BENT: Amanda Peet Returns to TV in Charming Romantic Comedy

When I first heard about Bent during last year’s pilot season, I was happy that Amanda Peet was returning to TV, thought the premise sounded just so-so, and was puzzled by the title. After watching the first four episodes, I’m still happy Amanda Peet is returning to TV, think the premise is much better in execution than on paper, and finally “get” the title but think it could be better.

Sound familiar?

That’s almost exactly what I thought about Cougar Town before and after watching the first few episodes. Bent has a similar premise, too. Newly divorced single mother, trying to reorient her life and juggling many responsibilities; cute slightly younger guy hanging around the house a lot; sardonic friends; plenty of alcohol consumption. It’s not an original story, but Peet and co-star David Walton (he’s Pete, the cute slightly younger guy) have terrific chemistry, the dialogue is breezy, and there’s an underlying sweetness, almost a wistfulness, that keeps the stories fresh.

Peet plays Alex, lawyer and single mother of adorable daughter Charlie (Joey King). She’s pitch perfect as someone who is strong, intelligent, and responsible but still finds joy in her little girl and worries about finding the right balance in life. In the pilot episode, Alex has decided that it’s time to renovate the kitchen in her modest home. Pete is a man-child contractor who alternates between bidding for the job and hitting on Alex. She holds her own on both fields, coming back with a boyfriend (Matt Letscher) and other contractors who want the job. Some contractor shenanigans ensue, plus a little pouting from Pete that she’s not single, but in the end he’s got the job and Alex knows that her axis has tilted but she’s determined not to acknowledge it.

Tonight’s premiere is a double-episode treat, so once we’ve met everyone and established the premise of the show, the real fun starts. I appreciated that Ben, the boyfriend, wasn’t made to be expendable. He’s not the most awesome guy ever, but he’s a good man and he wants to be a good boyfriend. Likewise adolescent-brained Pete has his moments of maturity and compassion, especially when interacting with Charlie (who adores him) and his father (a constantly aspiring actor played by Jeffrey Tambor). Screwsie (Margo Harshman) is Charlie’s nanny and Alex’s friend with a cynical attitude who finds herself drawn to the unlikeliest of men. It’s an eclectic group that forms by the end of the fourth episode, and one you’ll want to spend time with every week.

Bent isn’t going to win points for originality, but it’s sweet, whimsical, funny, and charming enough that you’ll fall for it anyway. Bent premieres tonight at 9/8c on NBC.