
“By the Numbers” was a very entertaining episode. I liked how Peter and Jared ended up defending the actuary guy they had previously gone up against in court. The Franklin and Bash banter was fun as well. Like I’ve been saying all season long, me thinks the show has figured out the banter factor. They are funny without being completely over the top. Keyword is completely. They’re always a little over the top. Regardless, it’s all working for me.
I loved Jared questioning Jill, Wendell’s assistant — her testimony dealt in odds and stats mixed in with emotion. I almost felt bad for her — she was in love with Wendell. And he never noticed her. But that doesn’t mean she should have resorted to murder. By the way, how cute was Carmen’s crush on Wendell? Love that they went out for a drink at the end.
The quality Infeld and Damien time was great to watch. I do feel bad that Damien and Infeld “Franklin and Bashing” it meant Karp had to get up close and personal with so many bees. Poor Damien. And OK, Infeld said he had been accused of murder three times — twice falsely. Hilarious. But also scary.
Peter and Charlie made some serious romantic progress — but I wonder how long it will last. After all, he learned Charlie has a daughter named Tess. Immediately, Peter’s commitmenet issues started flaring up. But, the best news of all, is the wall coming tumblin’, crumblin’ down. Yes, Rachel finally removed that stupid wall she put up to separate Peter and Jared. The boys are back together in the same office. Yay!
Now on to this week’s Guest Star Goodness. “By the Numbers” featured so many familiar faces:

Photo Credit: Darren Michaels/TNT
F&B Role: Wendell Singletary — the quirky actuary whose delivery was deadpan but was able to attract the attention of ladies everywhere, including Carmen, Noelle and some lady who simply walked by him. It was great how he called on Franklin and Bash to defend him knowing they would be creative in finding a way to prove his innocence. He knew the odds of acquittal would be in his favor with Peter and Jared defending him. Wendell was a very entertaining client. Loved his interactions with Jared and Peter. Martin Starr was awesome in “By the Numbers.”
TV Credits: He was Bill Haverchuck on the late great (totally short-lived) series Freaks and Geeks. He did three episodes of Roswell, was Roman DeBeers on Starz’s critically acclaimed comedy Party Down (a show I’m putting on my ‘to watch someday’ list), and was Professor Cligoris on the “Geography of Global Conflict” episode of Community.

Photo Credit: Darren Michaels/TNT
F&B Role: She played Noelle’s (the victim’s) sister, Rayann.
TV Credits: Aspen gained fame as one of Charlie’s love interests on Party of Five. And she guest starred in several episodes of Glee in the early days (she played Jessalyn Gilsig’s sister). She was Bobby Singer’s neighbor in the Bobby-centric episode of Supernatural that its star Jensen Ackles directed, called “Weekend at Bobby’s.” And she was a series regular on ABC’s underrated and canceled after one season series, GCB.

