Trial &amp; Error (TV series)

Trial &amp; Error is an American sitcom television series created by Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller for NBC and produced by Warner Bros. Television. It stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Jayma Mays, Steven Boyer, and Sherri Shepherd. The series, which spoofs documentaries and reality legal shows, follows New York City lawyer Josh Segal (D'Agosto) and his eccentric local associates (Boyer and Shepherd) as they represent accused local citizens in the fictional small town of East Peck, South Carolina. Recurring guests were Krysta Rodriguez and John Lithgow in season 1, and Kristin Chenoweth and Amanda Payton in season 2.
The first season premiered on March 14, 2017. On May 20, 2017, NBC renewed the series for a 10-episode second season. Both seasons have received positive critical reception. The series was officially cancelled on January 16, 2019, after NBC decided against renewing it for a third season in August 2018 and Warner Bros. failed to find a new broadcaster.
Premise.
The series is a comedic legal mockumentary about a young bright-eyed New York lawyer, Josh Segal, who settles in the fictional, small Southern town of East Peck, South Carolina with an oddball defense team that solves cases from behind a taxidermy shop. In the first season, they defend a compulsively eccentric poetry professor, Larry Henderson who is accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. The case becomes challenging because his client is always making himself look guilty. The second season is subtitled "Lady Killer" and centers on the defense of Lavinia Peck-Foster, the town's beloved debutante who has been accused of murdering her husband. The prosecutor on each case is assistant DA Carol Anne Keane, a young lawyer determined to use the cases to raise her profile, and with whom Josh has sporadic sexual encounters.
Production.
Development.
In August 2015, it was announced that NBC had given the production, then titled "The Trial", a put pilot commitment. The episode was set to be written and executive produced by Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller, from Warner Bros. Television. The following January, NBC gave the production an official pilot order, with Jeffrey Blitz set to direct the pilot episode. In May 2016, the production received a series order from NBC, now titled "Trial &amp; Error", with Barge Productions and Good Session Productions also serving as production companies. The first season premiered on March 14, 2017.
On May 20, 2017, "Trial &amp; Error" was renewed for a second season consisting of ten episodes. The season features the subtitle "Lady, Killer", and premiered on July 19, 2018. On August 7, 2018, NBC's option to renew the series for a potential third season had expired, with the rights reverting to Warner Bros. Television. Although the main cast's contracts had yet to expire, the series was being shopped around to other networks and streaming services. The series was officially cancelled on January 16, 2019 after Warner Bros. failed to find a new broadcaster for the series. Warner Bros. remained "open to continuing the series should an opportunity arise in the future."
Casting.
In February 2016, it was announced that Steven Boyer, John Lithgow, Sherri Shepherd, Jayma Mays, Nicholas D'Agosto, and Krysta Rodriguez had joined the main cast of the pilot. The main cast all returned for the second season, except Lithgow, who only had a single season commitment to the series, and Rodriguez. NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt felt there was the potential for Lithgow to appear in a couple episodes of the second season, though his eventual appearances were by way of archived footage from the first season. Kristin Chenoweth was cast in February 2018 as the new character accused of murder and set to stand trial. Amanda Payton also joins the cast for the second season as the host of a podcast covering the new trial.
Filming.
The second season filmed from March 19 to May 22, 2018, in Vancouver, after the first season was filmed in Burbank, California.
Broadcast.
Internationally, the series was acquired in Australia by the Seven Network where it premiered on April 30, 2017, and in New Zealand by TVNZ.
Reception.
Critical response.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 86% based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 6.85/10. The site's critical consensus reads, ""Trial &amp; Error" hilariously parodies the true-crime genre with consistent laughs, irreverently funny 'stupid humor,' and animated characters who populate the show's dependably entertaining narratives." On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 67 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.78/10. The sites critical consensus reads, "As a quirky courtroom satire "Trial &amp; Error" continues to delight, but its best motion may be allowing the singular Kristin Chenoweth to shine in all of her whimsically manic glory as the titular "Lady, Killer"". On Metacritic, the second season has a score of 76 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".