Review: 'Bent' - 'HD'/'A Game': The day the music died
Pete and Ben continue to fight over Alex in the season's middle chapters
David Walton, Amanda Peet and Larry Miller in "Bent."
A quick review of tonight's two episodes of "Bent" coming up just as soon as I make a couple of Pop Tarts in your mind kitchen...
"HD" and "A Game" were the middle chapters in what is likely going to be only a six-part story, and they continued to emphasize both the strengths and the few weaknesses of "Bent."
On the plus side, there's the interaction among the crew, and particularly their constant hazing of Back Fat Gary. And there's David Walton together with Amanda Peet, but also the way that the show keeps Ben very present in between Pete and Alex, not just as an obstacle, but as a good guy who's 100% aware of the threat Ben poses, who's amused by the challenge, and who manages at times (particularly during "HD") to use Pete's shenanigans against him and move things along with Alex.
On the minus side there is, unfortunately, Jeffrey Tambor as Walt. I love Tambor, as any right-thinking comedy/"Arrested Development" fan must, but Walt as frustrated actor really feels like a misfire. Father/son scenes between Walt and Pete are much better, though, and in a world where "Bent" returned for a second season, I'd like to think Tad Quill would see that and reconfigure how he uses Walt (maybe making Walt a part of the crew?). In this world, though, it's the one blemish on a show I'm otherwise enjoying tremendously, even as I assume these six are all we're going to get.
What did everybody else think?
Get Instant Alerts on What's Alan Watching
Around the Web
News From Our Partners
-
Hear This: “Deacon Blues,” Scotch, Steely Dan, and other intergenerational appreciations
Watch This: Wes Craven’s The Serpent And The Rainbow returns zombies to their Haitian roots
Tolerability Index: This week we’re barely putting up with Man Of Steel
-
James Gandolfini: 1961-2013
Total Recall: John Goodman's Best Movies
In Pictures: Zombie Nation!
-
Can You Guess the Celebrity in This Yearbook Photo?
David Guetta Joins Forces With Glowinthedark + Harrison on 'Ain't a Party'
Hanson Party Celebrate the Release of New Album 'Anthem' in New York [Pics]
-
James Gandolfini Dead: Actor Dies of Heart Attack at 51
Josh Hutcherson on Kissing Jennifer Lawrence for 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire'
Sam Taylor-Johnson Tapped to Direct 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
-
Greg Archer: Heather Locklear on Franklin & Bash and Not Taking on 'Dumb' Roles
Kristen Bell Really Loves ...
'Office' Director Explains Finale's Shocking Cameo
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Season Premieres of Futurama and Franklin & Bash, and Hot in Cleveland's Live Episode
Hey The Voice Has Crowned a Season 4 Winner! Too Bad the Success (Probably) Stops Here
Pretty Little Liars "Turn of the Shoe" Review: Dead Birds Sing No Phone Numbers
-
James Gandolfini Dead At 51
'Star Wars VII' Cast List Leaks: Who Are The Seven Characters?
'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Locks In Director
-
The Telefile - TV on DVD: Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Telefile - Veep: The Episode's Best Insults
The Telefile - The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login Signupchinny
March 28, 2012 at 10:26PM EST Reply to CommentWhat set of circumstances allow for Bent to get renewed? How is it doing compared to (the wretchedly tragic) Whitney and Chelsea?
Andrew Way worse.
March 28, 2012 at 10:45PM ESTNow, that said, it isn't entirely unheard of for a low-rated, late-debuting show to be given a second chance if studio heads think it has promise. That they're inexplicably burning this off though suggests there isn't that sympathy. And even for this scenario, the ratings are really, really bad. Like sub-CW.
XK Honestly, the fact that the network chose to burn off the episodes before the first had even aired (and with minimal advertising) made it a near-certainty that Bent would not be coming back.
March 29, 2012 at 12:15AM ESTWhen the ratings ended up being bad even by NBC's standards, it just confirmed the decision the network appeared to have already made.
Haik Mendelovich The fact that the ratings are worse than for the execrable Whitney is a greater harbinger of The End than any Mayan prophesy.
March 29, 2012 at 11:00PM ESTI like this show quite a bit. The banter reminds me of the back-and-forth between Carol Vessey and Ed, on the great dramedy of the same name.
That Bent should die without a fighting chance while the spoor of 2.5 Men should live on is just pathetic.
EF
March 28, 2012 at 10:41PM EST Reply to CommentI've enjoyed this show a lot so far, its too bad its only got 2 more episodes before its gone forever (the ratings for the first episodes were abysmal).
Stuart
March 28, 2012 at 11:02PM EST Reply to CommentAlan who is the other caterer with Jeffrey Tambor. I feel like he is from something important...maybe?
sitcomvet That's Joel Brooks, longtime comedic character actor who's had guest appearances on everything from 'Three's Company' and 'Ally McBeal' to 'The Big Bang Theory'.
March 29, 2012 at 8:58AM ESTStuart Ahh yes. I remember him from Six Feet Under.
March 29, 2012 at 11:01AM ESTladi
March 28, 2012 at 11:44PM EST Reply to CommentDoes anyone know what the song close to the end of HD was?
Adotfilm It was TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB's song titled "Something Good Can Work" from the album TOURIST HISTORY.
March 29, 2012 at 1:40AM ESTpackman Speaking of music, how random was it they played Ambrosia's 1980 hit 'Biggest Part of Me' near the end of the second episode last night? Couldn't quite tell if that was the original or a nearly note-for-note cover.
