The USA network may have passed on saving Happy Endings last year, but they’re giving a new show to one of Happy Endings’ stars. USA has given a 12-episode order to Benched, a new half-hour sitcom starring Eliza Coupe, THR reports.
Benched, which was ordered as a pilot presentation in October, follows a career-driven corporate lawyer (Coupe) who has a breakdown after being passed over for a promotion and starts working as a public defender. Jay Harrington (Better Off Ted) plays her new colleague, a handsome, gambling-addicted public defender. The show was created by SNL alum Michaela Watkins, The Groundlings’ Damon Jones, and Party Down co-creator John Enbom. Enbom will serve as showrunner.
USA has been beefing up its original comedy development this past year, with Benched being the third ordered following Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair’s Playing House and the Denis Leary-produced UK adaptation Sirens, both of which are set to debut later this year. Following Happy Endings’ cancellation in May, Coupe is the third star from the show to move to a primetime show after Adam Pally became a series regular on The Mindy Project and Damon Wayans Jr. rejoined New Girl for the season billed as a “special guest star.â€