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The Grinder

The Grinder
★ 6.7/10•2015•21m•TV-14•Comedy
Similars

Two brothers. One's a lawyer. The other played one on TV.

Television lawyer Dean Sanderson moves back to his small home town after his hit series, "The Grinder," is canceled thinking his time on TV qualifies him to run his family's law firm.

StatusCanceled
Runtime21m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 29, 2015

Episodes

Episode 1 - PilotE121m

Pilot

When his long-running hit series comes to an end, Dean finds himself at a crossroads in life and decides to move back to his small home town thinking he has the experience to take over his family’s law firm, where he butts heads with his brother, Stewart.

Sep 29, 2015

Episode 2 - A Hero Has FallenE221m

A Hero Has Fallen

After the exciting and victorious Krantz case, Sanderson & Yao gets flooded with cases. Dean, in his usual fashion, wants them to pick the next big case. Stewart disagrees, but he realizes that telling Dean he can’t do something only will make him want to do it more. Soo Stewart decides to encourage Dean and the plan backfires. Meanwhile, Dean inspires Debbie to go for a promotion at work using a “big dog” approach, which puts her job in jeopardy

Oct 6, 2015

Episode 3 - The Curious Disappearance of Mr. DonovanE321m

The Curious Disappearance of Mr. Donovan

Convinced that the only explanation for Claire’s non-interest in him is that she’s a mole, Dean tells Stewart that Claire is sharing secrets with a rival firm. Although Stewart dismisses the accusation, Dean is set on proving his brother wrong. Meanwhile, Deb and Claire strike up a friendship, the gossipy nature of which propels Stewart to question whether Claire can be trusted after all.

Oct 13, 2015

Episode 4 - Little Mitchard No MoreE421m

Little Mitchard No More

When a new couple, Lyle and Vanessa Gerhart, comes into their life, Stewart and Deb deal with "The Dean Effect" - people liking you only because you have a famous brother. Meanwhile, Dean finds himself in a similar situation with Claire, the first person he's ever met who isn't affected by his celebrity

Oct 20, 2015

Episode 5 - A Bittersweet Grind (Une Mouture Amer)E521m

A Bittersweet Grind (Une Mouture Amer)

Just as Dean prepares to give up on what he thinks is a hopeless search for love, he is reunited with Gail, an old flame who restores his belief in romance. Meanwhile, Deb encourages Stewart to change his strict ways and let Lizzie have a supervised date with Joel Zadak.

Nov 3, 2015

Episode 6 - Dedicating This One to the CrewE621m

Dedicating This One to the Crew

When Ethan chooses to audition for the school play instead of following in his father's footsteps by joining the tech crew, it highlights the differences between those who seem destined for the spotlight and those who live their lives in the shadows. Meanwhile, Stewart confronts Dean Sr. about how he gave his two sons very different life advice.

Nov 10, 2015

Episode 7 - Buckingham MaliceE721m

Buckingham Malice

Stewart convinces Dean he can’t keep using his celebrity if he really wants to be a “regular guy.” But when the brothers find themselves in serious trouble, Dean’s fame might be the only way to bail them out. Meanwhile, Debbie gets an assistant, and ends up being more of an assistant to her.

Nov 17, 2015

Episode 8 - Giving Thanks, Getting JusticeE821m

Giving Thanks, Getting Justice

After spending several holidays away from the family, Dean is thrilled to be reunited with them for his first real Thanksgiving celebration in a long time. But his overexcitement and meddling brings a major, unexpected family secret to light. Meanwhile, a series of flashbacks reveal the chain of events that led to Dean's departure from his hit TV drama.

Nov 24, 2015

Episode 9 - Grinder Rests in PeaceE921m

Grinder Rests in Peace

“The Grinder: New Orleans” -- a spinoff of the original hit series, asks Dean to film a scene giving closure to his beloved character, Mitch Grinder. Not surprisingly, Dean struggles with being replaced by his TV brother, Rake. Meanwhile Stewart, who has also been feeling replaced by his brother in Ethan's eyes, jumps at the opportunity to get Dean back into acting and out of his hair.

Dec 1, 2015

Episode 10 - The Olyphant in the RoomE1021m

The Olyphant in the Room

After Dean catches Timothy Olyphant making out with Claire, he thinks he can "win her back" by taking the lead on a case - and using very questionable tactics - representing a friend of hers. Meanwhile, Stewart is excited that a reporter is writing a story on him, but becomes upset when Dean steals the spotlight.

