fbpx
Wikipedia

Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted is an American satirical sitcom series, created by Victor Fresco, who also served as the show's executive producer. The series ran on the ABC network from March 18, 2009, to January 26, 2010.[5]

Better Off Ted
Better Off Ted's logo
Genre
Created byVictor Fresco
Starring
Narrated byJay Harrington
Composers
  • Chris Alan Lee
  • Scott Clausen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26 (2 unaired in the U.S.) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerVictor Fresco
Producers
  • Marc Solakian
  • Skip Beaudine
Production locationsLos Angeles, California
Editors
  • Lisa Bromwell
  • Robert Bramwell
  • Peter Beyt
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time21 minutes
Production companies
Distributor20th Television
Release
Original network
Picture formatHDCAM-SR
Audio format5.1 Surround sound
Original releaseMarch 18, 2009 (2009-03-18) –
August 24, 2010 (2010-08-24)

Better Off Ted focuses on the protagonist, Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), a single father and the well-respected and beloved head of a research and development department at the fictional, soulless conglomerate of Veridian Dynamics. Ted narrates the series' events by regularly breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience on camera. Supporting characters include Ted's supervisor Veronica Palmer (Portia de Rossi), co-worker and love interest Linda Zwordling (Andrea Anders), his daughter Rose (Isabella Acres), and laboratory scientists Phillip Myman (Jonathan Slavin) and Lem Hewitt (Malcolm Barrett).

The series received critical acclaim, with particular praise going towards its witty and satirical humor. Its second season holds a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic. However, despite such positive feedback, the show's debut drew in only 5.64 million viewers and continued to have extremely low ratings.[6] Although many expressed skepticism that it would return, it was renewed for a second season.[7] On May 13, 2010, ABC officially canceled the series due to low viewing figures.[8] Two episodes were unaired in the United States, but are available to view on Hulu, Amazon Video on Demand, Microsoft Movies & TV, and iTunes.[9]

Plot

Better Off Ted is a satirical workplace comedy, centred around the employees of a stereotypically evil megacorporation of Veridian Dynamics.

Veridian Dynamics experiments on its employees, twists the truth, and will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. It has been mentioned that Veridian has swayed presidential elections, created killer pandas and robots, and weaponized pumpkins, and that there are only three governments left in the world more powerful than Veridian. Although not promoted as such, and rarely the focus of storylines, the show's frequent references to futuristic technologies, killer robots, sentient computers, etc., places Better Off Ted partly in the science fiction genre.

Most of the characters are fully aware of Veridian's nature, and often try to manipulate the system in order to stop bad things from happening to them (and sometimes to mitigate the evil effects of some of Veridian's projects). They are also all susceptible to the potential rewards the company can offer despite the consequences of their actions, such as the company's attempt to hire Lem's mother, or the company's introduction of scented light bulbs with known flaws. Much of the comedy of the show comes from the characters' navigation of these morally ambiguous areas.

Jay Harrington, who plays Ted Crisp on the show, serves both as a main character and as an on-camera narrator.[10] Throughout the show, he breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to viewers, offering inside information and observations while the action continues around him. Another plot element involves the use of mock commercials for Veridian Dynamics, thematically related to individual episodes and placed at the end or beginning of actual commercial breaks in most episodes.[10]

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113March 18, 2009 (2009-03-18)August 11, 2009 (2009-08-11)
213December 8, 2009 (2009-12-08)January 26, 2010 (2010-01-26)[note 1]
  1. ^ This is the final date an episode aired on ABC. Two episodes left unaired by ABC later aired internationally.

Season 1 (2009)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
11"Pilot"Michael FrescoVictor FrescoMarch 18, 2009 (2009-03-18)1APX79
Ted struggles to find the line between right and wrong, especially after the company decides to freeze Phil in its new cryonics chamber.
22"Heroes"Michael FrescoVictor FrescoMarch 25, 2009 (2009-03-25)1APX01
Ted and Veronica fake an award for Phil so he won't sue the company after getting frozen. Phil and Lem try to grow cowless beef.
33"Through Rose-colored HAZMAT Suits"Michael FrescoJustin AdlerApril 1, 2009 (2009-04-01)1APX02
Ted brings his daughter, Rose, to work, where she surprisingly bonds with Veronica. Meanwhile, Phil and Lem reexamine their working relationship and Linda's ex-boyfriend resurfaces.
44"Racial Sensitivity"Paul LazarusMichael GloubermanApril 8, 2009 (2009-04-08)1APX03
Ted discovers a glitch in the company's state-of-the-art sensor system, prompting Veronica and other execs to try half-witted (and racially insensitive) solutions instead of replacing the system.
55"Win Some, Dose Some"Michael FrescoElijah Aron & Jordan YoungApril 15, 2009 (2009-04-15)1APX07
Linda is accidentally dosed with an experimental drug that gives her bursts of energy and unexpected side effects. Ted and Veronica try to outdo each other while helping Rose with a school fund-raiser.
66"Goodbye, Mr. Chips"Paul LazarusBecky Mann & Audra SielaffApril 22, 2009 (2009-04-22)1APX08
Ted is inadvertently deleted from Veridian's system when he tries to fix his employee ID, and, as the lab falls into chaos, his peers try to remedy the situation.
77"Get Happy"Gail MancusoMike TeverbaughMay 5, 2009 (2009-05-05)1APX06
Veronica works on improving morale at the company and reinventing herself as someone more likeable after a survey reveals that the staff is miserable and Ted tries to win over an older demographic.
88"You Are the Boss of Me"Michael SpillerDan O'ShannonJune 23, 2009 (2009-06-23)1APX05
Lem and Phil reluctantly invite Ted to their Medieval Fight Club. Linda tries to befriend Veronica.
99"Bioshuffle"Michael FrescoMichael A. RossJune 30, 2009 (2009-06-30)1APX09
Tension occurs when Veronica, Linda, and Ted are forced to share offices. Lem asks Lucy, a beautiful scientist, out on a date.
1010"Trust and Consequence"Lee Shallat-ChemelMike TeverbaughJuly 14, 2009 (2009-07-14)1APX10
Veridian blames Linda for a perfume with unexpected side effects, and friends fall out when they are forced to testify.
1111"Father, Can You Hair Me?"Michael FrescoMichael GloubermanJuly 21, 2009 (2009-07-21)1APX11
Veronica's rivalry with her dad, the CEO for another big company, is out of control until she learns a shocking bit of news. Ted is thrilled that Phil and Lem may have discovered a cure for baldness.
1212"Jabberwocky"Michael FrescoMichael A. RossAugust 11, 2009 (2009-08-11)1APX04
Ted is forced to create a fake project for Linda rather than admit that Veridian lied in an advertisement about going green, but things go awry when other employees want to sign up.
1313"Secrets and Lives"Michael SpillerDan O'Shannon and Mike TeverbaughAugust 11, 2009 (2009-08-11)1APX12
The team learns a shocking secret about Veronica when an invention goes awry. Meanwhile, Linda tries to set up Ted with another woman (played by Rachelle Lefevre).

