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Benched
Overview
Nina is a dedicated, career driven corporate attorney who has a very public nervous breakdown after getting passed up for an expected promotion and now finds herself working as a public defender. Her personal and professional worlds are turned upside down when she joins the ranks of the legal world’s underdogs and very quickly realizes that the law isn't quite as fair as she once thought.
Status
Canceled
Created By
Damon Jones, Michaela Watkins
Network
USA Network
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
Episodes
Pilot
Corporate lawyer Nina Whitley has given up a lot in her climb to the top. However, when she's passed over for a promotion and her former fiance gets engaged to another woman, Nina has an epic meltdown.
Downsizing
Nina attends a gala honoring public defenders; however, her former colleagues are unimpressed.
Hooked & Booked
Phil tricks Nina into believing that all of the public defenders voluntarily go to jail to better understand their clients. She learns what lengths she'll go to be a part of the gang.
Sell It
Nina discovers that she needs a refresher on influencing jurors and winning friends. Phil and Trent have to deal with a curmudgeonly judge.
Shark, Actually
Nina is concerned that she is being played by a private defense lawyer assigned to help her. Phil attempts to impress a pretty stenographer.
Rights and Wrongs
Nina must accept that losing cases to Trent is a fact of life. Carlos gives up smoking, which worries the rest of the gang.
Curry Favor
Nina makes friends with a spunky forensics analyst who takes the concept of loyalty a bit too seriously. Carlos gets worrisome glimpse into Phil's life.
Diamond Is a Girl's Worst Friend
Nina is assigned one of Phil's former defendants and lands herself in a bet with Phil. Meanwhile, Phil and Carlos decide to teach Micah a lesson.
A New Development
Nina discovers the D.A.'s plans to arrest the city's homeless and faces a crisis of conscience.
Solitary Refinement
An old friend asks Nina to set her up with Phil, a female judge takes a liking to Carlos, and Nina goes on an ill-fated date of her own.
Campaign Contributions
Phil is on the shortlist for Public Defender of the Year; Trent brings a young boy to court.
Brief Encounters
Nina faces a difficult choice after reuniting with Trent; Phil examines his own relationships.
Top Cast
Eliza Coupe
Nina
Jay Harrington
Phil
Carter MacIntyre
Trent
Oscar Nuñez
Carlos
Jolene Purdy
Micah
