‘Fashion Police’ Writers Chant On Picket Lines: … 
Universal Makes Seven Figure Deal For ‘The School For … 
Steven Soderbergh Will Interrupt Retirement To Direct And … 
Cannes: EOne Announces Itself As Player In U.S. … 
Will LIN TV Stations Go Dark On Time Warner Cable? 
Very Crowded Memorial Weekend Kick-Off: ‘Hangover … 
Shareholders Quiz Time Warner Chief On Political Ties And … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Modern Family’, ‘Law … 
Hammond On Cannes: Paramount’s ‘Nebraska’ … 
Cannes: J.C. Chandor Sets Next Project ‘A Most … 
Hannibal Classics Sets Cast For Nic Cage Pic … 
Hammond On Cannes: Robert Redford’s Brave New Role … 
Hot Trailer: Jennifer Aniston And Jason Sudeikis’ … 
Warner Bros Tells Space Story, From The Bra Designers Who … 
Brad Pitt’s Plan B Banner Promotes Jeremy Kleiner To … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Don Jon’ 
Billy Crystal-Starring Comedy From Matt Nix & Larry … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ … 
Hammond On Cannes: A New Day Comes To The Fest As HBO and … 
Cannes: Fleming Reflects And Finds Talented Trio A Breath … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Man Of Steel’ 
EXCLUSIVE: Bent star David Walton has been tapped as the male lead opposite JoAnna Garcia in CBS’ untitled Greg Malins/Greg Berlanti multi-camera comedy pilot. He replaces Bryan Greenberg, who was originally cast in the role but exited after yesterday’s table read. Walton is formally billed as a guest star on the CBS pilot as the project is in second position to NBC’s softly-rated Bent, which completed its short midseason run last night and doesn’t appear likely to come back. Gersh-repped Walton has been in demand for the past few pilot seasons. Last year, he booked the male lead opposite Amanda Peet in Bent in second position to another midseason NBC comedy series, Perfect Couples. The Malins/Berlanti project, also known as Oh F**k It’s You, centers on Nick (Walton), a notorious womanizer who, after surviving a health scare, realizes that “The One” he has never found is actually his best friend of 15 years, Wendy (Garcia). The problem is that Wendy is engaged to a guy Nick likes; she and Nick own a business together; and their attempt at dating back in college was a disaster.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Does this signal the death knell for BENT?
No. The 0.8 adults rating is the death knell.
Oh, man, poor David Walton. Bent, Perfect Couples, 100 Questions, Quarterlife, Heist, Cracking Up. Many regular roles, but neither of them survive the first season.
The guy’s not very good or long term like-able. All those shows and none of them last?
From someone who works in the industry and occasionally watches television, he either needs to not be cast in these type of roles or be used as different character archetype. Obviously, the charming womanizer or boyfriend-type isn’t working. Make him a detective and call it a day
Make him Magnum P.I. on a reboot and call it a day.
Yeah, just like Paula Marshall, the guy’s a comedy killer. Everything he’s been in has been cancelled right away.
I hope so, it’s such a horrible show.
The death knell has been signaled for Bent for months. What hope could anyone have had when it was only the schedule for 3 weeks?
I loved watching him on Perfect Couples and Bent and Garcia was so charming on Better with You. If they have good chemistry together — and I think they definitely will — this will be great!
BENT is not coming back. Walton is a really great guy and deserves this. I wish him well!
So glad for Walton! He’s so charming on Bent (which I love). His is the first name that popped in my head when I read that Greenberg was out!
BENT is absolutely fantastic and shows how really clever, smart, fun writing is what it’s all about; the concept is no big deal, but the great shows always have “no big deal” concepts and it’s all about the actors, the writing, the comedy, the chemistry. BENT has that but NBC has no idea what it is doing. 4 out of 5 people don’t even know what BENT is because it wasn’t promoted, and NBC isn’t the kind of network that will stand behind a series it believes in (well, not anymore. Not for twenty years). As for this guy getting the lead in this new pilot… well, this is one of the best pilots out there, so good on him. At least if BENT goes under, he’ll be in a role that is, like his gig on BENT, also right for him. I wonder what the network execs who ushered in Bent even say to the creators of it. “We loved your show, but we didn’t promote it, and now we’re going to take it off the air because it has no ratings. Not our fault. Just the way it goes.” Please! It IS your fault. This is a cheap show to make, too.
Didn’t promote it my eye. I saw tons of commercials for that show for weeks before it premiered.
I just actually started watching Bent last night. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and thought Walton was very funny and charismatic. A shame NBC didn’t promote a show that is easily better than…Whitney or that Chelsea nightmare.
Congrats to Walton and I hope the next show is a hit!
Stopped on Bent for the first time last night while flipping channels and found it to be very fun, with a big heart (had no idea that Marcia Gay Harden and Jeffrey Tambour were on this show as well!), but ended up changing it at 9:30 for the season finale of Happy Endings. Did not know that Bent’s finale was playing against it, or else I would have set one to record and catch right after. Bummer.
I knew he would score a pilot after Bent aired. its too bad NBC burned it off. It was the best new comedy they had even with Amanda Peet’s less than stellar performance. He’s far more watchable than Bryan Greenberg.
