Kate Walsh
John Ducey
Tone Bell
Ryan Hansen
Miguel Sandoval

Created by:
Chad Kultgen
Anne Heche

2014
Comedy
NBC
TV-14

In “Bad Judge” (co-created by Chad Kultgen and Anne Heche, and co-executive produced by Anne Heche and Will Ferrell, among others), Kate Walsh gets her “bad teacher” on as a judge who enjoys sex and drugs (she needs a pregnancy test at the beginning of the pilot), but she’s not a gold digger. She even cares about a little black kid, played by a young actor who appears to be too nice for the role, whom she sentenced before. She helps him get out of trouble time and time again. Supposedly that’s her problem, according to her superior; she helps people too much, and that gets in the way of her job.

This show’s problem, other than its hackneyed premise, is that its jokes aren’t funny … though I’ve seen worse. Here’s one of the jokes: The troubled black kid drew a picture of his teacher that made his teacher’s head look like a penis. Isn’t that funny? The picture is well-drawn, actually, but since the teacher’s head doesn’t really look like a penis, it’s a problem. If it were an accurate picture, then the kid would be free and clear. Get it? … I know. But that’s what they came up with. Regardless, the actors understand comedic timing. But comedic timing doesn’t matter with this kind of writing.

While its creators and producers may have pedigree, “Bad Judge” is another barely mediocre new TV show during the 2014-2015 season that will bite the dust. …

The second episode doesn’t make things any better. Actually, I like “Bad Judge” even less after watching five minutes of that episode. I’m all for completely outlandish premises, if they lead to humor. This show doesn’t. Plus, it’s just too inconsistent, regardless of its outlandishness. Does this so-called bad judge understand propriety or not? I just don’t buy any of it, neither in real life nor in comedy land.

Verdict: Whatever to Pretty Bad (No Pun Intended)

About: (Source: badjudge)

No excuses, no apologies, no compromises. Wild child Rebecca Wright (Kate Walsh, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice”) knows how to have a good time, but she also happens to be one of LA’s toughest and most respected criminal court judges. She has a reputation for unorthodox behavior in the courtroom, including creative rulings and saying exactly what’s on her mind. Her private life, on the other hand, is anything but innocent. While there’s no shortage of male admirers who would love to spend time with her, she’s not ready to settle down.

The cast also includes Tone Bell, Ryan Hansen, John Ducey and Miguel Sandoval.

Writer Chad Kultgen (“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”) serves as executive producer with Adam McKay (“Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights”), Will Ferrell (“Step Brothers”), Anne Heche (“Men in Trees”), Jill Sobel Messick (“Baby Mama”), Kevin Messick (“The Other Guys”), Betsy Thomas (“Guys with Kids,” “My Boys”) and Kate Walsh. “Bad Judge” is a production of Universal Television and Gary Sanchez Productions.