Season 2 (2009–10)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
141"Love Blurts"Michael FrescoJohn Hoberg & Kat LikkelDecember 8, 2009 (2009-12-08)2APX06
Veridian Dynamics tries to match employees based on their genetic compatibility; Linda and Ted find themselves instantly attracted to their supposed matches and the company wants Phil to get a vasectomy but won't tell him why.
152"The Lawyer, the Lemur and the Little Listener"Chris KochTim DoyleDecember 15, 2009 (2009-12-15)2APX04
When a wave of layoff hits Veridian and little Rose seems to have inside info because of a friend in her aftercare Hive playgroup, Veronica tries to pump her for information, much to Ted's disapproval. Meanwhile, Linda secretly works on a comical lemur that looks strikingly similar to Phil, but finds out it has been approved for a Japanese beer commercial for children.
163"Battle of the Bulbs"Marc BucklandMichael ShipleyDecember 22, 2009 (2009-12-22)2APX05
Lem's mother (Khandi Alexander), a brilliant scientist who has always intimidated him, visits and begins an affair with Dr. Bhamba. Plus, Ted and Linda try to work together on a sweet-scented lightbulb, but Ted opts for his own longer-lasting bulb.
174"It's Nothing Business, It's Just Personal"Marc BucklandVictor FrescoDecember 29, 2009 (2009-12-29)2APX02
When Veronica's magician boyfriend comes to town, she slacks off at work; oddly, Lem is given a red lab coat, while everyone else has a white one.
185"The Great Repression"Reginald HudlinBecky Mann & Audra SielaffJanuary 1, 2010 (2010-01-01)2APX08
A misunderstanding leads Sheila to falsely accuse Ted and Linda of sexual harassment. Veronica responds by convincing the company that sexual harassment attitudes are a disease and those doing so aren't responsible for their actions.
196"Beating a Dead Workforce"Marc BucklandIngrid EscajedaJanuary 5, 2010 (2010-01-05)2APX09
When an employee drops dead, Veronica tries to use his example to inspire the other employees to work harder.
207"Change We Can't Believe In"Lee Shallat-ChemelElijah Aron & Jordan YoungJanuary 5, 2010 (2010-01-05)2APX07
A security guard insists on being Ted's best friend, while Phil and Lem have to work on a project alone with Veronica.
218"The Impertence of Communicationizing"Michael FrescoMichael TeverbaughJanuary 12, 2010 (2010-01-12)2APX03
Due to a typo, a memo from Veridian to its employees inadvertently tells them that it is mandatory to use offensive language in the workplace.
229"The Long and Winding High Road"Michael SpillerMichael A. RossJanuary 12, 2010 (2010-01-12)2APX01
Ted takes on a rival executive and refuses to compromise his principles. Veronica has no such scruples.
2310"Lust in Translation"Lee Shallat-ChemelMichael ShipleyJanuary 19, 2010 (2010-01-19)2APX12
Ted uses a Veridian translator to strike up a romantic relationship with a German executive.
2411"Mess of a Salesman"Marc BucklandTim DoyleJanuary 26, 2010 (2010-01-26)2APX13
Ted convinces a Veridian supplier to hire his brother (Eddie McClintock) as a salesman. Meanwhile, Veronica receives an award from a charity for young girls.
2512"It's My Party and I'll Lie If I Want To"Michael SpillerMike TeverbaughAugust 17, 2010 (2010-08-17) (Network Ten)
Unaired (ABC)
2APX11
Veronica is suspicious that Ted might be using his daughter to bond with the boss in an effort to advance his career. Meanwhile, Phil and Lem tentatively start a friendship with Linda.
2613"Swag the Dog"Lee Shallat-ChemelMichael A. RossAugust 24, 2010 (2010-08-24) (Network Ten)
Unaired (ABC)
2APX10
Phil and Lem embark on a quest to gain respect around the office, Veronica goes on a reluctant treasure hunt inside the Veridian building, and Ted has to confront rumors of staff favoritism. Cast member Malcolm Barrett's rap recording "Revenge of the Nerds" is heard during the episode.

Cast

  • Jay Harrington as Theodore Margaret "Ted" Crisp: Ted is the titular character, and also the show's narrator. He is the senior vice-president of the Research and Development department at Veridian Dynamics,[1][11] and is well respected and loved by most of the employees – and even members of the otherwise difficult upper management. He balances his desire to maintain his position at the company with his feeling that he must demonstrate a moral center to his daughter. He has had sexual relations with his immediate supervisor, although she remains emotionally distant. He also has interest in Linda, who was a new hire to Veridian Dynamics at the launch of the series.
  • Portia de Rossi as Veronica Palmer: Veronica is Ted's boss and immediate supervisor at Veridian Dynamics.[1] She maintains a fierce and unapproachable workplace demeanor, and many employees have a deep fear of her.[11] She seems cold and calculating, but it is also clear that she has more than grudging respect for Ted, and often recognizes what moral action is necessary to maintain balance in the workplace. An ongoing subplot touched on sporadically in the first season but more frequently in the second sees Veronica becoming a mentor to Linda and, to a lesser degree, Rose.
  • Andrea Anders as Linda Katherine Zwordling: Linda is a tester in one of Veridian's departments.[12] She finds herself very attracted to Ted, but maintains other relationships and reminds Ted repeatedly that he has rejected the idea of a workplace romance with her. She seems to be a bit of an outsider to the corporate culture.[12] Often she demands that Ted consider the horrible ramifications of the company policies or activities. Her relationship with the scientists is strained by her rejection of the weird things they do in the name of science. Despite this, she finds herself increasingly looking at Veronica as a mentor as the series progresses.
  • Jonathan Slavin as Dr. Philip "Phil" Myman: Phil is one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian's Research Department.[11] He is usually working or hanging out with Lem, who works with him on almost every project. He generally does whatever he can to be accepted and avoid conflicts. He is married, and makes frequent references to his wife, who seems to hate him. In season 2's episode 6, "Beating a Dead Workforce", we learn she was a member of Mossad.
  • Malcolm Barrett as Dr. Lem Hewitt: Lem is one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian's Research Department.[11] He is best friends with his lab partner Phil, who works with him on almost every project. Lem is just as conflict-averse as Phil, and seems just as willing to roll over and take whatever abuse the company has to offer. He grew up in the shadow of his mother (Khandi Alexander) a renowned scientist.
  • Isabella Acres as Rose Crisp: Rose is Ted's daughter.[13] She attends the Veridian Dynamics daycare program when her nanny is not available, but prefers to stay at home. According to Ted, "her mom ran off to Africa to go save the world." She is often the voice of reason on the show. When Ted talks with her about work she points out the terrible choices the company makes, and often helps Ted focus on what needs to be done to set things straight. She attends Eugene Debs Elementary School. In season 2, she tells Veronica that she's 8 years old.

