Bent (TV series)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Bent promo image.jpg
| genre = Sitcom
| creator = Tad Quill
| developer =
| writer =
| starring = {{Plain list|
- Amanda Peet
- David Walton
- Jeffrey Tambor
- Margo Harshman
- Joey King
- Pasha D. Lychnikoff
- J.B. Smoove
- Jesse Plemons
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| composer = Gabriel Mann
| country = United States
| language = English
| location =
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Tad Quill
| producer = {{Plain list|
- Chris Plourde
- Michael Pendell
}}
| camera = Single-camera
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = {{Plain list|
- Quill Entertainment
- Universal Television
- Open 4 Business Productions
}}
| network = NBC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2012|3|21}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2012|4|4}}
}}
Bent is an American romantic sitcom television series that ran on NBC from March 21 to April 4, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/21/community-returns-march-15-at-8pm-premieres-for-bent-best-friends-forever-and-betty-whites-off-their-rockers/121031/ |title='Community' Returns March 15 at 8pm + Premieres for 'Bent,' 'Best Friends Forever' and 'Betty White's Off Their Rockers' |work=TV by the Numbers |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=February 21, 2012 |accessdate=February 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224030204/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/21/community-returns-march-15-at-8pm-premieres-for-bent-best-friends-forever-and-betty-whites-off-their-rockers/121031/ |archivedate=February 24, 2012 }} The series was created by Tad Quill and stars Amanda Peet as a recently divorced lawyer and David Walton as the irresponsible general contractor hired to remodel her kitchen. Supporting roles are played by Jeffrey Tambor, Margo Harshman, Pasha D. Lychnikoff and Joey King.{{cite news |last=Schillaci |first=Sophie |title='Bent': Amanda Peet is not broken on NBC |publisher=Zap2it |date=May 15, 2011 |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/05/bent-amanda-peet-is-not-broken-on-nbc.html |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720180651/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/05/bent-amanda-peet-is-not-broken-on-nbc.html |archivedate=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Synopsis
File:Amanda Peet September 2014 (cropped).jpg plays protagonist Alex, a recently divorced, no-nonsense lawyer]]
Recently divorced no-nonsense lawyer Alex (Amanda Peet) hires contractor Pete (David Walton) to renovate her kitchen. An irresponsible womanizer, Pete is trying to rebuild his contracting career after ruining it with his gambling addiction and promiscuous ways. The high-strung Alex, whose husband was sent to prison for insider trading, is trying to maintain a busy work schedule while raising her 8-year-old daughter Charlie (Joey King). Aware of his reputation with women, Alex insists she will fire Pete if he presents any problems. Other cast members include Alex's flirty sister Screwsie (Margo Harshman), Pete's aspiring actor father Walt (Jeffrey Tambor), Charlie's babysitter Simone (Susan Park) and Pete's contractor crew (J.B. Smoove, Jesse Plemons, and Pasha D. Lychnikoff).{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Brian Ford |title=The Futon's First Look: "Bent" (NBC) |publisher=The Futon Critic |date=June 13, 2011 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/reviews/2011/06/13/the-futons-first-look-bent-nbc-688403/20110613_bent/ |accessdate=July 12, 2011}}
Production
Filmed with a single-camera setup,{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=NBC Picks Up 2 More Comedy Pilots |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 1, 2011 |url=https://deadline.com/2011/02/nbc-picks-up-2-more-comedy-pilots-102583/ |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519170753/http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/nbc-picks-up-2-more-comedy-pilots/ |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Guthrie |first=Marisa |title=Amanda Peet Signs On for NBC Pilot (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 10, 2011 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amanda-peet-signs-nbc-pilot-98096 |accessdate=July 12, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805141330/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amanda-peet-signs-nbc-pilot-98096 |archivedate=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Bent is produced by Universal Television, a production arm of NBC. Tad Quill wrote the pilot episode and served as executive producer based on a two-year deal he signed with the formerly-named Universal Media Studios in 2010.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Comedy Writer Tad Quill Inks Deal At NBC |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 9, 2011 |url=https://deadline.com/2010/07/tad-quill-in-overall-deal-at-nbc-52875/ |access-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429155154/http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/tad-quill-in-overall-deal-at-nbc/ |archive-date=April 29, 2011 |url-status=live }} The first episode was directed by Craig Zisk, who previously directed episodes of Weeds and Nurse Jackie.
