• Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 25, 2012
  • Season #: 1
Ben & Kate Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

  • Summary: Irresponsible Ben Fox (Nat Faxon) moves in with his very responsible sister Kate (Dakota Johnson) and her five-year-old daughter.
  • Genre(s): Comedy
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 29
  2. Negative: 2 out of 29
  1. Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Sep 19, 2012
    90
    Not only is the pilot a wonderful mix of hilarious moments (pretty much any time Faxon is in the picture) and subtle sentiment, but it's one of those shows where the acumen of the off-camera talent (Fox) is impressive and clear, which gives hope for long-term success.
  2. Reviewed by: David Hiltbrand
    Sep 25, 2012
    80
    [A] cleverly written show.
  3. Reviewed by: Chris Conaton
    Sep 25, 2012
    60
    Ben and Kate has the potential to be a similar sort of low-key, hangout show [like Cougar Town and Raising Hope] that's also very funny.
  4. Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Sep 24, 2012
    20
    As it's set up here, the comedy part doesn't work if Ben isn't genuinely annoying, and the larger arc doesn't work if he isn't genuinely endearing.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. 10
    The cast is wonderful and the characters brilliantly written. Echo Kellum and Lucy Punch seriously bring it as the supporting best friends. The leads, the little girl and the few guest stars they've had have all been extremely memorable. I wish it was a bigger success- it is better than the big bang theory, 2 broke girls and two and a half men combined. Expand
  2. JBM
    9
    This is a very likeable show. It has a solid home base and the comedy comes often. Unlike watching many sitcoms, I actually laughed while watching this show. I took an instant liking to the little girl and the two central characters. They employed that magic combo of quirky fun with heartwarming relatinoships that has made Modern Family a hit. Nice to see something new on TV that I actually want to see again. Collapse
  3. wonderfully cast, ben and kate is filled with the right balnce of comedy and charm witout being to over the top. the actors and writers never have to reach far for the laughs. There is just something naturally funny about watching a brother and sister try to have a grown up relationship with in the confines of disfuntionality. I truly believed that Faxon and Johnson were a brother and sister. The girl playing the daughter is well cast and are the supporting characters playing ben and kates friends. we the audience can only hope that this comedy by fox doesnt fizzle out after such a great start or it doesn't fall victim to the fox juggling act that causes so many of that net works shows to be canceled. Expand
  4. Pretty decent. Kind of like a Dumb and Dumber for grown ups. The writing seemed better than the acting. Half-way honest, and less formulated than most ... but a little too hokey. Expand

See all 6 User Reviews