Production

Origin

Victor Fresco, the show's creator, has cited his being a new parent as inspiration for the show.[14] In an interview with NPR, he discussed how having a kid piqued his interest to develop a show about the disconnection between a person's public and personal lives, such as how parents teach their kids to be moral, yet work for giant corporations.[14] According to Fresco, Ted Crisp is the single father and his daughter serves as his moral compass.[14] Fresco stated that since he's worked for a few giant companies, he didn't base Veridian Dynamics on any specific corporation.[10] The show's name was based on the idea that a person is better off if they are Ted, that essentially the average person wants to be Ted.[15] Fresco has stated that he wasn't a fan of the show's title, but hadn't spoken of changing it.[15]

Casting

 
Fresco was convinced Portia de Rossi (pictured) was perfect for the role of Veronica.

In casting his crew, Fresco and his team worked fairly quickly.[10] "You don't have a lot of time to cast, unfortunately, and it's the most important thing in the show, I think." says Fresco, "Good casting can transcend mediocre material but the best material in the world cannot transcend the mediocre casting. It's all about casting and I think we got really lucky in all five of these regulars."[10]

Fresco approached Jonathan Slavin, with whom he had previously worked on the sitcom Andy Richter Controls the Universe, about playing the role of Phil. Being a fan of Slavin's work, he thought he'd be great for the role.[10] Andrea Anders, whom Fresco previously enjoyed on The Class, and Malcolm Barrett were cast for the roles of Linda and Lem respectively.[10] Portia de Rossi met with Fresco about the role of Veronica. Fresco assessed during their meeting that de Rossi was completely convinced that the role was perfect for her and that she was born to play it. He thought de Rossi nailed the role and cast her.[10] When asked what drew her to the role, de Rossi replied, "I'm really attracted to strong women."[16] De Rossi further went on to say, "I kind of had to throw myself at [Fresco]. I told him I'd played this character who had similar qualities, very work driven, strong, insensitive, slightly chilly. I had to convince him I could play this character well and could play a character of this nature."[16] Jay Harrington was the first person Fresco met with when trying to cast someone as Ted Crisp. Although Fresco really liked Harrington, he decided to see more people before casting the role. After five weeks, Harrington was cast.[10]

Cancellation

The series was officially canceled by ABC on May 13, 2010.[8] In an interview with New York Magazine, Victor Fresco, the show's creator, was asked why he thought the show didn't catch on. He responded, "I think not enough people knew about it. It wasn’t like we had a lot of people watch it and they didn’t come back to it. If anything, I think we were building slowly, but to me the way TV works is you spend a lot of money advertising and promoting, or you have to let a show stay some place for a long period of time and an audience slowly comes to it. And I don’t think we got either of that".[15] Fresco also added, "I still feel there’s an audience out there for it, because I know that the people who liked it, liked it a lot."[15]

At the time of its cancellation, two episodes of Better Off Ted had yet to be broadcast by ABC. The network announced on May 27, 2010, that it would air the two episodes back-to-back on June 17, 2010, contingent on the 2010 NBA Finals not requiring a seventh game.[17] Ultimately a seventh game was needed, and thus ABC did not air the final two episodes of the series.

DVD release

Better Off Ted: The Complete First Season
Set details:
  • 13 episodes
  • 2 disc set
Features:
  • Anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1 aspect ratio)
  • 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
  • Language: English and Spanish
  • Subtitles: English, French, and Spanish
Release dates: Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
December 1, 2009 2011[18]
Better Off Ted: The Complete Second Season[19]
Set details:
  • 13 episodes
  • 2 disc set
Features:
  • Multiple Formats
  • AC-3
  • Color
  • Dolby
  • DTS Surround Sound
  • Widescreen
  • NTSC
Release dates: Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
November 25, 2014

Reception

Critical response

Critics have praised Better Off Ted's witty and satirical humour, as well as its cast. According to Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the show's first season holds a score of 68 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews", based on 21 reviews.[20] Misha Davenport of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote favorably of the show, comparing its characters to those of the highly acclaimed show Arrested Development.[20] Linda Stasi of the New York Post gave the show three-and-a-half out of four stars, lauding the cast and simply referring to it as "a very funny comedy".[21] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the show a B+, stating "'Better Off Ted' is certainly the most original sitcom to come along in a while."[22] Robert Bianco from USA Today referred to the show as "well-cast and reasonably entertaining."[23]

After returning for a second season, the show became even more acclaimed and is considered by some critics to be a vast improvement on its first.[24] On Metacritic, it holds a score of 84 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim", based on 11 reviews.[24] Linda Stasi of the New York Post gave the show's second season a perfect score, calling it "hilarious and even funnier this year than last."[12] Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle also gave the show's second season a perfect score, praising the show's return, saying it "means there's finally something good (and funny) on Tuesday nights."[25] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the show's return an A−, stating "Thank goodness Better Off Ted has returned intact. I love everything about this show, from star Jay Harrington's delivery of Ted's straight-man lines with WASP ramrod posture to the show's up-front critiques of corporate capitalism."[26]

Ratings

The show's pilot episode averaged a total of 5.64 million viewers,[6] which made it ABC's lowest-rated comedy debut since 2005.[27] The show's first season continued to experience both a drop and mild fluctuation in ratings, taking in only 2.41 million for its finale.[28] After being renewed, the show's second season premiered to a low 3.82 million viewers.[29]

Episode Number Season Episode Rating 18–49 Rating Viewers (millions)
1 1 "Pilot" 3.6 2.2/6[27] 5.64[27]
2 1 "Heroes" 3.0 1.8/5[30] 4.69[30]
3 1 "Through Rose-colored HAZMAT Suits" 3.1 1.8/5[31] 4.71[31]
4 1 "Racial Sensitivity" 2.7 1.7/5[32] 4.21[32]
5 1 "Win Some, Dose Some" 2.9 1.9/6[33] 4.72[33]
6 1 "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" 2.7 1.7/5[34] 4.20[34]
7 1 "Get Happy" 2.1 1.2/3[35] 3.22[35]
8 1 "You Are the Boss of Me" 1.3 0.8/2[36] 1.87[36]
9 1 "Bioshuffle" 1.2 0.6/2[37] 1.78[37]
10 1 "Trust and Consequence" 1.7 1.0/3[38] 2.57[38]
11 1 "Father, Can You Hair Me?" 1.4 0.7/2[39] 1.87[39]
12 1 "Jabberwocky" 1.7 0.9/3[40] 2.75[40]
13 1 "Secrets and Lives" 1.7 0.9/3[40] 2.41[40]
14 2 "Love Blurts" 2.5 1.5/4[41] 3.82[41]
15 2 "The Lawyer, The Lemur and the Little Listener" 2.1[42] 1.3/3[42] 3.18[42]
16 2 "Battle of the Bulbs" 1.9 1.0/3[43] 2.88[43]
17 2 "It's Nothing Business, It's Just Personal" 1.7 1.0/3[44] 2.69[44]
18 2 "The Great Repression" 3.4 1.7/5[45] 5.62[45]
19 2 "Beating a Dead Workforce" 1.9 1.3/3[46] 2.99[46]
20 2 "Change We Can't Believe In" 1.7 1.1/3[46] 2.60[46]
21 2 "The Impertence of Communicationizing" 1.4 0.8/2[47] 2.23[47]
22 2 "The Long and Winding High Road" 1.8 1.0/2[47] 2.53[47]
23 2 "Lust in Translation" 2.1 1.3/3[48] 3.24[49]
24 2 "Mess of a Salesman" 1.7 1.0/2[50] 2.55[49]
25 2 "It's My Party, and I'll Lie if I Want To"
26 2 "Swag the Dog"

Awards and accolades

On TV.com, editorial assistant Anna Hiatt included the show in the website's list of The Best TV Shows of 2009.[51] Josh Bell, a writer from About.com, ranked the series second on his list of The Best TV Comedies of 2010.[52] In 2009, the show was nominated for an EWwy Award for Best Comedy Series.

