Trial & Error

Watch Trial & Error

  • TV-PG
  • 2017
  • 2 Seasons
  • 7.9  (6,515)

Trial & Error is a mockumentary-style comedy television series that aired on NBC for two seasons from 2017 to 2018. Created by Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller, the show follows lawyer Josh Segal (Nicholas D'Agosto) who travels from New York City to a small southern town called East Peck, to defend Larry Henderson (John Lithgow), a man accused of murdering his wife.

The show is loosely based on true-crime documentaries such as Making A Murderer and The Staircase, and features a talented ensemble cast that includes Jayma Mays as prosecutor Carol Anne Keane, Steven Boyer as Henderson's oddball client, and Sherri Shepherd as Henderson's assistant.

Season one focuses on the trial of Larry Henderson, a poetry professor accused of killing his wife Margaret. Josh Segal and his team of investigators fly down to East Peck to investigate the case and represent Larry in court. However, things take a comical turn when they realize that East Peck is a town filled with eccentric characters, from the town's sheriff, Sheriff Cannon (John Gzowski), to the judge, Judge Kamiltow (Cristine Rose), who is suffering from a rare medical condition that causes her to regularly forget the case details.

As Josh and his team investigate the case, they uncover shocking secrets about the East Peck community, including a kangaroo court that takes place in a barn, a local woman who thinks she's a cat, and a man who collects exotic birds. They also encounter Larry's daughter Summer (Krysta Rodriguez), who has a bizarre medical condition that causes her to sneeze uncontrollably whenever she hears the sound of a piano. All of these elements contribute to the show's quirky, off-beat humor that often takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to real-life events.

Season two of Trial & Error follows a different case but features much of the same cast of characters. Josh and his team move to East Peck to defend a woman named Lavinia Peck-Foster (Kristin Chenoweth), who is accused of murdering her husband. Lavinia is the matriarch of the Peck family, a wealthy and influential group that has been in East Peck for generations. The case quickly becomes more complicated as Josh and his team realize that the Peck family has a long history of secrets and lies that they will go to great lengths to protect.

As with the first season, season two features a variety of quirky characters and bizarre plotlines, including a group of hardcore birdwatchers, a psychic who claims to have spoken to the murder victim from beyond the grave, and a rare butterfly that plays a key role in the case. The show also features a number of hilarious musical numbers sung by Kristin Chenoweth, who showcases her incredible vocal range throughout the season.

One of the standout features of Trial & Error is the show's use of the mockumentary format. The show seamlessly blends traditional narrative elements with talking-head interviews and documentary-style footage, creating a unique and engaging viewing experience. The show also frequently breaks the fourth wall, with characters addressing the camera directly or making references to the fact that they are being filmed. This self-aware humor adds to the show's overall charm and playfulness.

Throughout both seasons of Trial & Error, the show remains consistently funny and entertaining, with each episode containing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. While the show takes many liberties with the true-crime genre, it also manages to offer up some genuinely intriguing mysteries that keep the audience guessing until the very end. All in all, Trial & Error is a delightful and clever comedy that is sure to delight fans of both true crime documentaries and absurdist humor.

Trial & Error is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (23 episodes). The series first aired on March 14, 2017.

Trial & Error
Filter by Source

Do you have Hulu?
What are you waiting for?
Nice! Browse Hulu with Yidio.
Ad Info - This show may not be available on Hulu
Seasons
Barcelona
10. Barcelona
August 23, 2018
As Jesse Ray Beaumont's trial begins, the team struggles to keep him under control while they discover more of Lavinia's secrets. Now that the baby is born and awaiting the DA election results, Carol Anne discovers who is the baby's father.
A Big Break
9. A Big Break
August 23, 2018
Josh and his team continue to find themselves at literal dead ends in their casework until they unearth game-changing evidence with the help of Jesse Ray Beaumont. Meanwhile, in court, Carol Anne tries to finish the case before she has the baby.
Bad Instincts
8. Bad Instincts
August 16, 2018
With Lavinia eliminated as a suspect in Chet Peck's murder, Josh struggles with his defense for Jesse Ray Beaumont. Meanwhile, Dwayne enjoys his new life as a Peck.
A Family Affair
7. A Family Affair
August 16, 2018
With the retrial of Jesse Ray Beaumont looming, the team digs into Lavinia's past to gain some fresh insight into the case.
New Case, Old Murder
6. New Case, Old Murder
August 9, 2018
In the aftermath of winning Lavinia's case, the town finally embraces Josh as a real Pecker. However, Josh agonizes over whether or not Lavinia may have done it and, unable to try Lavinia again for Edgar's murder, Josh takes a big swing by trying to open an old case.
A Change in the Team
5. A Change in the Team
August 9, 2018
Dwayne testifies on the prosecution's behalf and dismantles the timeline they established, so Lavinia pressures Josh to fire him. Dwayne redeems himself when he stumbles on a big break in the case leading to a shocking confession and Josh winning Lavinia's case.
A Hole in the Case
4. A Hole in the Case
July 26, 2018
As the trial begins, Josh and his team experience some hiccups in proving Lavinia's innocence to the judge. As soon as Josh thinks he's been able to find cause for dismissal of the case, Carol Anne argues to test the timeline herself, leading them to uncover a hidden passageway on Lavinia's property.
The Murder Clock
3. The Murder Clock
July 26, 2018
Josh's team continues to hunt for the potential murder weapon that would seal their timeline. The case takes a dramatic turn as their search leads them to two new suspects and some shocking news about Lavinia.
The Timeline
2. The Timeline
July 19, 2018
Judge Kamiltow rules that Lavinia must stand trial for the murder of her husband.
The Suitcase
1. The Suitcase
July 19, 2018
Josh Segal and Associates get their first case, defending the eccentric Lavinia Peck-Foster.
Description
Where to Watch Trial & Error
Trial & Error is available for streaming on the NBC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Trial & Error on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    March 14, 2017
  • IMDB Rating
    7.9  (6,515)