James Van Der Beek and Mark-Paul Gosselaar together at last: Exclusive

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It’s the onscreen pairing we forgot we’ve been waiting to see since the ’90s: James Van Der Beek will guest star on the new TNT series Franklin & Bash starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, EW has learned exclusively. The show, scheduled to premiere this summer, centers on two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm. Meyer plays Jared Franklin, who loves sticking it to authority every chance he gets, while Gosselaar plays Peter Bash, who has a knack for connecting with jury and judge. Van Der Beek, last seen on NBC’s Mercy, will play Nathan Connor, Peter’s ex-girlfriend’s fiance. Nathan hires Peter after his bachelor party gets too wild in a hotel. Considering this series has enough comedy in it to have originally been shot as a pilot for TBS, we anticipate that someone will note that Peter’s ex definitely has a type.

Speaking to EW last August, Gosselaar said the relationship Franklin and Bash share was modeled ever-so-slightly after buddy comedies like Superbad. “I don’t want to say it’s like Boston Legal, but it is very quick-witted,” he added. He also confirmed he bares his bottom in the premiere. Franklin & Bash also stars Malcolm McDowell, Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond, and Garcelle Beauvais.