Music video reunion

In mid-2011 series co-star Malcolm Barrett released his first single, "Revenge of the Nerds" under his alternate performance name, Verbal. The official music video for the song, released in June 2011, reunited all the major cast members of Better Off Ted, although only Barrett, Slavin and de Rossi reprised their original series characters (Harrington and Anders appear as a high school jock and a cheerleader, respectively, while series creator Victor Fresco also appears in the video).[53] Barrett's recording is also included on the soundtrack of the final episode of Better Off Ted, "Swag the Dog."

References

  1. ^ a b c Kilcoin, Brigid (March 22, 2009). "ABC's 'Better off Ted' succumbs to an unoriginal premise". Michigan Daily. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  2. ^ Woerner, Meredith (February 5, 2009). "Could Better Off Ted Save The Science Fiction Comedy Genre?". io9. New York: Gawker Media. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Dan Seitz (January 26, 2015). "All The Reasons 'Better Off Ted' Should Be The Next Comedy You Binge Watch On Netflix". Uproxx.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Ken Tucker (December 8, 2009). "Better Off Ted". EW.com. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  5. ^ "ABC Announces New Thursday Night Comedy Block With "In the Motherhood" and "Samantha Who"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Mitovich, Matt. "Ratings: All-Time Low Harshes Lost's Mellow". TV Guide. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  7. ^ "ABC Picks Up V; Renews Better off Ted: Also ordering Eastwick and much more for next season". IGN. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  8. ^ a b . Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  9. ^ Lee, Stefanie. "The Unaired Better Off Ted Episodes are Now Available!". TV.com. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halterman, Jim. "INTERVIEW: VICTOR FRESCO ON BEING "BETTER OFF TED" FOR ABC". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d Goodman, Tim (March 18, 2009). "TV review: 'Better Off Ted' develops laughs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c Stasi, Linda (December 15, 2009). "An office comedy with benefits". New York Post. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  13. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (March 18, 2009). "'Ted' has a mean sense of humor, but a good heart". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Raz, Guy. "Series Creator, Star Weigh In On 'Better Off Ted'". National Public Radio. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d Lynch, Joseph. "Better Off Ted Creator Victor Fresco on Why His Cult-Favorite Show Likely Got Canceled". New York. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Goldman, Eric. "Portia de Rossi Talks Better Off Ted: The Arrested Development star on her new series". IGN. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  17. ^ Fienberg, Daniel. "'Better Off Ted' fans should pray for a short NBA Finals". Hitfix.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  18. ^ "Better Off Ted – The Complete 1st Season (817772)". EzyDVD. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  19. ^ Lambert, David (September 5, 2014). . TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Better Off Ted: Season 1 – ABC". Metacritic. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  21. ^ Stasi, Linda (March 18, 2009). . New York Post. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  22. ^ Tucker, Ken (March 11, 2009). "Better Off Ted (2009):Reviewed by Ken Tucker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  23. ^ Bianco, Robert (March 18, 2009). "'Ted' profits from funny lines, first-rate cast". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Better Off Ted: Season 2 – ABC". Metacritic. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  25. ^ Goodman, Tim (December 4, 2009). "TV review: 'Better Off Ted' is best on ABC". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  26. ^ Tucker, Ken (December 9, 2009). "Better Off Ted (2009):Reviewed by Ken Tucker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  27. ^ a b c Seidman, Robert (March 19, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  28. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 12, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  29. ^ Gorman, Bill (December 9, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  30. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (March 26, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  31. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (April 2, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  32. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (April 9, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  33. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (April 16, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  34. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (April 23, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  35. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (May 7, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  36. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (June 24, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  37. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (July 1, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  38. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (July 15, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  39. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (July 22, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  40. ^ a b c d Seidman, Robert (August 12, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  41. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (December 9, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  42. ^ a b c Seidman, Robert (December 16, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  43. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (December 23, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  44. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (December 30, 2009). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  45. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (January 2, 2010). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 16, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  46. ^ a b c d Gorman, Bill (January 6, 2010). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  47. ^ a b c d Gorman, Bill (January 13, 2010). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  48. ^ Gorman, Bill (January 20, 2010). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  49. ^ a b Stanhope, Kate (May 14, 2010). "Report: ABC Cancels Scrubs, FlashForward, Romantically Challenged and Better Off Ted". TV Guide. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  50. ^ Gorman, Bill (January 27, 2010). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  51. ^ Hiatt, Anna (December 23, 2009). "The Best TV Shows of 2009". TV.com. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  52. ^ Bell, Josh (2010). . About.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  53. ^ . Zap2It.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.

