Benched (2014)

The pilot (the only episode I've seen, despite the very late premiere) is ultimately painless.

From the writing, to the cast, to impactful details like the spot-on styling and sets, Benched exudes confidence and commitment.

It's rare to come across a comedy that displays such admirable focus and delivers such smartly packaged slices of diverting escapism. More, please.

The more it settles down, the better it gets, although "better" remains relative.

It’s a breezy, amusing half hour with a lead character whose insecurities poke through her confident exterior.

At least this courtroom comedy is better than “Bad Judge.”

The show’s humor is grounded in Nina’s fish-out-of-water career adjustment to a far less glamorous job and world, which may sound rather obvious, but works because of terrific writing by co-creators Michaela Watkins and Damon Jones.

This may all seem assembled from a paint-by-numbers kit, but it clicks nicely, thanks to a lively group of supporting players who include Fred Melamed as a judge and Jolene Purdy as an intern.

Aside from the occasional line that’s slightly bluer than what can be gotten away with on most network fare, there’s precious little here to distinguish the series.