims and defending hookers to join a large reputable firm run by the eccentric Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell, clearly enjoying himself just as much as Meyer and Gosselaar). However, despite their new positions, the two remain in their trashy house where there's always a party going on, and even bring that atmosphere to the office as they breakdown walls (literally, turning their two offices into one giant shared space). This latest season saw a bit of a shake-up, with them moving to a Infeld's spare Malibu beach house after their agoraphobic roommate/associate Pindar (comedian Kumail Nanjiani) accidentally burns down their home, allowing them to continue Infeld's apparent feud with neighbor Rob Lowe (who finally appears in the finale). This season also brought in a new managing partner, the no-nonsense Rachel King (Heather Locklear), who fills the requisite (but previously absent) role of hard-ass foil to the boys beyond-unorthodox style and freewheeling tactics. A rotating roster of prosecutors and judges who recognize Jared and Peter's infamous reputation for court room shenanigans further liven up the proceedings and give the stars more characters to play off of, as does Infeld's overly-serious nephew Damien Karp (Reed Diamond). Essentially, Franklin & Bash reveals how two immature frat bros became extremely successful LA attorneys in spite of their blatant unprofessionalism, because, with this being a legal procedural, they always find an out-of-the-box way to win their case in the end.

Although its basic premise may be a bit more outlandish, Suits is actually the more authentic program in its overall plot and execution. the central character is unfulfilled prodigy Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a college dropout who copes with his failed goals by smoking pot and getting paid to pass the LSATs and BAR exams for other people. However, while running from the cops, he ends up in an interview for an associates position at a prestigious corporate law firm that only hires from Harvard. In the interview, senior partner Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), incidentally the best closer in New York, is so impressed by Mike's ability to absorb information (he happens to have a photographic-level memory) and his sheer "unlawyerness" that he offers him the job, despite the fact that he doesn't have a degree. This secret between them, and naturally Harvey's beyond-loyal and hilarious secretary Donna (Sarah Rafferty, who has great rapport with not just Harvey but every other character on the show), is eventually revealed to a few additional members of the firm, but the stakes surrounding it remain high. One such member is actually the firm's no-nonsense head and Harvey's calm mentor, Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres), another strong and successful woman in a seat of power similar to Rachel King. While season one revolves around cases of the week (which include interesting insights into corporate legal matters and business affairs, unlike the more courtroom-oriented proceedings of Franklin & Bash) that are framed by Mike's adjustment to his new lifestyle and apprenticeship under Harvey, season two amps up the series' mythology as Jessica's former partner, the deviously smug Daniel Hardman, returns to seize control of the firm after being ousted by Harvey for embezzlement and infidelity. Aside from these heavy plot developments, the show still has a very light and humorous atmosphere, as the witty banter and incessant film-quoting between arrogant prick Harvey and well-meaning optimist Mike represents the core of the show. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Mike's requisite love interest, paralegal Rachel Zane (the stunning Meghan Markle), and the initially antagonistic Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) who is head of the firm's associates. Litt is actually a perfect example of how the show carefully establishes the various dimensions of its characters, as his rocky relationship with Harvey is examined while he tries to develop a more collaborative one with Mike (not to mention that he is also a huge source of comedy on the show, as his precise and extravagant tastes allow for plenty of mockery and gags about his social ineptitude). Compared to USA's other lighthearted procredurals like White Collar and Royal Pains, Suits is almost like their own version of Mad Men, that is to say it is a slick office drama with excellent writing and a little edgier than the standard USA formula.

While both shows have leading pairs with great chemistry and are solid lighthearted entertainment, Franklin & Bash is even lighter and plays more like a comedy. The actors on the TNT show are all clearly having a blast, as the show is fairly obvious with its humor and lack of seriousness, much like the series' eponymous duo. Contrastingly, Suits takes a more subtle approach to comedy, framing it with plenty of drama to up the stakes and the audience's investment. Although both are wonderfully entertaining series that are worth watching, Franklin & Bash's more traditional formula renders it less exciting than Suits' more original stories and more fully developed characters, which help establish a greater authenticity that really draws you in instead of merely providing you with a fun way to kill 42 minutes.