External links

  • Better Off Ted at IMDb

better, american, satirical, sitcom, series, created, victor, fresco, also, served, show, executive, producer, series, network, from, march, 2009, january, 2010, logogenresatire, science, fiction, dark, comedy, sitcom, created, byvictor, frescostarringjay, har. Better Off Ted is an American satirical sitcom series created by Victor Fresco who also served as the show s executive producer The series ran on the ABC network from March 18 2009 to January 26 2010 5 Better Off TedBetter Off Ted s logoGenreSatire 1 Science fiction 2 Dark comedy 3 Sitcom 4 Created byVictor FrescoStarringJay Harrington Portia de Rossi Andrea Anders Jonathan Slavin Malcolm Barrett Isabella AcresNarrated byJay HarringtonComposersChris Alan Lee Scott ClausenCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons2No of episodes26 2 unaired in the U S list of episodes ProductionExecutive producerVictor FrescoProducersMarc Solakian Skip BeaudineProduction locationsLos Angeles CaliforniaEditorsLisa Bromwell Robert Bramwell Peter BeytCamera setupSingle cameraRunning time21 minutesProduction companiesGarfield Grove Productions 20th Century Fox TelevisionDistributor20th TelevisionReleaseOriginal networkABC episodes 1 24 Network Ten episodes 25 26 Picture formatHDCAM SRAudio format5 1 Surround soundOriginal releaseMarch 18 2009 2009 03 18 August 24 2010 2010 08 24 Better Off Ted focuses on the protagonist Ted Crisp Jay Harrington a single father and the well respected and beloved head of a research and development department at the fictional soulless conglomerate of Veridian Dynamics Ted narrates the series events by regularly breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the audience on camera Supporting characters include Ted s supervisor Veronica Palmer Portia de Rossi co worker and love interest Linda Zwordling Andrea Anders his daughter Rose Isabella Acres and laboratory scientists Phillip Myman Jonathan Slavin and Lem Hewitt Malcolm Barrett The series received critical acclaim with particular praise going towards its witty and satirical humor Its second season holds a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic However despite such positive feedback the show s debut drew in only 5 64 million viewers and continued to have extremely low ratings 6 Although many expressed skepticism that it would return it was renewed for a second season 7 On May 13 2010 ABC officially canceled the series due to low viewing figures 8 Two episodes were unaired in the United States but are available to view on Hulu Amazon Video on Demand Microsoft Movies amp TV and iTunes 9 Contents 1 Plot 2 Episodes 2 1 Series overview 2 2 Season 1 2009 2 3 Season 2 2009 10 3 Cast 4 Production 4 1 Origin 4 2 Casting 4 3 Cancellation 5 DVD release 6 Reception 6 1 Critical response 6 2 Ratings 6 3 Awards and accolades 7 Music video reunion 8 References 9 External linksPlot EditBetter Off Ted is a satirical workplace comedy centred around the employees of a stereotypically evil megacorporation of Veridian Dynamics Veridian Dynamics experiments on its employees twists the truth and will stop at nothing to achieve its goals It has been mentioned that Veridian has swayed presidential elections created killer pandas and robots and weaponized pumpkins and that there are only three governments left in the world more powerful than Veridian Although not promoted as such and rarely the focus of storylines the show s frequent references to futuristic technologies killer robots sentient computers etc places Better Off Ted partly in the science fiction genre Most of the characters are fully aware of Veridian s nature and often try to manipulate the system in order to stop bad things from happening to them and sometimes to mitigate the evil effects of some of Veridian s projects They are also all susceptible to the potential rewards the company can offer despite the consequences of their actions such as the company s attempt to hire Lem s mother or the company s introduction of scented light bulbs with known flaws Much of the comedy of the show comes from the characters navigation of these morally ambiguous areas Jay Harrington who plays Ted Crisp on the show serves both as a main character and as an on camera narrator 10 Throughout the show he breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to viewers offering inside information and observations while the action continues around him Another plot element involves the use of mock commercials for Veridian Dynamics thematically related to individual episodes and placed at the end or beginning of actual commercial breaks in most episodes 10 Episodes EditSeries overview Edit SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast aired113March 18 2009 2009 03 18 August 11 2009 2009 08 11 213December 8 2009 2009 12 08 January 26 2010 2010 01 26 note 1 This is the final date an episode aired on ABC Two episodes left unaired by ABC later aired internationally Season 1 2009 Edit No overallNo inseasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd code11 Pilot Michael FrescoVictor FrescoMarch 18 2009 2009 03 18 1APX79Ted struggles to find the line between right and wrong especially after the company decides to freeze Phil in its new cryonics chamber 22 Heroes Michael FrescoVictor FrescoMarch 25 2009 2009 03 25 1APX01Ted and Veronica fake an award for Phil so he won t sue the company after getting frozen Phil and Lem try to grow cowless beef 33 Through Rose colored HAZMAT Suits Michael FrescoJustin AdlerApril 1 2009 2009 04 01 1APX02Ted brings his daughter Rose to work where she surprisingly bonds with Veronica Meanwhile Phil and Lem reexamine their working relationship and Linda s ex boyfriend resurfaces 44 Racial Sensitivity Paul LazarusMichael GloubermanApril 8 2009 2009 04 08 1APX03Ted discovers a glitch in the company s state of the art sensor system prompting Veronica and other execs to try half witted and racially insensitive solutions instead of replacing the system 55 Win Some Dose Some Michael FrescoElijah Aron amp Jordan YoungApril 15 2009 2009 04 15 1APX07Linda is accidentally dosed with an experimental drug that gives her bursts of energy and unexpected side effects Ted and Veronica try to outdo each other while helping Rose with a school fund raiser 66 Goodbye Mr Chips Paul LazarusBecky Mann amp Audra SielaffApril 22 2009 2009 04 22 1APX08Ted is inadvertently deleted from Veridian s system when he tries to fix his employee ID and as the lab falls into chaos his peers try to remedy the situation 77 Get Happy Gail MancusoMike TeverbaughMay 5 2009 2009 05 05 1APX06Veronica works on improving morale at the company and reinventing herself as someone more likeable after a survey reveals that the staff is miserable and Ted tries to win over an older demographic 88 You Are the Boss of Me Michael SpillerDan O ShannonJune 23 2009 2009 06 23 1APX05Lem and Phil reluctantly invite Ted to their Medieval Fight Club Linda tries to befriend Veronica 99 Bioshuffle Michael FrescoMichael A RossJune 30 2009 2009 06 30 1APX09Tension occurs when Veronica Linda and Ted are forced to share offices Lem asks Lucy a beautiful scientist out on a date 1010 Trust and Consequence Lee Shallat ChemelMike TeverbaughJuly 14 2009 2009 07 14 1APX10Veridian blames Linda for a perfume with unexpected side effects and friends fall out when they are forced to testify 1111 Father Can You Hair Me Michael FrescoMichael GloubermanJuly 21 2009 2009 07 21 1APX11Veronica s rivalry with her dad the CEO for another big company is out of control until she learns a shocking bit of news Ted is thrilled that Phil and Lem may have discovered a cure for baldness 1212 Jabberwocky Michael FrescoMichael A RossAugust 11 2009 2009 08 11 1APX04Ted is forced to create a fake project for Linda rather than admit that Veridian lied in an advertisement about going green but things go awry when other employees want to sign up 1313 Secrets and