Photo Credit: Darren Michaels/TNT
F&B Role: Jill — Wendell’s assistant — the one that murdered Noelle.
TV Credits: While watching Franklin & Bash, I knew she looked familiar but I couldn’t quite remember where I had seen her before. Well, she was in season one of NBC’s Saturday morning TNBC series, Hang Time. She played Samantha Morgan on the show. She was also one of the Szalinskis on the Disney’s syndicated series Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. More recently, she’s been in episodes of NCIS, Necessary Roughness and Longmire.
Nora Dunn
F&B Role: The judge in the murder trial.
TV Credits: Dunn was a fixture on Saturday Night Live for five years. She also had a recurring role on Sisters as a TV producer named Norma Lear, was on several episodes of HBO’s Entourage (Dr. Marcus) and The Nanny (Dr. Reynolds) and guest starred on The X-Files, Psych and Private Practice.
Harrison Page
F&B Role: A witness in the case against Wendell Singletary.
TV Credits: Page is a veteran TV actor having appeared in several episodes of Gimme a Break; he was Captain Trunk in the 80s comedy Sledge Hammer!; was Reverend Mark Newman in a bunch of episodes of Ally McBeal and recurred as Rear Admiral Stiles Morris for several seasons of JAG. He’s also guest starred in everything from Kojak and Hill Street Blues to Melrose Place and Grey’s Anatomy.
Courtney Gains
F&B Role: Lyle, represented the City of Venice against Summer Wallace, the beekeeper.
Credits: Usually I just stick to reeling off someone’s TV credits, but I know Courtney Gains best from the movies. He was Patrick Dempsey’s even nerdier friend, Kenneth Wurman, from one of my favorite 80s movies, Can’t Buy Me Love. The red-headed actor was also in Children of the Corn (Malachai) and Back to the Future (Dixon). And he’s guest starred in some great TV shows like 21 Jump Street, Silk Stalkings, Seinfeld, Alias and Southland.
Franklin & Bash airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on USA Network.
Related posts
Classics
Previewing SurrealEstate Season 2 Finale + Revisiting the Season with George R. Olson
[Warning; General spoilers ahead.] Strap in, SurrealEstate fam, because we’ve arrived at the Season 2 finale, and it’s a doozy. As we saw in the closing moments of last week’s episode, Susan is back. But because we have one more episode left, it’s not as simple as all that, as…
Tyler Hynes Talks Through His Eight-Film Hallmark Holiday Library
Things you realize when you have to re-record your shows on a new DVR – just how many Hallmark movies your people have done. Fan favorite – and one of ours – Tyler Hynes has done eight Christmas movies for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries since 2018. Alongside…
Spencer Creaghan Talks About Creating SurrealEstate’s Signature Sound
SurrealEstate is winding down its second season, with two episodes left, and just as in Season 1, Spencer Creaghan’s music continues to be a character unto itself. And every week, he shares tidbits with the fans via his s social media channels, something he started to help give them an…
Andrew Walker Talks Christmas Island and the Magical Hallmark Community
[Warning: Spoilers for Christmas Island.] Now that the Screen Actors Guild strike has been resolved, we’re able to resume regularly scheduled programming and interview our favorites and yours. Up first, earlier today, I spoke with Andrew Walker about Christmas Island, which premiered last weekend and encores tonight and through the…
George Olson and Danishka Esterhazy Talk SurrealEstate “I Put a Spell on You”
[Warning: Spoilers for the episode.] Tonight’s fun new SurrealEstate found Luke caught up in an especially bewitching woman, Kay, played by Tara Yelland, Susan trapped in her house, and Zooey learning the ropes. In the next part of my conversation with showrunner George R. Olson and producing director Danishka Esterhazy,…
Danishka Esterhazy Talks SurrealEstate: “The Butler Didn’t”
[Warning: General spoilers for the episode]. Tonight’s new SurrealEstate, “The Butler Didn’t,” follows the team as they investigate the years-earlier mysterious death of a woman whose ghost now reenacts her hanging by dropping over the banister from the second floor to terrify anyone on the landing or at the bottom…
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk the From Season 2 finale
[Warning: Spoilers for the season finale.] How’s everyone doing after that finale? While we wait and wonder and hope for a third season announcement, soon, here’s what Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders had to say about their parts of the finale, and where they hope they get to go next….
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk From Season 2 + A Season Finale Preview
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] It all comes down this, #FROMily. As Sunday’s episode wraps up Season 2, we begin with the aftermath of the terrifying onset of seemingly simultaneous attacks on Julie, Marielle, and Randall, which accelerate the “We gotta get out of this place” of it all. Sara comes…
Alison Sweeney Talks About What’s Next for Hannah and Mike After Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
[Warning: Spoilers for Carrot Cake Murder.] Everybody OK after that Hannah Swensen Mystery twist? Thankfully, our favorite crime-solving couple is still on speaking term, even if they’re on a break (hopefully not that kind of break). Most importantly, we already know this isn’t the last film in the series. No…
Counting Down to From Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] We’re just shy of two weeks away from Season 2 of last spring’s obsession, From, which premieres at 9 pm/8c, Sunday, April 23rd, on MGM+ (formerly EPIX). If you never picked it up last year, now’s your chance, and you can do it for free, catching…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…