Franklin & Bash (2011)

First Look - Web episode

Peter Bash and Jared Franklin are young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants lawyers and partners in the law firm Franklin & Bash. Their nontraditional approach to the legal profession keeps things interesting in the office and the courtroom. The duo's use of questionable legal tactics draws the attention of Stanton Infeld, partner of the prominent law firm of Infeld Daniels. He makes an offer for them to work for him with a promise of certain creative liberty. With work and play frequently intermingling, days and nights are anything but traditional when spending time with Franklin & Bash.

Franklin and Bash hold court when a woman is accused of using sex as a means to kill her husband. The two young-gun lawyers suspect the judge or jury is on the take, so they apply unconventional methods to deliver justice.

A plain woman who believes she was fired for being too attractive seeks legal representation; the man-cave's technology causes the server to crash.

Peter represents Jared's old friend-enemy in a legal dilemma. With things never what they seem to be, the guys begin to see their client a different way. Jared is also asked to run lead on a divorce case when it becomes clear Karp and Hanna's history prevents them from working together.

A family is torn as one side sues the other over a priceless 1988 home-run baseball in a case that pits Jared against his own father (guest star Beau Bridges). Meanwhile, Peter works with Hanna on defending a reality television father (guest star Tom Arnold) who is affectionately known as the Douchey Dad. And Karp comes to Pindar for help on a top-secret project involving a compromising video.

When a wealthy CEO (guest star Jason Alexander) expresses interest in putting Franklin and Bash on retainer, the guys think they have hit the jackpot. However, the CEO's questionable and unethical behavior could potentially land the lawyers in hot water. Meanwhile, Karp and Hanna seek Pindhar's assistance in landing a new client.

Peter and Jared represent two pole-dancing instructors who are charged with stealing from their clients. But the case soon creates tensions in their friendship. Meanwhile, Karp and Hanna defend a teenage boy who wants to kayak the Amazon solo against his father's wishes.

Franklin and bash are unfortunately placed under house arrest for 72 hours to teach them to act more professional in the courtroom. The president of Infeld gets a visit from his niece but things all men get that from their when she hopes the judge will reduce or drop the charges of possessing marijuana. Carmen gets a surprise when her ex boyfriend shows up causing Pindar to represent her in court and try to clear her name with an unusual claim that will hopefully get rid of the charges against her.

Following the events of his bachelor party, Janie's fiancée (guest star James Van Der Beek) finds himself seeking the legal counsel of Peter Bash to get out of a precarious legal snafu. Jared heads back to his high school alma mater for a case involving a teacher charged with sleeping with her underaged student.

When Stanton Infeld is charged with murder, he selects Franklin and Bash to lead the defense; Damien puts his career on the line to defend his uncle; Hanna represents a wrestler.

In the Season 2 opener, Peter and Jared seek a promotion by trying to sign a beverage-company bigwig as a client. Elsewhere, Peter is attracted to a sightly lady police officer.

Jared and Peter's first manslaughter case centers on an aspiring crime fighter charged with pursuing a man who later died. Meanwhile, Peter's mother pays a visit and delivers big news; and Pindar battles his phobias.

Peter and Jared run into the B-list version of themselves (Seth Green and Eric Mabius) while defending one of Infeld's ex-wives (Cybill Shephard), who has been accused of kidnapping a client's dog. Meanwhile, Karp is left to work with Pindar on a robbery case, but Pindar's quirks threaten to derail the partnership.

Jared is ordered to serve as a small claims court judge for an outstanding contempt of court citation. When he makes a regrettable ruling that disturbs the local rock-'n'-roll community, he once again finds himself in court with his father (Beau Bridges). The two go head-to-head on a case involving an iconic, rock and roll empressario (Peter Weller). Infeld defends his spiritual advisor and life coach who was recently exposed as a fraud.

A high-profile judge (Don McManus) asks Peter and Jared to defend him after he is arrested for having an affair with a lawyer while presiding over her cases. Sexual tension builds between Peter and Janie (Claire Coffee). And Karp defends a college friend (Tuc Watkins) who needs to prove that he is gay in order to keep a championship softball trophy.

Peter and Jared work on a case in which a former chop-shop worker is charged with a premeditated attach. Later, they guys rumble with an all-powerful district attorney. Meanwhile, a pretty law student arrives for a summer program.

The guys aid two female Navy sailors who are charged with assault. Hanna helps in the case, but she may have hidden motives in doing so. Meanwhile, Pindar mediates a dispute between virtual-business owners; and Karp tangles with a summer associate.

Peter and Jared help a widow retain the body of her esteemed late husband from being awkwardly immortalized as a dancer in a human body exhibit. When a stalker begins harassing Stanton Infeld, Karp thinks it may be an old client just released from prison and out for revenge. Hanna runs into an old college friend and sparks an old romance.

Peter and Jared must clear their name when a former client is arrested for skipping trial, only to accuse her two lawyers of paying her to disappear. This promotes an internal, misconduct, investigation at Infeld-Daniels against the pair that could cost them their job. Jared meets an unexpected love interest when some New York associates show up in LA to investigate the claims. In this episode we also see how the dynamic legal duo of Franklin and Bash came to be.

When Jared's father, Leonard Franklin attempts to buy the firm from Stanton Infeld, Peter and Jared fight to save it. Peter also comes to the rescue of an old high school friend who is running for governor and wants to drop out of the race due to a scandal.