Lives Michael SpillerDan O Shannon and Mike TeverbaughAugust 11 2009 2009 08 11 1APX12The team learns a shocking secret about Veronica when an invention goes awry Meanwhile Linda tries to set up Ted with another woman played by Rachelle Lefevre Season 2 2009 10 Edit No overallNo inseasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd code141 Love Blurts Michael FrescoJohn Hoberg amp Kat LikkelDecember 8 2009 2009 12 08 2APX06Veridian Dynamics tries to match employees based on their genetic compatibility Linda and Ted find themselves instantly attracted to their supposed matches and the company wants Phil to get a vasectomy but won t tell him why 152 The Lawyer the Lemur and the Little Listener Chris KochTim DoyleDecember 15 2009 2009 12 15 2APX04When a wave of layoff hits Veridian and little Rose seems to have inside info because of a friend in her aftercare Hive playgroup Veronica tries to pump her for information much to Ted s disapproval Meanwhile Linda secretly works on a comical lemur that looks strikingly similar to Phil but finds out it has been approved for a Japanese beer commercial for children 163 Battle of the Bulbs Marc BucklandMichael ShipleyDecember 22 2009 2009 12 22 2APX05Lem s mother Khandi Alexander a brilliant scientist who has always intimidated him visits and begins an affair with Dr Bhamba Plus Ted and Linda try to work together on a sweet scented lightbulb but Ted opts for his own longer lasting bulb 174 It s Nothing Business It s Just Personal Marc BucklandVictor FrescoDecember 29 2009 2009 12 29 2APX02When Veronica s magician boyfriend comes to town she slacks off at work oddly Lem is given a red lab coat while everyone else has a white one 185 The Great Repression Reginald HudlinBecky Mann amp Audra SielaffJanuary 1 2010 2010 01 01 2APX08A misunderstanding leads Sheila to falsely accuse Ted and Linda of sexual harassment Veronica responds by convincing the company that sexual harassment attitudes are a disease and those doing so aren t responsible for their actions 196 Beating a Dead Workforce Marc BucklandIngrid EscajedaJanuary 5 2010 2010 01 05 2APX09When an employee drops dead Veronica tries to use his example to inspire the other employees to work harder 207 Change We Can t Believe In Lee Shallat ChemelElijah Aron amp Jordan YoungJanuary 5 2010 2010 01 05 2APX07A security guard insists on being Ted s best friend while Phil and Lem have to work on a project alone with Veronica 218 The Impertence of Communicationizing Michael FrescoMichael TeverbaughJanuary 12 2010 2010 01 12 2APX03Due to a typo a memo from Veridian to its employees inadvertently tells them that it is mandatory to use offensive language in the workplace 229 The Long and Winding High Road Michael SpillerMichael A RossJanuary 12 2010 2010 01 12 2APX01Ted takes on a rival executive and refuses to compromise his principles Veronica has no such scruples 2310 Lust in Translation Lee Shallat ChemelMichael ShipleyJanuary 19 2010 2010 01 19 2APX12Ted uses a Veridian translator to strike up a romantic relationship with a German executive 2411 Mess of a Salesman Marc BucklandTim DoyleJanuary 26 2010 2010 01 26 2APX13Ted convinces a Veridian supplier to hire his brother Eddie McClintock as a salesman Meanwhile Veronica receives an award from a charity for young girls 2512 It s My Party and I ll Lie If I Want To Michael SpillerMike TeverbaughAugust 17 2010 2010 08 17 Network Ten Unaired ABC 2APX11Veronica is suspicious that Ted might be using his daughter to bond with the boss in an effort to advance his career Meanwhile Phil and Lem tentatively start a friendship with Linda 2613 Swag the Dog Lee Shallat ChemelMichael A RossAugust 24 2010 2010 08 24 Network Ten Unaired ABC 2APX10Phil and Lem embark on a quest to gain respect around the office Veronica goes on a reluctant treasure hunt inside the Veridian building and Ted has to confront rumors of staff favoritism Cast member Malcolm Barrett s rap recording Revenge of the Nerds is heard during the episode Cast EditMain article List of Better Off Ted characters Jay Harrington as Theodore Margaret Ted Crisp Ted is the titular character and also the show s narrator He is the senior vice president of the Research and Development department at Veridian Dynamics 1 11 and is well respected and loved by most of the employees and even members of the otherwise difficult upper management He balances his desire to maintain his position at the company with his feeling that he must demonstrate a moral center to his daughter He has had sexual relations with his immediate supervisor although she remains emotionally distant He also has interest in Linda who was a new hire to Veridian Dynamics at the launch of the series Portia de Rossi as Veronica Palmer Veronica is Ted s boss and immediate supervisor at Veridian Dynamics 1 She maintains a fierce and unapproachable workplace demeanor and many employees have a deep fear of her 11 She seems cold and calculating but it is also clear that she has more than grudging respect for Ted and often recognizes what moral action is necessary to maintain balance in the workplace An ongoing subplot touched on sporadically in the first season but more frequently in the second sees Veronica becoming a mentor to Linda and to a lesser degree Rose Andrea Anders as Linda Katherine Zwordling Linda is a tester in one of Veridian s departments 12 She finds herself very attracted to Ted but maintains other relationships and reminds Ted repeatedly that he has rejected the idea of a workplace romance with her She seems to be a bit of an outsider to the corporate culture 12 Often she demands that Ted consider the horrible ramifications of the company policies or activities Her relationship with the scientists is strained by her rejection of the weird things they do in the name of science Despite this she finds herself increasingly looking at Veronica as a mentor as the series progresses Jonathan Slavin as Dr Philip Phil Myman Phil is one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian s Research Department 11 He is usually working or hanging out with Lem who works with him on almost every project He generally does whatever he can to be accepted and avoid conflicts He is married and makes frequent references to his wife who seems to hate him In season 2 s episode 6 Beating a Dead Workforce we learn she was a member of Mossad Malcolm Barrett as Dr Lem Hewitt Lem is one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian s Research Department 11 He is best friends with his lab partner Phil who works with him on almost every project Lem is just as conflict averse as Phil and seems just as willing to roll over and take whatever abuse the company has to offer He grew up in the shadow of his mother Khandi Alexander a renowned scientist Isabella Acres as Rose Crisp Rose is Ted s daughter 13 She attends the Veridian Dynamics daycare program when her nanny is not available but prefers to stay at home According to Ted her mom ran off to Africa to go save the world She is often the voice of reason on the show When Ted talks with her about work she points out the terrible choices the company makes and often helps Ted focus on what needs to be done to set things straight She attends Eugene Debs Elementary School In season 2 she tells Veronica that she s 8 years old Production EditOrigin Edit Victor Fresco the show s creator has cited his being a new parent as inspiration for the show 14 In an interview with NPR he discussed how having a kid piqued his interest to develop a show about the disconnection between a person s public and personal lives such as how parents teach their kids to be moral yet work for giant corporations 14 According to Fresco Ted Crisp is the single father and his daughter serves as his moral compass 14 Fresco stated that since he s worked for a few giant companies he didn t base Veridian Dynamics on any specific corporation 10 The show s name was based on the idea