Newbies: Graceland

A new edition to USA's blue-skies procedural line up, Graceland (Thursdays at 10) just may be the network's edgiest series yet. Don't get me wrong though, in general the show is still done in the same light drama style of Burn Notice or White Collar, but if Suits is the USA version of Mad Men, Graceland is almost like their version of The Shield in a way. Not to say that it is USA's best show, or even resembles The Shield too closely (it isn't and it doesn't), but Graceland does feature more of the gritty side to undercover detective work, including some brutal violence and hard drug use. The premise is that the FBI uses a seized kingpin's Los Angeles beach estate as a house for various FBI, DEA, and Customs agents who work undercover in the area (the kingpin loved Elvis, so the name stuck). The diversity of agencies involved allows the show to delve into a variety of cases and characters, helping to mix up the standard formula of close-ended cases in each episode framed by an ongoing serialized story arc.

One way Graceland sets itself apart from other USA programming is its large central cast of six agents who live in the house together, though four of them are FBI. An episode will generally feature a stand alone case belonging to one of the agents (and sometimes as many as three cases), and the other housemates will then join in for the specific missions to help bring down the bad guys. Similar to semi-procedural shows like FX's Justified or BBC America's Copper, some cases in Graceland also spill over into subsequent episodes so a viewer is rewarded for their loyalty. Much more like a USA show however, the agents on assignment are often joking around with each other, making as much fun as they can out of their situations, until things get serious during a mission. Additionally, having six primary characters allows for a lot of different match-ups, as each episode rotates which agent's current target will be focused on and which other agents help them complete their assignment, portraying different types of cases depending on the leading agency and allowing the audience to gain more insight into the various dynamics of the house.

The central character however is fresh FBI rookie Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit), who soon discovers he has been assigned to Graceland to investigate Agent Briggs (Rescue Me's Daniel Sunjata), a modern FBI legend who has been at Graceland longer than anyone, though his tactics often prove unorthodox. This task will of course prove more difficult as Briggs serves as a mentor to Mike, helping him through missions and putting him on track to take down the biggest Heroin dealer in the city by eventually becoming his personal bodyguard. Briggs' isn't just Graceland's oldest resident though, he also acts as its protector, with his highest priority being to preserve the headquarters' cover under any circumstances. The cast is rounded out by two more FBI Agents, the blunt Brooklyn-bred Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) who typically covers as a junkie and the fun loving Johnny (Manny Montana) who can cover as a Latin gang member. There's also the requisite potential love interest in DEA agent Paige (Serinda Swan) (unless that role turns out to be filled by Charlie, or refreshingly by none of them perhaps), and no-nonsense Customs Agent Dale Jakes (Brandon Jay McLaren, previously of Falling Skies and The Killing) whose cover is often Jamaican.

Despite all its edginess, in the end this is still a USA drama, meaning nothing quite too heavy and a show that will probably never equal the addictive must-watch caliber of more substantial dramas found on networks like HBO or AMC (although Suits does get much closer to that status and is certainly must-watch television). However, Graceland is still a fun show that dares to delve deeper into the lives of young undercover agents and their high stakes assignments with a relatively unfiltered lens, while also basking in the lighter aspects of six younger people living in a beach house together (such as horsing around or bickering over the chore wheel).

If You're Missing Louie, Try: Legit or Maron

With Louie taking a longer hiatus this year (returning early 2014), there is a comedian shaped hole in the schedule this summer. Although there is no real substitute for the bleak hilarity of Louis C.K.'s half-hour masterpiece, two new series that recently finished their first runs do fit the bill for being situational comedies based on the observational humor and vision of one comedian who stars as himself. The first is another FX comedy, Legit, which premiered in January and is moving to FXX (which is launching this Fall with Its Always Sunny and The League) for its second season. Legit is the brainchild of Australian comedian Jim Jefferies (Not to be confused with Wilfred's Jason Gan) and it follows him as he returns to the US to enhance is profile and lead a more legitimate lifestyle for his own sake as well as his mother's. The second alternative is IFC's Maron (which just wrapped up its first season after premiering in May), following the comedian's comedian Marc Maron as he struggles to turn his popular WTF podcast into more tangible success, while resisting mature adulthood for as long as he can.

