The Grinder: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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The Grinder: The Grinder Never Settles

Now Playing: The Grinder: The Grinder Never Settles

Season Details & Credits

Fox | Season Premiere Date: September 29, 2015

Starring: William Devane, Fred Savage, Rob Lowe

Summary: After eight years of playing a lawyer on television, Dean Sanderson (Rob Lowe) moves to Idaho where his brother (Fred Savage)--who is an actual lawyer--is set to take over the family law firm from their father (William Devane).

Creator: Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E22. Full Circle
Air Date: May 10, 2016
tbd
S1:E21. For the People
Air Date: April 19, 2016
tbd
S1:E20. Divergence
Air Date: April 19, 2016

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Robert Bianco

Sep 28, 2015

The half hour moves along briskly, sprinkled with a slew of funny lines and throwaway reactions and a few knowing winks at TV conventions--though not so many winks that they pull you out of the story. And through it all you have the pleasures provided by Lowe, Savage, Ellis and Devane, who mesh seamlessly. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Sep 16, 2015

The writing is breezy and the cast seems to be having fun. Read full review

Erik Adams

Sep 29, 2015

The Grinder is a very good pilot that suggests six or seven different directions for the show that follows--not all of them as sharp or as funny as the first episode. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Sep 22, 2015

As comedy pilots go this season, the end result is a rarity in that there were laughs. Read full review

Tirdad Derakhshani

Sep 29, 2015

The Grinder, which features William Devane as Dean and Stewart's father, has great energy. The nicely executed courtroom scenes are balanced with mordant scenes at home with the family. Read full review

Verne Gay

Sep 28, 2015

The show they're in is amiable enough, but the premise is awfully thin and the pilot doesn't hint at much of anything beyond that. Read full review

Mitchel Broussard

Sep 28, 2015

There's just no jokes here, no characters worth spending time with and nothing beyond one iota of a clever hook that becomes as disappointingly protracted - before the pilot is even done - as the worst cutaway gags in "Family Guy." Read full review

SEE ALL 23 REVIEWS

User Score

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7.3

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Mixed:

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User Reviews

investit

Nov 28, 2015

Excellent chemistry between cast members
Lowe is much more funny than I realized, he carry's this role expertly. He and Savage make a wonderful team.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Jdurf1

Apr 6, 2016

Never has a show brought me such joy. I'm a 53 yr old combat decorated veteran with ALS and while my daily routine prevents me from watching it live, Wednesday mornings my nurse and I watch it religiously. The Ying/Yang relationship between Dean and Stuart are hilarious. The children areNever has a show brought me such joy. I'm a 53 yr old combat decorated veteran with ALS and while my daily routine prevents me from watching it live, Wednesday mornings my nurse and I watch it religiously. The Ying/Yang relationship between Dean and Stuart are hilarious. The children are adorable as they support their uncle. I'm literally laughing for the full 30 minutes which really hurts but I can take the pain.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LoverofGrinder

Nov 18, 2015

Grinder is great, and this coming from someone who thinks the last great sitcom was Cheers. Feels like an hour's worth of material squeezed into 20 minutes it moves that fast. The entire cast is pitch perfect and I especially love that deadpan female lawyer. Give her more to do. All doneGrinder is great, and this coming from someone who thinks the last great sitcom was Cheers. Feels like an hour's worth of material squeezed into 20 minutes it moves that fast. The entire cast is pitch perfect and I especially love that deadpan female lawyer. Give her more to do. All done tongue in cheek and it meshes beautifully. Watch Savages' subtle little "I can't believe I just heard that" facial expressions. Lowe is so off the wall he couldn't stick to one if they glued him but that's exactly what an over-the-top character like his requires. The dialogue is so machine-gun fast at times the viewer doesn't even get a chance to laugh at one line before another funny one comes along. Great little show.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

kat123

Oct 1, 2015

Yay a funny show that is not idiotic and has lots of room to grow. Fred Savage manages to be extremely likeable without tipping over into being annoyingly so. And Rob Lowe being funny is way better than Rob Lowe doing drama which is why he was so good on the West Wing. Bring on some strongYay a funny show that is not idiotic and has lots of room to grow. Fred Savage manages to be extremely likeable without tipping over into being annoyingly so. And Rob Lowe being funny is way better than Rob Lowe doing drama which is why he was so good on the West Wing. Bring on some strong comedic character actors as guests and this show will take off. The strongest bit in the first episode was Lowe negotiating for Savage's son - hashtag teen life. The fact that Lowe's character knows nothing about law but a lot about social media and public opinion could be a great angle for future shows.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

