One show that has been receiving a lot of buzz recently is the HAPPY ENDINGS-esque new USA Network comedy BENCHED by comedy geniuses, Michaela Watkins and Damon Jones. The comedy follows Nina; a hotshot lawyer whose life slowly starts falling apart right after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She loses her job as an attorney and finds herself fighting minor cases as a public defender. The show features a lot of fresh faces and some funny favorites. Definitely think this pilot will be a hit and something a lot of people will enjoy the show is funny and quirky and has a lot of heart. Oscar Nuñez plays Carlos on the freshman comedy. I caught up with Nuñez about his time on THE OFFICE, what drew him to BENCHED, and what we can look forward to on tonight’s premiere.
You were on THE OFFICE for so many seasons. Is there a specific episode or season that stands out to you as one of your favorites?
It would probably have to be the one Greg Daniels wrote specifically for when Oscar came out of the closet, while Michael Scott (Steve Carell) dragged him out of the closest. That would be my favorite episode because I got to play with Steve Carell a lot.
Did you take anything from your time at THE OFFICE and apply it to BENCHED?
Just to have that under your belt, nine years of being on a show. You don’t get nervous; they can’t throw anything new at you because you’ve been through the whole thing.
What drew you to BENCHED?
My friend Damon Jones who is one of the creators said “Hey there might be a part for you here, we’d love for you to be in the pilot.” And I read it and I thought it was so funny. My wife read it and we thought this is very smart and very and very funny, of course we would expect nothing less from Michaela (Watkins) and Damon.
How is working with them? How is their writing style, is it something you’re used to?
I was used to it because they were groundlings and I was a groundling and Jim Cashman, one of the writers was a groundling. Michael McDonald came in and directed an episode, Jim Rash, Molly Shannon; a bunch of groundlings came and played with us. It was a lot of fun!
What can you tell us about your character on the show?
They are all public defenders that work in downtown Los Angeles and he wants to fight the good fight and help the people that can’t help themselves. They’re overworked and get paid so little, sometimes you get frustrated and you like the people and you work with and hate them at the same time.
Is there an episode this season that you’re really excited for people to see?
There is an episode where Jay (Harrison) and I are going out and having a boy’s night and that was a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun shooting some scenes outdoors in LA at nighttime; it was a lot of fun.
What can you tell us about the Pilot?
It starts off; she’s a high-powered attorney she’s got a cushy job and something happens where she loses her job and ends up with us in downtown LA. She goes from the ivory castle down to the trenches with us.
You can watch BENCHED tonight on USA Network at 10:30. (Comedy Network in Canada)