Product Details

• Actors: Breckin Meyer, Mark-Paul Gosselaar
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: TNT
• DVD Release Date: June 19, 2012
• Run Time: 422 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003Y5HWLS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,296 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Franklin & Bash: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the first of the 10 episodes (on three discs) that comprise the debut season of the TNT series Franklin & Bash, attorneys and best buds Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) represent a prostitute who, at their urging, starts to disrobe in court. In episode two, they're retained by a beautiful woman who the prosecution claims "copulated her husband to death"; in episode three, Bash makes out with their client (a woman who says she lost her job at a skin magazine because she was "too sexy") while she's on the witness stand. And so, your honor, we may conclude the following: Franklin & Bash, the show and the characters, are preoccupied with sex (well, not every episode is about that--just most of them, including the ones in which the guys defend a couple of pole dancers and a teacher accused of sleeping with a student); even by TV-lawyer standards, this show has almost nothing to do with actual legal procedure (if the stories, like Law & Order's, are "ripped from the headlines," the headlines were in Penthouse or Hustler); and, most important, it's funny, smart, and consistently entertaining. In the pilot episode, the boys so impress opposing counsel Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell, thoroughly enjoying himself) that the eccentric millionaire invites them to join his mega-firm ("as lawyers?" Bash asks). Which they do, of course, but only on the condition that they can continue practicing law in their own peculiar way. "Our job is not to follow the law," quoth Franklin, "[it's] to make the law." They also make a few enemies, including Infeld's lawyer nephew Damien (Reed Diamond), as well as friends (another lawyer, played by Garcelle Beauvais, takes a shine to Jared). Most of all, they have a good time, playing video games, constantly spewing pop-culture references, jumping into the hot tub with scantily clad lovelies, and generally being cheeky and irreverent. Guest stars include Jason Alexander, Tom Arnold, Beau Bridges, Fred Willard, and James Van Der Beek; among the bonus features are a gag reel, some short featurettes, and a few fake Franklin & Bash law-firm commercials. --Sam Graham

Product Description

Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer, Robot Chicken) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, NYPD Blue) have a funny way of practicing the law. From making out with a plaintiff, to fist fighting on the courtroom steps, to chugging beers as evidence, these rogue lawyers will pull any wild stunts to win a client’s case. But their unorthodox methods get results. That’s why eccentric attorney Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell, The Artist) asks them to join his high-powered law firm. Prepare for a culture clash as Franklin & Bash teach the old legal system a few new tricks. The complete first season features guest stars Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Beau Bridges (The Descendants), Harry Hamlin (L.A. Law), Tom Arnold (Sons of Anarchy) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Frat Boys And Comic Mayhem Invade The Courtroom August 6, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

The courtroom drama has become such a staple of American television, it is impossible to imagine a program with a completely unique approach to the genre. Yet, you always hope a show can tweak the formula and give you something you haven't seen a hundred times previously. While TNT's "Franklin & Bash" certainly isn't revolutionary television, it has its comedic sensibilities firmly in place. The makers won't win any awards for believable legal work and sensible courtroom action, but that's precisely the point. It is essentially a frat buddy comedy set in a professional arena. Its goals are simple. Aspiring to be lightly entertaining and fitfully funny, the show is a deft blend of humorous mayhem and good ole boy camaraderie. Silly, juvenile, and wildly inappropriate--not one moment of "Franklin & Bash" resembles anything in real life. And that's not all bad. The show is fast paced, spry, and filled with likable actors. Essential to its success are having lead characters that make the show fun. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, as the titular lawyers, have such a light and winning chemistry--it's hard not to be swept up in their joyful nonsense.

The overall premise is fairly thin. As unorthodox hustlers, our heroes come to the attention of the eccentric head of a prestigious law firm (played with easy charm by the great Malcolm McDowell) after winning a high profile case. With the most tenuous of explanations (oh, the joys of TV land), the boys join the firm and seem to enjoy complete freedom and autonomy. Even though their notorious courtroom antics infuriate every judge in the city, they are put to work for the most influential and important of clients. But they are also free to accept bizarre personal assignments that would seem to make no money for the firm. It's all good, though. The boys are impish rascals who succeed (surprise, surprise) despite the most amusingly juvenile behavior imaginable. Let's be honest, you have to just go with the premise--but if you can, there are plenty of laughs to be had along the way.

Season One represents ten episodes. My favorite features James Van Der Beek as the man marrying Gosselaar's former flame who needs representation after being ensnared in a prostitution sting. Here, the frat boy attitude is at its strongest--the boys' home is one big party with neverending margaritas and non-stop Jacuzzi action. In addition to the terrific leads, as well as McDowell, the rest of the cast is uniformly solid. I will also single out Reed Diamond and Kumail Nanjiani for succeeding in rather stereotypical roles that might have come across as unappealing. Diamond is McDowell's nephew and their primary rival at the firm--but holds his own against their playful antagonism. And Nanjiani is their associate who is germ phobic and a shut-in. This character might have been a cartoon, but is infinitely likable. "Franklin & Bash" isn't likely to win any awards for quality, but as entertainment--it works just fine. Easy to enjoy if you go with the flow. KGHarris, 8/11.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it May 26, 2012

By Norm

Format:DVD

When I heard about F&B I got real excited. I am entering into my first year of law school. The lawyer life is stressful and depressing but it is fun to get a nice laugh watching a television show about how cool it is to be a lawyer. F&B have great chemistry and I easily fell in love with the entire cast. What is odd is the last four episodes are by far the best, so if you are thinking about giving it a try but do not want to buy the whole season check out one of the later episodes. My only complaint is that there were only ten episodes. I am crossing my finger for atleast 13 for the second season.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Irreverent, with just the right dash of Drama! September 13, 2012

By Benjamin Ward

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great Show! I really like how Mark-Paul Gosselaar has grown into his acting skills! "Saved by the Bell" will always be a benchmark against which he will be remembered and compared, but even with his low brow humor and playful pranking, he pulls off a mature yet rebelious lawyer very well! Here, his character Peter Bash really seems to be the fully matured and fleshed out version of his character Jerry Kellerman, a Don Quiote-esque Public Defender, from "Raising the Bar". He adds emotional depth to his preformance and does a great job of enhancing the preformance of his cast partners without overshadowing them.

Breckin Meyer has always been a favorite actor of mine, but he's never really been allowed to step up before. His previous roles have all been bit parts in someone elses orbit, and while I always admired that he played off of his counterparts very well, I always wanted to see him, front and center stange, if only to see how he handled it. Well, I can say now that he does a wonderful job! Like Gosselaar, he enhances the cast without going over the top, and the interplay between him and Gosselaar is phenomenal and hilarious!

The show occationally touches down to Earth with a particular look at issues we are all familiar with, and while it keeps it light and always refreshes you at the end, it doesn't do so by downplaying the seriousness of the issues. It really just shows you how to turn lemons into lemonade, in an audacious and unique style that is completely Franklin and Bash!

All in all, it is well worth the time and price point to get the chuckles, surprises, and lets not forget the eye candy! It will warm your heart and leave you satisfied to have been part of the adventure!