March 29, 2012 at 9:38AM ESTJoe
March 29, 2012 at 1:31AM EST Reply to CommentWhat was the soul song that Pete and crew were playing at the beginning of the "HD" episode?
waxspinner "Everybody needs somebody to love" by Solomon Burke, from 1964 (R&B/gospel artist who passed in 2010).
March 29, 2012 at 9:25AM ESTjamilynn what was the song they danced to at the wedding in episode "A game"?
March 29, 2012 at 11:49AM ESTJoe Cool! Thank you, very much, waxspinner.
March 30, 2012 at 1:05AM ESTthejoshbaker
March 29, 2012 at 1:32AM EST Reply to CommentDon't know how Dan didn't laugh at the "be my hero" scene.
Chrissy
March 29, 2012 at 1:52AM EST Reply to CommentThis show is so appealing. I don't understand how the NBC minds work.
TMB I suppose even less likely that NBC brings it back is that there's a quasi-intelligent network head somewhere else that sees the potential and poaches the show from the Peacock. If not one of the big networks, how about one of the cable outlets? Good actors, decent writing, it's all there...except for the ratings.
March 29, 2012 at 9:32AM ESTtgp
March 29, 2012 at 2:13AM EST Reply to Commenti really enjoyed this show. i thought that the adventures of screwsie and tambor were amusing as well. this show would make a good back half hour to new girl. i dont get why NBC decided to just bury it with no promotion and the burn off. Its like they wanted to ensure that nobody would watch it so they wouldnt have to renew it.
TGS I guess technically if NBC were truly burning off the show they would have aired it on either Friday or Saturday night. And at least they chose to air it against 'Modern Family' reruns, as there would be zero viewership opposite all-new MF eps.
March 29, 2012 at 9:36AM ESTJobin The timeslot of wednesday night at 9 on NBC after Whitney/Chelsea is the equivalent of a Friday/Saturday night burn off.
March 29, 2012 at 10:48AM ESTJobin
March 29, 2012 at 10:53AM EST Reply to CommentI like the show, but I would prefer it without Jeffrey Tambor on it. What is the purpose of having the father around for Ben anyway?
I'd rather spend more time with the crew being funny and/or doing stupid things on the job to kill time during work hours.
I forsee Back Fat Gary snapping in episode 6 and going on a killing spree with the nail gun, that he was having a little bit too much fun with last night.
Non-invites to secret steak night has reprecussions!
Maureen
March 29, 2012 at 11:16AM EST Reply to CommentI'm really enjoying this show, I hate to think it won't be picked up. I like the Tambor stuff, and I feel the opposite Alan, I am totally buying him as a frustrated actor.
OrphanFunkhauser I agree. I think Tambor is hilarious in this.
March 30, 2012 at 2:13AM ESTaamadis
March 29, 2012 at 1:53PM EST Reply to CommentWhile I didn't instantly love the first two episodes, I did begin to enjoy them and found them funny. These two, though, were a bit tedious. I began to tire of the Pete chases Alex, Alex resists scenario. Though there were still really funny moments, every time Pete and Alex had a scene i started to tune out. And Walt's story was pretty bad too. Beginning to think this might not be a good choice for renewal. Compared to the hilarious Happy Endings this week, Bent was a dud.
LJA
March 29, 2012 at 2:04PM EST Reply to CommentI like this show more and more with every viewing.
No wonder NBC is in deep shit. Idiots.
Ray
March 29, 2012 at 3:04PM EST Reply to CommentThis show is awesome. I cant believe that NBC held it for so long and then is just burning it off. I enjoy this much more than any NBC comedy not name Parks and Rec or Community. The cast is fantastic too. JB Smoove and Jesse Plemons are great and David Walton and Amanda Peete's chemistry is off the charts.
jill
March 29, 2012 at 3:20PM EST Reply to CommentDose anyone know the opening song?
jack I don't know, but my advice would be to use the closed-captioning on your television - I've found that many times they list the names of the TV theme songs. That's how I discovered that the 'House' theme was Massive Attack's 'Teardrop' and not just some generic music created for the show (which is what I originally thought when I first heard it).
March 29, 2012 at 5:26PM ESTDudleys Mom
March 29, 2012 at 8:58PM EST Reply to CommentI really like this show. Therefore, it is completely doomed.
Oneener
March 30, 2012 at 1:55AM EST Reply to CommentI die of laughter watching this show! Working in the construction industry, I can tell you David Walton's character is a perfect amalgamation of some of the best screwheads I've met over the years. And Amanda Peet is at home in her character as a quirky homeowner
bmfc1
March 30, 2012 at 9:18AM EST Reply to CommentIt's always nice to see Larry Miller make an appearance.
Steven
March 30, 2012 at 11:20PM EST Reply to CommentI think this has the makings of a good rom com movie, but not an extended TV series. After 4 episodes it's already feeling stretched and getting ridiculous. Although I really like the cast members, the premise and writing just don't add up to much more than 90 minutes of comedy.
tossit
April 1, 2012 at 7:52PM EST Reply to CommentNBC should have tried to promote this....it'd have been their best new comedy
ser wun wun
April 4, 2012 at 1:01PM EST Reply to CommentAssuming NBC lets this go, are there any other networks in a position to pick it up?
My affection for this show reminds me of Happy Endings, which I stumbled into similarly during its first season. Really hope it sticks around...