The series follows the employees at Trial Analysis Corporation, a jury consulting firm headed by Dr. Jason Bull, who is a psychologist and trial science expert. Bull uses his skills and those of his team not only to select the right jurors for his clients, but also to help his clients' lawyers decide which type of argument will win over jurors best. Bull is inspired by the early career of Phil McGraw, who also serves as an executive producer.
Cast
Main
Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull, a psychologist and holder of three Ph.D.s in psychology, as well as a pilot's license. He hates lawyers himself due to failing the bar exam twice, crushing his dream of becoming a lawyer, and he had a difficult childhood. Bull first appears in the pilot with a scruffy appearance, with long hair, a beard and wearing cardigans with his suits. He wears glasses only for "effect", as it is revealed in the season 4 episode "Fantastica Voyage" that the lenses have no prescription.
Freddy Rodriguez as Benjamin "Benny" Colón, Bull's former brother-in-law, a former NYC prosecutor, and TAC's in-house counsel.
Geneva Carr as Marissa Morgan, a psychologist, neurolinguistics expert, second-in-command of Bull's team, and licensed sex therapist, who formerly worked at Homeland Security. In the season 2 finale, Marissa begins to question her dependency on Bull. In between seasons 2 and 3, Marissa remarries her ex-husband while Bull recovers from his heart attack, causing Bull to become jealous of her happiness.
Jaime Lee Kirchner as Danielle "Danny" James, the team's lead investigator, who used to work as a police detective in narcotics and for the FBI.
Annabelle Attanasio as Cable McCrory, the team's computer expert who is also a skilled hacker. In the middle of season 2, Cable is briefly fired after breaking the law. However, when Cable secretly helps TAC obtain information relating to a case without telling them, Bull deduces this and works up the courage to offer her job back. She is killed off-screen in the season 3 premiere when a bridge she is driving on collapses below her.
MacKenzie Meehan as Taylor Rentzel, a cyber expert and Marissa's old colleague from the NSA. After Cable's death, Taylor is hired to fill her position.
Recurring
Dena Tyler as Liberty Davis, a new lawyer who occasionally works with Bull's team on trials. Thanks to Bull's help she gains respect and experience as a lawyer.
Jill Flint as Diana Lindsay, a prominent lawyer from Texas with whom Bull has history, both professional and romantic.
Yara Martinez as Isabella "Izzy" Colón, Benny's sister who is also Bull's ex-wife. Bull and Izzy have a tryst while her second marriage is falling apart, which leads to Izzy getting pregnant and later giving birth to a daughter.
Gary Wilmes as Kyle Anderson/Robert Allen, Marissa's love interest in season 2.
Jazzy Williams as Anna Baker, Chunk's teenage daughter, whom he learns about in season 2.
David Furr as Greg Valerian, Marissa's ex-husband whom she remarries prior to season 3. They split up again in season 4.
Episodes
Production
Development
On February 2, 2016, it was announced that CBS had given the production a pilot order. The episode was written and author by Paul Attanasio who were expected to executive produce alongside Phil McGraw, Jay McGraw, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Mark Goffman, Steven Spielberg, Rodrigo Garcia. Production companies involved with the pilot include Amblin Television, Atelier Paul Attanasio, Stage 29 Productions and CBS Television Studios. On May 13, 2016, CBS officially ordered the pilot to series. A few days later, it was announced that the series, would premiere in the fall of 2016 and air on Tuesdays at 9:00 P.M. On November 4, 2016, CBS picked up the series for a full season of 22 episodes. An additional episode was ordered in November. On March 23, 2017, CBS renewed the series for a second season. which premiered on September 26, 2017. On April 18, 2018, CBS renewed the series for a third season which is set to premiere on September 24, 2018. On May 9, 2019, it was announced that CBS renewed the series for a fourth season. On May 9, 2019, following the renewal it was announced that executive producers Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Steven Spielberg along with his production company Amblin Television would be departing the series after the third season following the harassment controversy surrounding series star Michael Weatherly.
Casting
, Geneva Carr, Freddy Rodriguez, Chris Jackson and Jaime Lee Kirchner were part of the pilot's main cast. Annabelle Attanasio did not return for season three in order to direct an independent film. Eliza Dushku appeared in the final three episodes of the first season in a recurring role that was intended to become a regular role in season 2. However, following a complaint Dushku made about Weatherly making sexually suggestive comments, she was fired. In December 2018, The New York Times reported that CBS reached a confidential settlement with Dushku which would pay her $9.5 million, her anticipated salary over four seasons as a regular cast member. In May 2019, Amblin Television announced they will no longer produce the series, with Spielberg, Falvey, and Frank no longer serving as executive producers.
Broadcast
Internationally, the series premiered in the UK on FOX UK on January 13, 2017. The series premiered in Australia on Network Ten on March 5, 2017. It debuted in New Zealand on Prime Television New Zealand on January 19, 2017. The second season was premiered in Australia on Network Ten on October 15, 2017. In Italy, it debuted on Rai 2 on November 13, 2016. In France, it debuted on M6 on June 22, 2018. The first two seasons aired on Tuesday nights, but starting from season 3 the show was moved to Monday nights.
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 26% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 3.99/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Michael Weatherly's performance is top-notch, but not enough to save a show that relies too heavily on a well-worn series of legal show tropes and an off-putting premise." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 40 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
