Ben and Kate | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Dana Fox |
Starring |
Dakota Johnson Nat Faxon Lucy Punch Maggie Elizabeth Jones Echo Kellum |
Theme music composer | Michael Andrews |
Opening theme | "Get Up Again" by Michael Andrews |
Composer(s) | Michael Andrews |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 16 (3 unaired in the U.S.) (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
Peter Chernin Dana Fox Katherine Pope Jake Kasdan John Quaintance David Feeney David Katzenberg |
Producer(s) | Megan Mascena Gaspar Sam Sklaver Randy Cordray Alex Cuthbertson Matt Fusfeld Lorena Scafaria Gail Ferner |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 21–23 minutes |
Production company(s) | Hemingway Drive Productions Chernin Entertainment 20th Century Fox Television |
Release | |
Original network | Fox |
Original release | September 25, 2012 | – January 22, 2013
Ben and Kate is an American single-camera sitcom television series that ran on Fox from September 25, 2012, to January 22, 2013, as part of the 2012–13 television season. The show was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment. The show was created by Dana Fox who served as an executive producer alongside Peter Chernin, Katherie Pope, and Jake Kasdan.
The series focuses on a brother and sister who at first seem to be exact opposites: Ben is an over-the-top dreamer and professional underachiever, while younger sister Kate is a more practical single mother working as a bar manager. After visiting their home in Los Angeles, Ben realizes that his sister needs help with her life and taking care of her six-year-old daughter, Maddie. Because of this, he moves in with Kate so he can discover some of the things he has missed out on and Kate hopes to return the favor by bringing her brother back to reality. Along the way, they are surrounded by their close friends, B.J. and Tommy.
In October 2011, FOX bought the project, titled Ben Fox is My Manny, from creator Dana Fox. In January 2012, FOX ordered the show to pilot. The show was retitled to Ned Fox Is My Manny, then to The Kids, before finally being called Ben and Kate. On 9 May FOX ordered the show to series. On 14 May Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan were announced as showrunners. On 11 September, it was announced that Goldman and Donovan had left the show. Goldman and Donovan cited creative differences as their reason for leaving. On October 8, 2012, Fox ordered a full season of 19 episodes of the series, that took the series beyond its initial 13 episode order. On 9 November it was announced that John Quaintance and David Feeney would become the new showrunners.
Maggie Elizabeth Jones was the first actor announced to have been cast, on February 1, 2012. On February 14, Echo Kellum was announced as Tommy, Ben's best friend. On February 23, Abby Elliott was announced to star as Kate Fox. On February 24, Lucy Punch was announced as BJ, Kate's best friend. On February 28, Nat Faxon was announced as Ben Fox. Faxon was cast days after he won an Academy Award for co-writing The Descendants (2011). On March 20, it was announced that Elliott had been released from the show after the pilot's table read. Elliott was released because it was thought she was too young for the role. On March 21, it was announced that Austin Stowell would appear as a guest star in the role of Ryan, a character who Kate used to have a crush on and reunites with her for a date. It was reported that it would be a recurring role if the show was picked up. On 23 March, it was announced that Dakota Johnson would be replacing Elliott in the role of Kate Fox.