Legit begins with Jim being picked up from the airport by his hapless buddy Steve (Veep's Dan Bakkedah), whose family he lived with as a foreign exchange student. Steve also has a younger brother named Billy (DJ Qualls) who suffers from MS and lives in a group home. Jim agrees to grant Billy's last wish of experiencing a woman, and soon after ends up liberating him from his depressing living situation altogether, allowing him to experience the alcohol/drug/sex-fueled and laid-back lifestyle he never had the opportunity to before. All this is despite the protests of Billy and Steve's high-strung and overbearing mother (Lily Tomlin), who always hated Jim. The cast is rounded out by Billy's old mentally challenged roommate Rodney (who is actually pretty high functioning) and his large opinionated caretaker Ramona. Although these characters appear in many of the episodes (only Jim, Steve, and Billy are in all of them), each episode typically features its own singular story with new characters involved, providing new comic fodder for Jim's observations (delivered more like rants to various people, without scenes of stand-up performances like in Louie). This basic set up actually allows for plenty of surprising laugh-out-loud developments, such as when Jim completely shatters the worldview of a shy personal trainer, revealing to him that physical fitness has nothing to do with happiness or the ability to pick up women. Jim also passes his knowledge of the opposite sex and quick pickup tactics onto Billy and Steve, although he does run into some trouble himself when he has an affair with a local celebrity who must then be smuggled past paparazzi in a suitcase. Much like Louie, it is difficult to fully describe Legit, as its format can change up a little episode to episode (although there is a cold open scene in each episode, similar to Louie's regular stand-up scenes). However, it is actually much more consistently hilarious, as Jim Jefferies trades Louie's bleak resignation and often dark comedy for a more optimistic perspective that also preaches equality, even if that sense of equality entails mocking and taking advantage of your disabled friend just as much as you do everyone else.

Although not as consistently funny as Legit, Maron is probably more in line with Louie's comedic sensibility, although it tends to be more grounded in reality. However, much like the way Louie features numerous scenes of stand-up throughout an episode, Maron features various snippets of Marc doing his podcast (both of him interviewing that episode's celebrity guest and just monologuing) that tie into the events of the episode (a trope that was first pioneered in Seinfeld before Louie). Furthermore, Maron is more similar to Louie in that Maron himself is essentially the only star of the show, although there are a few characters like his father and his assistant who appear in a few episodes (like Louie's daughters). Maron also involves a lot of middle-aged dating (though he typically dates well below his age) and ruminating on the various other issues that concern the forty-something single man (as opposed to the mid-30s Jefferies). In addition to dating, another topic commonly addressed in Maron is the state of his career, as he is a contemporary of successful comedians like Louis C.K. (he even appeared in a great episode of Louie this last season) and Sarah Silverman, but has nowhere near their level of fame. As a result, it may not be so surprising that Maron is also even more pessimistic and cynical than Louie (so on the bitterness scale, its Legit-Louie-Maron, which is perhaps the strongest difference between the three), but he knows it and everyone around him calls him out on it so one aspect of the series entails him trying to be better, whether that means taking care of more things around his house or dating more seriously women than slutty comedy fans. One of the best episodes of the season featured Marc at lunch with an old college friend, who is now a successful mainstream director, so he can get a part in one of his movies. The episode features various fantasy scenes of how Maron's life would have been altered had he went on slightly different paths, revealing the pros and cons to those other lifestyles (another great episode featured Maron becoming an AA sponsor to an ex-con played my Danny Trejo and accompanying him around LA to help him turn his life around). I'm sure Maron is a pretty direct representation of his podcast only in a scripted format, though I've never listened to it myself and its not at all a prerequisite for watching the series.

So between the two, I'd recommend Legit first, as it features more unexpectedness and hilarity in its execution, although Maron is probably the one that fits closer to the tone of Louie. Either way, its still along way until 2014, so why not try both? At the very least they will help tide you over (and there's always Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm reruns as well, to further help you fill that comedian-sitcom void...)