Television series
Franklin & Bash
Two scrappy, improvise-it-as-you-go street lawyers shock the system when they join a stuffy, old-money firm. Franklin & Bash is a legal dramedy that's genuinely funny—it doesn't take itself seriously enough to be pretentious, but commits hard enough to its cases to make you care. It's for people who want courtroom stakes with real laughs and chemistry that actually crackles.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy courtroom shows that treat legal drama as a playground for slapstick, banter and wild stunts, the way a buddy comedy plays with its genre rules.
Skip it if you want a grounded legal procedural with careful case work, since the cases here bend toward gags and the show is more interested in its two leads' antics.
What it asks of you: Each hour-long episode moves quickly and stays light, so you can settle in for a long run across four seasons without needing to track heavy continuity.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Suits2011
Sharp writing, charismatic leads, and a genuine will-they-won't-they tension that carries through seasons. It's legal procedural with style and swagger, and the character dynamics will keep you coming back.
But It gets increasingly soapy and melodramatic as it goes on, and some plot twists strain credibility hard enough to break it.

Boston Legal2004
Absurdist legal comedy with real heart. James Spader and William Shatner have ridiculous chemistry, the cases are weird and wonderful, and it balances genuine emotion with laugh-out-loud moments beautifully.
But The tone whiplashes between silly and serious, and it won't work for you if you need courtroom logic to actually hold up.

The Good Wife2009
Sophisticated legal drama that respects your intelligence. The cases are intricate, the character work is exceptional, and it manages to be both intelligent and genuinely gripping without ever sacrificing either.
But It's considerably more serious and morally complex than Franklin & Bash. If you want laughs alongside your legal tension, you'll find fewer here.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Franklin & Bash
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Better Call Saul2015
Both are about young lawyers learning the game from the inside, but Saul shows what happens when you stop being the good guy. It's the darker, sadder version of that exact same trajectory.
A prequel about a man becoming a morally compromised version of himself, told with meticulous character work and visual storytelling that trusts you to feel things without explanation. It's a masterclass in how to make a side character the center and have it work.
But It's a slow burn that requires patience and rewards attention. There's minimal courtroom fun here—it's about the cost of ambition and the man inside the suit.

More like this (8)
Bloodline2015
A murder mystery with the kind of slow-burn tension that makes every conversation feel loaded. It's beautifully shot, full of dread, and the ensemble cast creates a family dynamic that's both twisted and magnetic.
But It's genuinely dark and takes a while to get where it's going. The tone is miles from Franklin & Bash's breezy humor.

Scrubs2001
The gold standard for comedy-drama balance. It finds humor in high-stakes situations without making light of real suffering, and the friendships at its core feel earned and genuine across eight seasons.
But It's a hospital show, not a legal one, so there's no courtroom procedural satisfaction. The later seasons lose some steam.

Burn Notice2007
Slick, fun procedural with likeable con artists as protagonists. It's got style, humor, and the kind of clever schemes that reward paying attention without demanding you take any of it too seriously.
But It prioritizes fun over logic, so if you need plots to make watertight sense, you'll find yourself picking holes.

Psych2006
A fake psychic detective comedy that's genuinely clever and packed with real affection for its characters. The banter is rapid and smart, and the show's playfulness never crowds out the actual mysteries.
But It's even lighter and broader than Franklin & Bash. If you want any real stakes or drama, this skews too much toward pastiche.

Leverage2008
Clever ensemble heist show where the underdogs take down villains through wit and planning. It's got warmth, humor, and that same 'ragtag team makes it work' energy that Franklin & Bash carries.
But The cases resolve a bit too neatly, and the show knows it's a romp—if you need weight or consequences, it won't provide them.

How to Get Away with Murder2014
Slick legal thriller with genuine twists and a charismatic lead in Viola Davis. It moves fast, keeps secrets, and balances procedural case-of-the-week with an overarching mystery that actually matters.
But It gets tangled in its own mythology by season three, and the tone is considerably darker and more serious than the show you're coming from.

My Cousin Vinny1992
Franklin & Bash is scrappy street lawyers making it work with improvisation. Vinny is the ultimate outsider-who-knows-something-everyone-missed—same DNA, played completely straight instead of for laughs.
A comedy about an auto mechanic prosecuting a case that's technically, legally airtight. It's genuinely funny, surprisingly moving, and by some measures the most accurate courtroom film ever made. One watch and you'll want to watch it again immediately.
But It's a 1992 film and it shows its age aesthetically. If you need constant action or modern production values, it won't feel slick.

The Practice1997
Both center young lawyers in firms where they don't quite fit, but The Practice asks what that cost actually is—the grownup version of the same story.
A Boston law firm where the cases matter more than the characters, and the characters matter more than easy answers. It's messy, serious, and genuinely interested in what the law can and cannot do. Some of the best legal TV ever made.
But It's bleak. There are no real victories, just different kinds of loss. The humor, when it comes, is dark. It's the opposite of Franklin & Bash's energy.

People
Cast
Writing
- Bill ChaisCreator
- Kevin FallsCreator
Production
- Deen DioriaAssociate Producer
- Evan SniderAssociate Producer
- Katie O'HaraAssociate Producer
- Jack ClementsCo-Executive Producer
- Matt McGuinnessCo-Executive Producer
- Katie O'HaraCo-Producer
- Rebecca MolineCo-Producer
- Steven MesnerCo-Producer
- Jeff RakeConsulting Producer
- Matt McGuinnessConsulting Producer
- Sandy IsaacConsulting Producer
- Bill ChaisExecutive Producer
- Jack ClementsExecutive Producer
- Jamie TarsesExecutive Producer
- Jason EnslerExecutive Producer
- Kevin FallsExecutive Producer
- Matt McGuinnessExecutive Producer
- Mike ListoExecutive Producer
- Alex BergerProducer
- Bill KrebsProducer
- Dana CalvoProducer
- Mel EfrosProducer
- Dana CalvoSupervising Producer