You remember David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, right? They’re the guys who basically defined a specific era of sitcom energy with Will & Grace. So, when word got out back in 2012 that they were heading to CBS with a show about two best friends—one straight, one gay—who were also business partners, expectations were high. Maybe too high.
The partners 2012 tv series episodes represent a weird, brief moment in television history where the "old school" multi-cam format tried to find its footing in a rapidly changing landscape. It was a show based on the real-life friendship of the creators themselves. Joe, an architect played by David Krumholtz, was the neurotic, straight-laced one. Louis, played by Michael Urie, was the high-energy, flamboyant partner. It felt like a safe bet. But as anyone who followed the fall 2012 season knows, the "safe bet" didn't even make it to Christmas.
CBS pulled the plug after only six episodes aired.
What actually happened in those aired partners 2012 tv series episodes?
If you caught the pilot, you saw the setup immediately. Joe gets engaged to Ali (Sophia Bush), and Louis—bless his heart—freaks out because he’s afraid of losing his "work husband." It’s a classic sitcom trope. The comedy lived and died by the chemistry between Krumholtz and Urie. Krumholtz brought that Numb3rs level of groundedness, while Urie was essentially doing a high-octane version of his Marc St. James character from Ugly Betty.
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Honestly, the second episode, "Chicken Socks," is where the show tried to find some heart. It focused on the idea of "breaking up" with a friend to make room for a partner. It was relatable. People do that. We’ve all had that one friend who makes our significant other feel like a third wheel. Brandon Routh was also there, playing Louis's boyfriend, Wyatt. It was a bit of a meta-joke having "Superman" play a nurse who is almost too perfect to be real, and Routh played it with a surprising amount of comedic timing that people didn't expect from a guy known for wearing a cape.
By the time we got to "The Jeter Exception" and "The Key," the ratings were already sliding. CBS has always been a network that demands huge numbers, and Partners was stuck in a tough Monday night slot. It was averaging around 5 to 6 million viewers. In 2026 standards, that’s a massive hit. In 2012? It was a death sentence.
The episodes you probably never saw
Here is the thing that frustrates TV nerds. A total of 13 episodes were produced. Only six saw the light of day in the United States before the cancellation axe swung.
If you lived in South Africa or parts of Europe, you might have seen the rest of the season. Episodes like "Gay Turkey" and "2-Man Group" were left on the cutting room floor for American audiences. There’s something inherently sad about an entire cast and crew filming a Thanksgiving episode that the home audience never gets to watch. "Gay Turkey" was supposed to be the big holiday blowout, exploring the dynamics of Louis trying to host a "traditional" dinner while Joe dealt with his own family baggage.
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A quick look at the production slate:
The episodes were numbered up to thirteen, starting with the Pilot and moving through titles like "Street Smart," "Pretty Ghost," and "The Archives." The latter episodes started leaning more into the workplace comedy aspect, trying to flesh out the architectural firm. It felt like the writers realized the "best friend drama" was wearing thin and tried to pivot toward a Parks and Rec style ensemble feel, but they ran out of time.
Why did it fail so fast?
It wasn't because it was "bad." It was because it felt dated the second it premiered. Modern Family was already three seasons deep and winning every Emmy in sight. Partners felt like it belonged in 1998. The laugh track was heavy. The jokes were broad. In a world where audiences were moving toward the dry, single-camera awkwardness of The Office, a loud, colorful CBS sitcom about "the gay friend and the straight friend" felt a bit like a relic.
Critically, the show was hammered. Metacritic had it sitting at a 37. The Hollywood Reporter called it "forced." But if you look at fan forums from that era, there was a small, dedicated group of people who genuinely loved the rapport between the four leads. Sophia Bush, fresh off One Tree Hill, brought a massive fanbase with her, but even they couldn't save a show that the network had lost faith in by week three.
How to watch it today
Tracking down these episodes is a bit of a treasure hunt. Since it was a short-lived CBS property, it isn't exactly front-and-center on Paramount+. However, the full 13-episode run has occasionally popped up on international streaming platforms.
- Check your local digital retailers. Sometimes Vudu or Amazon has the "Complete Series" hidden in the depths of their catalog for a few bucks.
- Look for the DVD. Yes, a physical DVD was released in certain regions. It’s the only way to see the "lost" episodes in high quality without dealing with grainy YouTube uploads.
- Archive sites. Because it’s essentially "abandonware" in the TV world, fans have archived the international airings.
If you’re a completionist, you’re looking for these specific titles:
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- Pilot
- Chicken Socks
- The Jeter Exception
- The Key
- Street Smart
- Temporary-ly
- My Best Friend's Wedding Dress
- Troubled Waters
- Pretty Ghost
- The Archives
- 2-Man Group
- Gay Turkey
- Confessions
Practical insights for the TV buff
If you decide to dive into the partners 2012 tv series episodes, don't go in expecting Will & Grace level greatness. Go in expecting a cozy, slightly frantic time capsule of early 2010s network television.
- Watch for the chemistry: David Krumholtz and Michael Urie are actually friends in real life, and it shows. Their timing is the best part of the show.
- Notice the set design: As a show about architects, the apartment and office sets are actually quite beautiful and represent that specific "transitional" interior design era.
- Study the cancellation: Use it as a case study in why the "multi-cam" format struggled to evolve during the rise of streaming.
The show serves as a reminder that talent doesn't always equal longevity. You can have Emmy-winning creators, a beloved cast, and a primetime slot, and still be gone before the first snow falls. If you're a fan of any of the leads, especially Sophia Bush or Brandon Routh, it’s worth the 22-minute investment per episode just to see them play different notes than their usual roles.
To get the full experience, try to find the international edit that includes all 13 episodes; the character arcs for Joe and Ali actually make a lot more sense when you see the back half of the season. Without those final seven episodes, the show just feels like an unfinished thought.