Franklin & Bash: New TNT Lawyer Show

'Franklin & Bash':

The New 'Ally McBeal'?

For men?

With Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar!

Apparently TNT likes the concept of using the last names of main characters in their show titles. 'Rizzoli & Isles', a pretty great solid show that I enjoy watching, premiered on TNT last summer to strong ratings (and don't worry, it's back again soon for a 2nd season). This summer TNT is premiering the similarly named 'Franklin & Bash'. And no, the shows have nothing to do with each other. Although I suppose if TNT really wanted to they could orchestrate a cross-over episode. Now that I think about it, that would be pretty sweet.

But concentrating on the actual purpose of this post...'Franklin & Bash' is premiering tonight at 9 pm on TNT. It's being called "a David E. Kelley legal drama aimed at...men...rather than....women" by the NY Times. Except, you know, for the fact that it's not by David Kelley (aka the man behind 'Ally McBeal' and 'The Practice') nor do I really think that 'Ally McBeal' was for women. 'Ally McBeal' was sexualized (the show, not and Calista Flockhart) in such a way that the show was supposed to appeal to men too. Plus, just because a show has a female main character does not mean it's aimed towards women. I think what they meant to say was that the show's larger demographic was female.

But I'm getting slightly whiny/digressing.

'Franklin & Bash' has nothing to do with 'Ally McBeal' except for the fact that it is set in a law firm. And yes, the two main characters are men. They've recently graduated from law school and apparently have a frat-like quality which makes their introduction into a stuffy firm a bit of an imposition on the other lawyers. I'm assuming they'll also prove to be brilliant, because otherwise this show has nowhere to go. They'd get fired.

Are you planning on watching 'Franklin & Bash' tonight? Do you think (or did you think) it was worth watching? Also, do you think TNT believes in some kind of "main characters' last names in title" magic? seriously, why else would they think it makes sense to have two shows with almost identical looking titles (see below)...