marcmyworks

Nov 27, 2016

Though the premise is strong the episodes start to run together as the originality starts to wane. Best to watch over time as opposed to binge viewing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

arc1791

Sep 30, 2015

While not nearly as compelling as CBS' Limitless or ABC's Blood and Oil, Grinder is lighthearted fun that could be good. It will have to get better, because honestly, it needs improvement. The premiere was funny, but the unrealistic celebrity worship was definitely overdone. I realize that'sWhile not nearly as compelling as CBS' Limitless or ABC's Blood and Oil, Grinder is lighthearted fun that could be good. It will have to get better, because honestly, it needs improvement. The premiere was funny, but the unrealistic celebrity worship was definitely overdone. I realize that's how it is IRL with some of these actors, but I guess I'm just embarrassed for my fellow Americans who idolize actors, and prefer not to be reminded of the culturally-bankrupt phenomenon. The main character wasn't introspective at all, just another self-loving celebrity. It would be nice to see some serious character development, because I just don't care about him. And the family members of Fred Savage's character don't seem very bright. Are they trying to say that only the lawyer in the family is intelligent? This has some potential, but it just isn't that great. I would probably watch another episode if I were bored with nothing to do, but I won't make the time to watch another like I will for Limitless and Blood & Oil.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

viewablemind

Feb 10, 2016

The premise, an insult to attorneys, could be funny if it was an effective parody of those who feel qualified to act as counsel even if they only, "...played one on tv." However Rob Lowe's parody skills are not up to the task. He comes across as a pathetic jerk who manipulates good peopleThe premise, an insult to attorneys, could be funny if it was an effective parody of those who feel qualified to act as counsel even if they only, "...played one on tv." However Rob Lowe's parody skills are not up to the task. He comes across as a pathetic jerk who manipulates good people for his own glory...and that's the only way in which he resembles a lawyer. Also, he's not funny.

Fred Savage and Natalie Morales are sharp and they do all the heavy lifting but even they can't carry this.
Steve Little is grossly underused. With his bumbling vulnerability he could pull off the Lowe part, but Fox can't resist a pretty face, even a cold, lifeless, boring one.
The big flaw in The Grinder is the big star. Lowe is miscast. he would be perfect as a "Fox and Friends" host.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS

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The Grinder: Giving Thanks, Getting Justice

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The Grinder: Tell Him

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The Grinder: I'm Torn

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The Grinder: Talk To Me

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The Grinder: Did They See You

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The Grinder: Who Are You Working With?

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The Grinder: Divergence

SEE ALL TRAILERS

Seasons & Episodes

71

Series Overview
Season 1

71
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E22. Full Circle
  Air Date: May 10, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E21. For the People
  Air Date: April 19, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E20. Divergence
  Air Date: April 19, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E19. A System on Trial
  Air Date: April 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E18. Genesis
  Air Date: March 15, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E17. The Resurrection
  Air Date: March 1, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E16. Delusions of Grinder
  Air Date: February 23, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E15. The Ties That Grind
  Air Date: February 16, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E14. The Retooling of Dean Sanderson
  Air Date: February 9, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E13. Grinder V Grinder
  Air Date: February 2, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E12. Blood Is Thicker Than Justice
  Air Date: January 26, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E11. Exodus (Pt.1)
  Air Date: January 19, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Olyphant in the Room
  Air Date: January 5, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E9. Grinder Rests in Peace
  Air Date: December 1, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E8. Giving Thanks, Getting Justice
  Air Date: November 24, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E7. Dedicating This One to the Crew
  Air Date: November 10, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E6. Buckingham Malice
  Air Date: November 17, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E5. A Bittersweet Grind (Une Mouture Amer)
  Air Date: November 3, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E4. Little Michard No More
  Air Date: October 20, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Curious Disappearance of Mr. Donovan
  Air Date: October 13, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E2. A Hero Has Fallen
  Air Date: October 6, 2015
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 29, 2015