How did NBC f up so badly?? People love BENT, all you hear is how much people love it. And to get such passionate admiration with a burn off schedule and zero promotion is a miracle. But it seems NBC is incapable of helping themselves by acknowledging this accomplishment. It’s so sad. They thought slapping a few posters on buses would suffice as if people would watch a show based on a poster that gives no hint as to what it’s promoting. If BENT isn’t given a new, real chance with episode orders and actual promotion (like they did BFF which underperformed because it wasn’t very good) then I fear NBC will officially be a hopeless cause that literally doesn’t know how to get out of it’s own way. It’s an embarrassment and honestly, it just makes me sad. Networks with far less better content are stealing the nights and NBC, in it’s misguided attempt at “holding their head high,” thinks the move to make is to cancel a flawless hit-in-the-making like BENT and churn out something leagues more inferior. What unfortunate managing of a network that was once the home of true comedy gold. The only comedy they’re doing now is making a joke of themselves.
HERE HERE! You wrote exactly what I’m feeling. This was a genuinely good show, and as opposed to 22 eps of Whitney (not to hate, only to compare) where I didn’t enjoy any of them, I fell in love with this show over 6 episodes. It has real comedy and real heart. It honestly makes me sad. BENT deserved a fair shot, and even in the face of that, I’ve yet to meet a person that didn’t like the show.
The only chance NBC has of changing the conversation away from “a season of misses” is to pick up their best reviewed show. A renewal would give the press/blogosphere something positive to report regarding what’s happening over at NBC instead of what will surely be just more negativity and disgust in the months leading up to the fall schedule.
Plus, how pissed is NBC gonna be when Walton’s the star of a hit on CBS.
It’s NBC, what do you expect?
Until they hire the Ghostbusters and eradicated all traces of the ghosts of Zucker, the network will remain cursed.
Bent was smart; adorable and each character outstanding–it sickens me to hear of its demise. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG who’s ever is at fault. Something is off kilter here if somebody does not see its brilliance. Oh Well……
Chemistry. It’s what BENT has in spades (especially between Walton & Peet and Walton & Tambor) and what virtually no other half-hour possesses.
this new show he’s in has about as much chance of making it as Bent. outside of the accidental stabbing, there’s not much funny. the d-girls need to remember the priority in a half-hour comedy should be that it’s funny. i do love how passionate the people who work on Bent are about it, though. kudos.
I feel like this new show has >less< chance than Bent, if that's even possible. It reeks of disaster.
I just love Bent!! This show makes me LMBO! I Can’t wait to see next weeks! David Walton just has me cracking up!
It would seem bryan greenberg was better suited for this role, but I guess they see things we don’t.
I truly liked Bent a ton, (horrible name and explanation for it in episode one)and Walton is just simply terrific. Folks filing threads on how the others live on and Bent was so under-promoted and then radidly burnt off are right on the mark. Somebody is getting blown by the wrong people…It is quality over friendships…Well, at least it SHOULD be. Oh well, least he’ll have a gig!
I love Bent!! If given the chance, it could evolve into something really great! But its fate is doomed I guess… So, I choose to be happy at least for mr Walton who gets a chance to move on. He will make a great pair to Ms Garcia, I’m sure!
“NBC isn’t the kind of network that will stand behind a series it believes in.”
Are you serious?
Then how would you explain the fact that dismally-rated shows like “Community” and “Parks and Recreation” are still on the air?
They wouldn’t have made it this far on any other network, especially “Parks” which had a six-episode freshman run that started in April and much like the case with “Bent” had “burn-off” practically written all over it.
Really, there’s only so much that network can take losing. While I like “Bent” (and its two charming leads), no one was really expecting it to last, unfortunate as that notion may be. Plus, I’m all for canceling it if it means there’s more room on the schedule for “Community” and “Parks” to stick around (oh, and “Up All Night” too – I’m a sucker for Applegate).
I’m also for keeping Parks and Up All Night…..But Come On….Best Friends Forever??? and Betty White’s show??? BENT is a Crazy Better than those 2 shows!!! Why even start Best Friends..when BENT is SOOO Funny and Well Written??
I also like Bent. With so much crap out there masquerading as comedy, how can this show not make it.
NBC did nothing to promote this show, preordained to fail..
This guy is fucking funny.
Glad to see Walton getting another opportunity. He isn’t well known but i thought he was the main attraction in Bent. Guy has some chops. Obviously he can do romcom, but he more than held his own with Tambor too. I think the kid has some range. CBS will likely provide more of a growth ave for him. Smart move by Malins and Berlanti. I also liked Amanda Peet in Bent, but lets be honest, she’s on her last legs.
NBC is Totally at fault ! BENT is AMAZING ! The cast has Ridiculous chemistry ! I must admit I am still holding onto the hope that it will be saved. People need to ‘like’ it on Facebook and comment and email to NBC!
NBC should give this show a chance, it has great potential. There is great chemistry between Peet and Walton and the supporting players
have room to grow. SAVE THIS SHOW.
Bent was so refreshing! A comedy that my husband and I could both sit down and enjoy together. I truly hope they did or do not cancel it!!
Loved loved loved loved “bent”!!!’ and perfect couples was my favorite show last year!!! Stop giving me a taste of these awesome smart sexy funny comedies and then taking them away! It ain’t right:)
Bring BENT back!!!!!!!