Benched
USA | Release Date: October 28, 2014
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
7
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
The A.V. ClubAlexa PlanjeOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: From the writing, to the cast, to impactful details like the spot-on styling and sets, Benched exudes confidence and commitment. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyMelissa MaerzOct 22, 2014
Season 1 Review: Benched is more lightweight [than Enlightened], but it's encouragingly funny thanks to Coupe, whose attempts at anger management showcase impeccable comic timing. Read full review
80
The Huffington PostMaureen RyanOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: It's rare to come across a comedy that displays such admirable focus and delivers such smartly packaged slices of diverting escapism. More, please. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleDavid WiegandOct 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review
70
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerOct 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review
67
HitfixAlan SepinwallOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: Good as Coupe is, the rest of the ensemble needs to come into sharper focus in a hurry for most of the comedy to work. But she's a strong foundational piece. Read full review
63
St. Louis Post-DispatchGail PenningtonOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: The more it settles down, the better it gets, although "better" remains relative. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: It’s a breezy, amusing half hour with a lead character whose insecurities poke through her confident exterior. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterTim GoodmanOct 29, 2014
Season 1 Review: Most of the other characters on Benched remain unformed, so early offerings seem middling and temper that hope--but hey, maybe you have better batteries. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeMatthew GilbertOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: Benched isn’t awful, but it’s much too formulaic. Read full review
50
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob OwenOct 28, 2014
Season 1 Review: Te pilot episode was written by Michaela Watkins ("Trophy Wife") and Damon Jones ("Peep Show"), who write to Ms. Coupe's comedic strengths while also peppering the background with amusing comic gags (viewers who pay closer attention will reap the most laughs from "Benched"). A second episode sent for review was less funny than the pilot and the plot was also a head-scratcher. Read full review
50
VarietyBrian LowryOct 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesLori RacklOct 27, 2014
Season 1 Review: At least this courtroom comedy is better than “Bad Judge.” Read full review
40
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamaraOct 29, 2014
Season 1 Review: Benched is nowhere near as funny as it thinks it is, mainly because Watkins and Jones seem to believe that the endless humiliations of a thin, attractive, previously well-compensated blond woman are all it takes to make people laugh. Read full review
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