After legal heavyweight Rachel King humiliates Franklin & Bash on national television, Stanton hires her to help run the firm. Peter and Jared represent a famous magician after a bracelet vanishes and never reappears. Damien intentionally re-releases an embarrassing viral video with hopes to expedite his judicial appointment. Pindar finds a termite in his bed and has the house tented, but staying on the outside proves too difficult and results in the Man Cave’s destruction.

The gang moves into Infeld’s beach house and Peter is quick to pursue their beautiful neighbor Charlie. Jared and Peter must prove a veteran is alive after a clerical error wrongfully pronounced him deceased and he is poised to lose his house. Karp is increasingly concerned about Infeld’s erratic behavior, which comes to a head when he befriends a Ukrainian drive-through worker and plans to marry her for a visa extension so she can pursue the American dream.

When Peter’s mother is arrested on prostitution charges it’s up to the boys to prove her methods are purely therapeutic. But when Jared’s sexually demanding fling with the opposing DA renders him exhausted and useless, Peter must single handedly confront his mother on the stand and distill her true motive. Meanwhile, Damien attempts to woo a judge with hopes to gain endorsement for his bench after he retires.

A wager is made between Rachel and the boys as to whose case will garner better PR for the firm -- Jared and Peter’s defense of a fisherman in which they invoke "Pirate Law" or Rachel’s case, a wrongful termination involving a self-proclaimed psychic. Meanwhile, Peter and Jared acquire a "discarded" curbside sofa, which Pindar discovers is a certain celebrity. This renews a feud between the star and their landlord, Stanton.

Peter and Jared represent a brilliant actuary who buys a dying woman’s life insurance policy for pennies on the dollar and then is accused of her murder. Damien and Infeld work with a Venice Beach beekeeper, and Peter makes headway with Charlie, but is surprised to learn she has a daughter.

Jared and Peter come to the aid of their friend Robbie who’s been charged with murdering his long-time practical joke adversary. The boys must cast aside their instincts as lawyers and channel their inner prankster to draw out the truth. Damien handles a case for Infeld’s foundation; a turf war for shelf space between a supermarket and a non-profit that employs rehabilitated criminals. Peter finally gets to meet Charlie’s daughter who takes a shine to Pindar.

Peter and Jared attempt to silence a relentless heckler who’s singled out a major league prospect. Rachel reluctantly handles her family’s litigation against a bull semen distributor, and Karp’s quest to judgeship hits a roadblock when his mentor is found dead on a golf course. Meanwhile, Peter’s future with Charlie takes a back seat to her potential career commitments.

On Rachel’s order, Peter and Jared must court a client whose business was struck by a priceless meteorite. Once the government tries to seize the artifact, the boys’ legal maneuvering steers their client toward his Indian ancestry in an effort to save it. Infeld defends Damien for the murder of a judge, subsequently revealing a few secrets of his own about that fateful day.

Peter and Jared defend a bounty hunter who’s been charged with excessive use of force, resulting in an F&B-style courtroom demonstration that literally blows up in their face. Jared tries to cheer Peter up by bringing him along on a double date. Karp takes a Franklin and Bash approach to life after some good news, and Pindar’s stalking of their famous neighbor turns ugly when he crashes a drone onto his deck and finds Peter’s girlfriend Charlie in his company.

A subpoena of Pindar’s computer unearths evidence that he may have been responsible for the destruction of the Man Cave. An insurance fraud investigation is spearheaded which ultimately implicates the entire F&B gang. Karp finally gets his shot before a judicial selection committee but quickly finds they know way too much about his past, and Peter and Charlie plan one last "montage" before she leaves for San Francisco and their summer of love comes to an end. Infeld is finally able to make peace with his old foe.

Four months after the arrest of Stanton Infeld, Peter and Jared find themselves in charge of the newly renamed Infeld, Daniels, Franklin & Bash. Enter Mason Trawley (guest star Kevin Christy) an archaeologist who believes he's been unfairly locked out of a storage unit containing many treasured artifacts, among which is the death mask of Egyptian Pharaoh Hor-Aha.

Anita Haskins takes point on a divorce case; Peter and Jared try to protect the firm's revenue stream; the boys must call in favors to obtain tickets to a highly anticipated basketball game.

The guys defend a taxi-service driver who's accused of stealing celebrity handbags. Meanwhile, Infeld punches a restaurateur, escalating a bitter rivalry between the two. Guest stars include Mike Tyson and John Michael Higgins.

Peter and Jared become the targets of a dirty cop; the boys turn to Peter's old flame for help; Stanton Infeld competes against his nephew for a high-powered piece of business.

Peter and Jared defend a high school newspaper reporter who has been accused of running a smear campaign against another student; Jared and Swattello must fill out forms detailing the nature of their relationship; Infeld sues a dry cleaner.

Peter's mother brings the boys the case of an injured stripper; Damien Karp rejoins the firm; Peter exchanges legal services for the title of Duke in lieu of pay.

Jared wakes up in bed next to Peter's mother; Peter and Jared must work together to save their beloved diner; Pindar returns with news of his engagement.

Franklin and Bash try to help their friend with an adult adoption; Karp and Anita join forces.

Peter and Jared try to prove that a real estate giant knowingly deceived a retired couple.

A mysterious invitation beckons Infeld to Las Vegas to confront his destiny.