Ben and Kate

Did You Know?

• The show premiered in Australia on October 8, 2012 on Network Ten.
• In the United Kingdom, it premiered on January 7, 2013 on ITV2.
• In Canada, the program premiered on September 25, 2012 on City in simulcast with the U.S. showing.

Synopsis

The series follows Ben, an over-the-top dreamer and underachiever, and his younger sister Kate, a practical single mother and bar manager. After visiting Kate in Los Angeles, Ben moves in to help care for her six-year-old daughter Maddie, hoping to reconnect with what he has missed, while Kate aims to ground him in reality. Their friends B.J. and Tommy are also part of their lives.

Cast and characters

Dakota Johnson plays Katherine "Kate" Fox, a neurotic, awkward, and earnest single mother who works as a bartender; her college boyfriend left her after she became pregnant with Maddie, making her wary of dating. Nat Faxon portrays Benjamin "Ben" Fox, Kate's goofy older brother who moves into her house; despite arrested development, he is popular and protective, often attempting inventions like "Bunk Bed Pizza" and "Rail Mall." Lucy Punch is BJ (Beatrice Joan) Harrison, Kate's confident, vain best friend and co-worker who is secretly married to Ben despite no romantic feelings; she speaks with a British accent but is actually from Texas. Maggie Elizabeth Jones plays Madeline "Maddie" Fox, Kate's six-year-old daughter. Echo Kellum appears as Tommy, Ben's charismatic best friend and a tennis instructor at a country club; he has loved Kate since high school and collaborates on Ben's schemes. Geoff Stults portrays Will, a friendly single dad and neighbor who briefly dates Kate but is put off by her eccentric circle. Rob Corddry plays Buddy, the boorish bar owner and BJ's on-and-off boyfriend. Brittany Snow is Lila, Tommy's girlfriend. Melinda McGraw plays Vera, a businesswoman attracted to Ben who helps his "Rail Mall" idea. Lauren Miller portrays Darcy, Ben's ex-girlfriend he still loves. Luka Jones plays Lance, a laid-back baker who dates Kate after Will. Bruce McGill appears as Randy Fox, Ben and Kate's negligent but friendly father.

Production

In October 2011, Fox bought the project from creator Dana Fox under the title Ben Fox Is My Manny. In January 2012, Fox ordered a pilot; the title changed to Ned Fox Is My Manny, then to The Kids, before settling on Ben and Kate. On May 9, Fox ordered the show to series. On May 14, Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan were announced as showrunners, but they left on September 11 citing creative differences. On October 8, 2012, Fox ordered a full season of 19 episodes, extending the initial 13-episode order. On November 9, John Quaintance and David Feeney became the new showrunners. Maggie Elizabeth Jones was the first actor cast, on February 1, 2012. Echo Kellum was announced as Tommy on February 14. On February 23, Abby Elliott was cast as Kate Fox; Lucy Punch was announced as BJ on February 24. Nat Faxon was announced as Ben Fox on February 28, days after winning an Academy Award for co-writing The Descendants. On March 20, Elliott was released after the pilot table read because she was deemed too young for the role. On March 21, Austin Stowell was announced as a guest star playing Ryan. On March 23, Dakota Johnson replaced Elliott as Kate Fox. After the series order, additional casting included Vernee Watson and Tom Wright as Tommy's parents (August 14), Rob Corddry as Buddy (August 20), Lindsay Sloane as Louise (August 23), Geoff Stults as Will (September 5), Jane Seymour as Wendy (November 5), Brittany Snow as Lila (November 9), and Niecy Nash as Roz (January 10, 2013).