that a person is better off if they are Ted that essentially the average person wants to be Ted 15 Fresco has stated that he wasn t a fan of the show s title but hadn t spoken of changing it 15 Casting Edit Fresco was convinced Portia de Rossi pictured was perfect for the role of Veronica In casting his crew Fresco and his team worked fairly quickly 10 You don t have a lot of time to cast unfortunately and it s the most important thing in the show I think says Fresco Good casting can transcend mediocre material but the best material in the world cannot transcend the mediocre casting It s all about casting and I think we got really lucky in all five of these regulars 10 Fresco approached Jonathan Slavin with whom he had previously worked on the sitcom Andy Richter Controls the Universe about playing the role of Phil Being a fan of Slavin s work he thought he d be great for the role 10 Andrea Anders whom Fresco previously enjoyed on The Class and Malcolm Barrett were cast for the roles of Linda and Lem respectively 10 Portia de Rossi met with Fresco about the role of Veronica Fresco assessed during their meeting that de Rossi was completely convinced that the role was perfect for her and that she was born to play it He thought de Rossi nailed the role and cast her 10 When asked what drew her to the role de Rossi replied I m really attracted to strong women 16 De Rossi further went on to say I kind of had to throw myself at Fresco I told him I d played this character who had similar qualities very work driven strong insensitive slightly chilly I had to convince him I could play this character well and could play a character of this nature 16 Jay Harrington was the first person Fresco met with when trying to cast someone as Ted Crisp Although Fresco really liked Harrington he decided to see more people before casting the role After five weeks Harrington was cast 10 Cancellation Edit The series was officially canceled by ABC on May 13 2010 8 In an interview with New York Magazine Victor Fresco the show s creator was asked why he thought the show didn t catch on He responded I think not enough people knew about it It wasn t like we had a lot of people watch it and they didn t come back to it If anything I think we were building slowly but to me the way TV works is you spend a lot of money advertising and promoting or you have to let a show stay some place for a long period of time and an audience slowly comes to it And I don t think we got either of that 15 Fresco also added I still feel there s an audience out there for it because I know that the people who liked it liked it a lot 15 At the time of its cancellation two episodes of Better Off Ted had yet to be broadcast by ABC The network announced on May 27 2010 that it would air the two episodes back to back on June 17 2010 contingent on the 2010 NBA Finals not requiring a seventh game 17 Ultimately a seventh game was needed and thus ABC did not air the final two episodes of the series DVD release EditBetter Off Ted The Complete First Season Set details 13 episodes 2 disc set Features Anamorphic widescreen 1 78 1 aspect ratio 5 1 Dolby Digital Surround Language English and Spanish Subtitles English French and SpanishRelease dates Region 1 Region 2 Region 4December 1 2009 2011 18 Better Off Ted The Complete Second Season 19 Set details 13 episodes 2 disc set Features Multiple Formats AC 3 Color Dolby DTS Surround Sound Widescreen NTSCRelease dates Region 1 Region 2 Region 4November 25 2014Reception EditCritical response Edit Critics have praised Better Off Ted s witty and satirical humour as well as its cast According to Metacritic which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics the show s first season holds a score of 68 out of 100 indicating generally favorable reviews based on 21 reviews 20 Misha Davenport of the Chicago Sun Times wrote favorably of the show comparing its characters to those of the highly acclaimed show Arrested Development 20 Linda Stasi of the New York Post gave the show three and a half out of four stars lauding the cast and simply referring to it as a very funny comedy 21 Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the show a B stating Better Off Ted is certainly the most original sitcom to come along in a while 22 Robert Bianco from USA Today referred to the show as well cast and reasonably entertaining 23 After returning for a second season the show became even more acclaimed and is considered by some critics to be a vast improvement on its first 24 On Metacritic it holds a score of 84 out of 100 indicating universal acclaim based on 11 reviews 24 Linda Stasi of the New York Post gave the show s second season a perfect score calling it hilarious and even funnier this year than last 12 Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle also gave the show s second season a perfect score praising the show s return saying it means there s finally something good and funny on Tuesday nights 25 Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave the show s return an A stating Thank goodness Better Off Ted has returned intact I love everything about this show from star Jay Harrington s delivery of Ted s straight man lines with WASP ramrod posture to the show s up front critiques of corporate capitalism 26 Ratings Edit The show s pilot episode averaged a total of 5 64 million viewers 6 which made it ABC s lowest rated comedy debut since 2005 27 The show s first season continued to experience both a drop and mild fluctuation in ratings taking in only 2 41 million for its finale 28 After being renewed the show s second season premiered to a low 3 82 million viewers 29 Episode Number Season Episode Rating 18 49 Rating Viewers millions 1 1 Pilot 3 6 2 2 6 27 5 64 27 2 1 Heroes 3 0 1 8 5 30 4 69 30 3 1 Through Rose colored HAZMAT Suits 3 1 1 8 5 31 4 71 31 4 1 Racial Sensitivity 2 7 1 7 5 32 4 21 32 5 1 Win Some Dose Some 2 9 1 9 6 33 4 72 33 6 1 Goodbye Mr Chips 2 7 1 7 5 34 4 20 34 7 1 Get Happy 2 1 1 2 3 35 3 22 35 8 1 You Are the Boss of Me 1 3 0 8 2 36 1 87 36 9 1 Bioshuffle 1 2 0 6 2 37 1 78 37 10 1 Trust and Consequence 1 7 1 0 3 38 2 57 38 11 1 Father Can You Hair Me 1 4 0 7 2 39 1 87 39 12 1 Jabberwocky 1 7 0 9 3 40 2 75 40 13 1 Secrets and Lives 1 7 0 9 3 40 2 41 40 14 2 Love Blurts 2 5 1 5 4 41 3 82 41 15 2 The Lawyer The Lemur and the Little Listener 2 1 42 1 3 3 42 3 18 42 16 2 Battle of the Bulbs 1 9 1 0 3 43 2 88 43 17 2 It s Nothing Business It s Just Personal 1 7 1 0 3 44 2 69 44 18 2 The Great Repression 3 4 1 7 5 45 5 62 45 19 2 Beating a Dead Workforce 1 9 1 3 3 46 2 99 46 20 2 Change We Can t Believe In 1 7 1 1 3 46 2 60 46 21 2 The Impertence of Communicationizing 1 4 0 8 2 47 2 23 47 22 2 The Long and Winding High Road 1 8 1 0 2 47 2 53 47 23 2 Lust in Translation 2 1 1 3 3 48 3 24 49 24 2 Mess of a Salesman 1 7 1 0 2 50 2 55 49 25 2 It s My Party and I ll Lie if I Want To 26 2 Swag the Dog Awards and accolades Edit On TV com editorial assistant Anna Hiatt included the show in the website s list of The Best TV Shows of 2009 51 Josh Bell a writer from About com ranked the series second on his list of The Best TV Comedies of 2010 52 In 2009 the show was nominated for an EWwy Award for Best Comedy Series Music video reunion EditIn mid 2011 series co star Malcolm Barrett released his first single Revenge of the Nerds under his alternate performance name Verbal The official music video for the song released in June 2011 reunited all the major cast members of Better Off Ted although only Barrett Slavin and de Rossi reprised their original series characters Harrington and Anders appear as a high school jock and a cheerleader respectively while series creator Victor Fresco also appears in the video 53 Barrett s recording is also included on the soundtrack of the final episode of Better Off Ted Swag the Dog References Edit a b c Kilcoin Brigid March 22 2009 ABC s Better off Ted succumbs to an unoriginal premise Michigan