Amanda Peet said of the show: "I just loved the writing, I thought it was a good repartee. I love a good romantic comedy, and I love a repressed woman who needs to get laid."{{cite web |title=Video: NBC Fall Preview 2011/12 - "Bent" |publisher=The Futon Critic |date=May 15, 2011 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/video/2011/05/15/video-nbc-fall-preview-2011-12-bent-268010/20110515nbc04/ |accessdate=July 15, 2011 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130203235348/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/video/2011/05/15/video-nbc-fall-preview-2011-12-bent-268010/20110515nbc04/ |archivedate=February 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#6F4E37 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Pilot
|DirectedBy = Craig Zisk
|WrittenBy = Tad Quill
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|21}}
|ShortSummary = Alex, a divorced mother, moves into a smaller house with her eight-year-old daughter, Charlie. Meanwhile, she hires Pete, a gambling addict who is in need of a job, as a contractor to remodel her kitchen.
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Smitten
|DirectedBy = Marc Buckland
|WrittenBy = Tad Quill
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|03|21}}
|ShortSummary = Alex wants to take her relationship with her boyfriend Ben (Matt Letscher) to the next level. Meanwhile, Pete attempts to reignite his romance with ex-girlfriend Natalie (Diora Baird).
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = HD
|DirectedBy = Jesse Peretz
|WrittenBy = Erin Ehrlich
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|28}}
|ShortSummary= Discovering Ben is with another woman, Pete decides to tell Alex. Meanwhile, Walt and Screwsie help Charlie with a school bully.
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = A-Game
|DirectedBy = Phil Traill
|WrittenBy = Aseem Batra
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|28}}
|ShortSummary= Alex invites Ben to her boss Bob's (Larry Miller) wedding, but at the last minute Pete replaces Ben as her date.
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Mom
|DirectedBy = Troy Miller
|WrittenBy = DJ Nash
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|4|4}}
|ShortSummary= Walter attempts to win back his ex-wife (Marcia Gay Harden). Meanwhile, with Pete absent from work, Alex finds herself getting back into old habits.
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Tile Date
|DirectedBy = Rob Greenberg
|WrittenBy = Tad Quill & DJ Nash
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|4|4}}
|ShortSummary= Alex questions her true feelings for Pete during a trip with her boyfriend Ben. Meanwhile, Alex's neighbor Dan (Kyle Bornheimer) threatens Alex with legal action.
|LineColor = 6F4E37
}}
}}
Reception
The New York Times liked the show Bent saying it has "witty repartee," an "incongruous edge" and they absolutely enjoyed "the chemistry" between Amanda Peet and David Walton. The NY Times went on to say that Jeffrey Tambor is "hilarious" playing David Walton's Dad, a frustrated actor. The Times commented that if you "[w]atch two episodes, you begin to catch the rhythm; watch four, and you might be hooked.{{Cite web |url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/arts/television/bent-on-nbc-brings-romance-to-remodeling.html |title=Restoration Comedy, Of a Sort |work=The New York Times |last=Genzlinger |first=Neil |date=March 20, 2012 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}
Daily Variety says Bent is "the kind of charming romantic comedy TV frequently aspires to but seldom delivers." And that Bent is "straight up" worth watching.{{Cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117947255?refCatId=32 |title=Variety Reviews - Bent - TV Reviews - - Review by Brian Lowry |work=Variety |last=Lowry |first=Brian|date=March 16, 2012 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}
The Star Tribune says "Chemistry Sets Bent Afire."{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sbt-20120320sbtmichb-07-03-20120320,0,5792108.story |title=Chemistry sets 'Bent' afire |work=Variety |last=Justin |first=Neal |date=March 20, 2012 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}
Huffington Post's TV critic says "It's really charming."{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maureen-ryan/bent-nbc_b_1369495.html |title='Bent' Review: A Charming Addition To NBC's Comedy Roster |work=Huffington Post |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=March 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}
TV Guide gives "5 Reasons to Fall for the NBC Romantic Comedy Bent"{{Cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Bent-Premiere-NBC-1045102.aspx |title=5 Reasons to Fall for NBC's New Romantic Comedy Bent |work=TV Guide |last=Stanhope |first=Kate |date=March 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}
"In what might be his best role since Arrested Development, Tambor shines as Pete's dad, Walt" -- TV Guide
Vulture, however, predicted the show's cancellation, noting that "when the romantic relationship is the ONLY source of comedy, it's forced to become so winky and witty that it loses any value as a realistic simulation of actual human behavior".{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/03/bent-and-the-problem-with-romantic-comedy-tv-shows.html|title=Bent and the Problem With Romantic Comedy TV Shows|last=Cantor|first=Hallie|date=2012-03-22|website=Vulture|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|1839417|Bent}}
Category:2010s American romantic comedy television series
Category:2010s American single-camera sitcoms
Category:2012 American television series debuts
Category:2012 American television series endings
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television shows set in California