Jan 5, 2016

Episode 11 - Exodus (Part 1)E1121m

Exodus (Part 1)

Stewart and Deb tell Dean it's time for him to find his own place. Meanwhile, a rival law firm attempts to poach Dean from Sanderson & Yao. Also, Deb becomes reliant on Andre, Dean's former stand-in, who's crashing with the family

Jan 19, 2016

Episode 12 - Blood Is Thicker than Justice (Part 2)E1221m

Blood Is Thicker than Justice (Part 2)

After their fallout, Dean and Stewart find themselves on opposing sides during a divorce case. Meanwhile, back at home, Ethan and Lizzie are seeing the impact of life without Uncle Dean, and Stewart and Debbie quickly take notice.

Jan 26, 2016

Episode 13 - Grinder v GrinderE1321m

Grinder v Grinder

Timothy Olyphant is back in Boise and the rivalry between Dean and him continues when Stewart invites Olyphant to spend more time around Sanderson & Yao. After getting into an argument about who is closer to being a real lawyer, the two "Grinders" decide to go head-to-head in a mock trial.

Feb 2, 2016

Episode 14 - The Retooling of Dean SandersonE1421m

The Retooling of Dean Sanderson

When Dean scares off a big prospective client by being too dramatic, Stewart tells him maybe it’s finally time to let go of his “Grinder” persona and come down to earth. He tries to convince Dean he should go to therapy. Dean reluctantly agrees, but in typical Dean fashion, he overcorrects and begins “therapizing” the whole family, including Debbie, who is now tempted to quit her grueling job.

Feb 9, 2016

Episode 15 - The Ties That GrindE1521m

The Ties That Grind

Dean's therapist, Jillian, encourages him to, once and for all, shed his Grinder persona and find out who the real Dean is. Through his therapy exercises, he ends up making others around him evaluate their own issues, much to Stewart's frustration.

Feb 16, 2016

Episode 16 - Delusions of GrinderE1621m

Delusions of Grinder

Stewart becomes certain there's a larger conspiracy against the firm. It’s the first time Sanderson & Yao has ever been involved in a truly dramatic situation, but Dean has shed his “Grinder” persona and refuses to listen to Stewart’s “paranoia.” Instead, Dean decides to focus on being the office intern, so Stew has to take matters into his own hands.

Feb 23, 2016

Episode 17 - From the AshesE1721m

From the Ashes

As the conspiracy surrounding Sanderson & Yao reaches a boiling point, the only man who can get to the bottom of it has abandoned the "grind" and enrolled in law school. Stewart, desperate for Dean's help, will go to any lengths to turn his brother back into "The Grinder".

Mar 1, 2016

Episode 18 - GenesisE1821m

Genesis

Post-therapy, Dean finds that he has lost the ability to grind. To get it back, he decides to crack the case of the office being ransacked. Meanwhile, in flashback, we see a younger, struggling Dean Sanderson as he must decide whether to embrace a simple life, or pursue his destiny and become the Grinder he was always meant to be.

Mar 15, 2016

Episode 19 - A System on TrialE1921m

A System on Trial

Stewart is concerned about Dean Sr.'s anger issues complicating their case, so Dean arranges some focus-group testing to see what the masses really think.

Apr 12, 2016

Episode 20 - For the PeopleE2021m

For the People

Dean and Stewart receive a surprise visit from their mother. Stewart attempts to get reservations to a hot restaurant for his and Deb's anniversary dinner.

Apr 19, 2016

Episode 21 - DivergenceE2121m

Divergence

When Stew learns that his father is guilty, he wants to settle, but Dean tries one of his old "Grinder" tricks to solve the case. Meanwhile, Stew is concerned that he is now "infected" by "The Grinder".

May 3, 2016

Episode 22 - Full CircleE2221m

Full Circle

Stewart becomes sidelined at Dean Sr.'s malpractice trial, causing the rest of the Sanderson & Yao team to try and save the firm.

May 10, 2016

Actors

Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe

Dean Sanderson

Fred Savage

Fred Savage

Stewart Sanderson

Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Debbie Sanderson

William Devane

William Devane

Dean Sanderson Sr.

Hana Hayes

Hana Hayes

Lizzie Sanderson

Connor Kalopsis

Connor Kalopsis

Ethan Sanderson

Steve Little

Steve Little

Todd

Natalie Morales

Natalie Morales

Claire Lacoste

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