Daily Retrieved December 11 2010 Woerner Meredith February 5 2009 Could Better Off Ted Save The Science Fiction Comedy Genre io9 New York Gawker Media Retrieved February 21 2010 Dan Seitz January 26 2015 All The Reasons Better Off Ted Should Be The Next Comedy You Binge Watch On Netflix Uproxx com Retrieved October 1 2019 Ken Tucker December 8 2009 Better Off Ted EW com Retrieved February 21 2010 ABC Announces New Thursday Night Comedy Block With In the Motherhood and Samantha Who The Futon Critic Retrieved September 11 2010 a b Mitovich Matt Ratings All Time Low Harshes Lost s Mellow TV Guide Retrieved September 11 2010 ABC Picks Up V Renews Better off Ted Also ordering Eastwick and much more for next season IGN Retrieved September 11 2010 a b Report FlashForward Romantically Challenged Better Off Ted Scrubs Canceled Archived from the original on May 18 2010 Retrieved September 11 2010 Lee Stefanie The Unaired Better Off Ted Episodes are Now Available TV com Retrieved September 11 2010 a b c d e f g h i Halterman Jim INTERVIEW VICTOR FRESCO ON BEING BETTER OFF TED FOR ABC The Futon Critic Retrieved September 12 2010 a b c d Goodman Tim March 18 2009 TV review Better Off Ted develops laughs The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved January 12 2010 a b c Stasi Linda December 15 2009 An office comedy with benefits New York Post Retrieved September 11 2010 Gilbert Matthew March 18 2009 Ted has a mean sense of humor but a good heart The Boston Globe Retrieved January 13 2011 a b c Raz Guy Series Creator Star Weigh In On Better Off Ted National Public Radio Retrieved September 11 2010 a b c d Lynch Joseph Better Off Ted Creator Victor Fresco on Why His Cult Favorite Show Likely Got Canceled New York Retrieved September 12 2010 a b Goldman Eric Portia de Rossi Talks Better Off Ted The Arrested Development star on her new series IGN Retrieved September 12 2010 Fienberg Daniel Better Off Ted fans should pray for a short NBA Finals Hitfix com Retrieved November 13 2011 Better Off Ted The Complete 1st Season 817772 EzyDVD Retrieved January 11 2011 Lambert David September 5 2014 Better Off Ted The 2nd and Final Funny Season Comes to DVD at Long Long Last TV Shows on DVD Archived from the original on September 7 2014 Retrieved September 5 2014 a b Better Off Ted Season 1 ABC Metacritic Retrieved September 11 2010 Stasi Linda March 18 2009 Ted Ringer New Office Comedy Is Better Off Than Most New York Post Archived from the original on October 20 2012 Retrieved September 11 2010 Tucker Ken March 11 2009 Better Off Ted 2009 Reviewed by Ken Tucker Entertainment Weekly Retrieved September 11 2010 Bianco Robert March 18 2009 Ted profits from funny lines first rate cast USA Today Retrieved January 14 2011 a b Better Off Ted Season 2 ABC Metacritic Retrieved September 11 2010 Goodman Tim December 4 2009 TV review Better Off Ted is best on ABC San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved September 11 2010 Tucker Ken December 9 2009 Better Off Ted 2009 Reviewed by Ken Tucker Entertainment Weekly Retrieved September 11 2010 a b c Seidman Robert March 19 2009 Wednesday Ratings Better off Ted ABC s lowest rated comedy debut since 2005 TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on November 30 2010 Retrieved January 13 2010 Seidman Robert August 12 2009 TV Ratings Talent reality rule ABC not better off with Ted TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on June 25 2011 Retrieved January 13 2010 Gorman Bill December 9 2009 TV Ratings Tuesday Biggest Loser Finale Wins Large Leno Bulks Up Ted Premiere Weak TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved January 13 2010 a b Seidman Robert March 26 2009 Wednesday Ratings American Idol strong Lost low TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Seidman Robert April 2 2009 Wednesday Ratings American Idol and Lost lead night TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Seidman Robert April 9 2009 Wednesday Ratings American Idol wins again Unusuals rather usual for ABC TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Seidman Robert April 16 2009 Wednesday Ratings FOX wins Lost rebounds a tiny bit The Unusuals still doomed TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Seidman Robert April 23 2009 Updated Wednesday Ratings FOX cruises with American Idol but Lie to Me weakens TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Gorman Bill May 7 2009 Same Ol Tuesday Ratings Fox Wins Better Off Ted s Dead TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved November 25 2010 a b Gorman Bill June 24 2009 Tuesday Ratings NBC s America s Got Talent Returns To Win ABC s Superstars Hardly Super TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on April 12 2011 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Gorman Bill July 1 2009 Tuesday Ratings NBC s Got Talent ABC s Got Nothing TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Gorman Bill July 15 2009 Tuesday Ratings Fox AL MLB All Star Game Win America s Got Talent Does Well At 9pm TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 7 2010 a b Gorman Bill July 22 2009 Tuesday Ratings Hell s Kitchen Returns Down Still Shouts Fox To Victory TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on September 13 2011 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b c d Seidman Robert August 12 2009 TV Ratings Talent reality rule ABC not better off with Ted TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on June 25 2011 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b Gorman Bill December 9 2009 TV Ratings Tuesday Biggest Loser Finale Wins Large Leno Bulks Up Ted Premiere Weak TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b c Seidman Robert December 16 2009 Tuesday Broadcast Finals Ted Not Any Better Off NCIS still rules night TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b Gorman Bill December 23 2009 TV Ratings CBS Repeats Win Slow Tuesday Scrubs Ted Ratings Keep Falling TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b Seidman Robert December 30 2009 TV Ratings NCIS Repeat and 20 20 Top Night Better Off Ted Ties Lows TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved November 25 2010 a b Seidman Robert January 2 2010 TV Ratings Bowl Games Win Big Better Off Ted Not Much Better Off With Rose Bowl Lead In TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on January 16 2011 Retrieved November 25 2010 a b c d Gorman Bill January 6 2010 TV Ratings Biggest Loser Weighs In Huge NBC Edges NCIS Lead CBS Orange Bowl Up TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 6 2010 a b c d Gorman Bill January 13 2010 TV Ratings Tuesday American Idol Premiere Steady NCIS Holds Up Conan s Tonight Show Soars TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 9 2012 Retrieved December 6 2010 Gorman Bill January 20 2010 TV Ratings Tuesday American Idol Up vs Last Year Biggest Loser Jumps TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on February 1 2011 Retrieved December 20 2010 a b Stanhope Kate May 14 2010 Report ABC Cancels Scrubs FlashForward Romantically Challenged and Better Off Ted TV Guide Retrieved November 24 2010 Gorman Bill January 27 2010 TV Ratings Tuesday Fox American Idol Win As Most Shows Fall NCIS LA Bounces Back TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on October 19 2011 Retrieved December 20 2010 Hiatt Anna December 23 2009 The Best TV Shows of 2009 TV com Retrieved January 14 2011 Bell Josh 2010 The Best TV Comedies of 2010 About com Archived from the original on December 6 2010 Retrieved January 14 2011 Better Off Ted cast reunites for Malcolm Barrett s hip hop video Zap2It com Archived from the original on January 10 2012 Retrieved November 15 2011 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Better Off Ted Better Off Ted at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Better Off Ted amp oldid 1135699425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.