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Home » "Better Off Ted" a Comedy Ripe for the Times

"Better Off Ted" a Comedy Ripe for the Times

by
Sarah Warn
, Founder and Former Editor in Chief
March 18, 2009

The acting is strong across the board. Although this is Ted's show, de Rossi shines as Veronica, a smart, accomplished woman who takes everything too literally and too seriously. She's like a cross between Ally McBeal's Nell, Arrested Development's Lindsay, and Star Trek's Seven of Nine.

In this recruitment video, Veronica encourages potential employees to apply for jobs with Veridian Dynamics because, "we're working every day to make the world a better place — at least, the parts of the world we care about."

 

In the second episode, when Veronica takes care of Ted's 7-year-old daughter Rose for the day, she gives the bored girl a copy of The Art of War to read. When Rose protests, "I don't want to read this," Veronica tells her seriously, "Trust me, your enemies are reading it."

Then she teaches Rose how to fire people.

Here's ABC's promo dedicated to Veronica, "the alpha female."

Linda is a stand-out character, too. Anders and the writers give her just enough edge to make her more than just the cute co-worker Ted has a crush on.

Ted and Linda

The writing in Ted is excellent overall, with more funny one-liners and social and political commentary than you can catch in a single viewing, particularly coming from Veronica and Linda. "Money before people," Veronica intones, repeating the company motto. "It's engraved right there in the lobby floor. It just looks more heroic in Latin."

What really saves this show from being as soulless as Veridian Dynamics is the hint of sweetness beneath the satire — in Ted's relationship with his daughter, for example, and in his flirtation with Linda. Even Veronica becomes likeable in her own way, as we see her encouraging young Rose to express confidence when she fires people.

The storylines are also nicely balanced between the absurd (weaponized pumpkins) and the ordinary (office romances, getting along with co-workers).

Will all of this be enough to keep the attention of an American public that has generally indicated a preference for comedies that are less nuanced?

Maybe. I hope so.

Watch the premiere of Better Off Ted on Weds, March 18 at 8:30pm on ABC, and learn more about the show on its official website.

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monica_ca's picture

I'm excited!

Submitted by
monica_ca (685 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 12:41am.
The more that I hear about this show, the more that I think I'm going to love it!
pancreas's picture

Sounds great. I hope it

Submitted by
pancreas (314 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 12:45am.
Sounds great. I hope it makes its way over to Australia eventually.
myles's picture

Indeed. It sounds like a

Submitted by
myles (37 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 2:36am.
Indeed. It sounds like a great show :)
Clara's picture

wasn't sure what to expect

Submitted by
Clara (878 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 12:58am.

wasn't sure what to expect but all the of the clips were great

yay

i wonder if it will be on in the UK..

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Valance234's picture

This show just reeks of

Submitted by
Valance234 (20 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 1:45am.
This show just reeks of canceled.
dazed's picture

unfortunately

Submitted by
dazed (134 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 2:14pm.
...yeah
CaroL's picture

I'm dying to watch this!

Submitted by
CaroL (127 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 1:54am.

I'm dying to watch this! Portia is really good in it!!

Oh, by the way... you guys could put up her interview with Leno... it aired tonight...

I really wanna watch it but since I'm from Brazil I can't do it at the show's website.. =/

 

www.myspace.com/carolconti

pecola's picture

Better Off Ted

Submitted by
pecola (1504 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 1:59am.

I've been looking forward to this show since I first heard about it many, many months ago and I can't wait to see the debut tonight. It's got a great timeslot--sandwiched between Scrubs and Lost--so if ABC continues to promote the show, I'm optimistic about its chances.  

--- 

"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use — of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public." -- Robert F. Kennedy

fallon ash's picture

Yay!

Submitted by
fallon ash (372 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 4:53am.

I'm really looking forward to this show, it looks like a lot of fun! And it'll be great to see Portia back in a comedic role after that Nip/Tuck thing that I'm mostly trying to forget ever happened...

I gotta say, though, I really like the intro music in the old promo much better than the one they ended up using.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=VWpDo3Jx-90

IndustrialGirl's picture

really looking forward to

Submitted by
IndustrialGirl (115 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 5:15am.

really looking forward to this! 

here's her leno interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5tVNi-HkG0

"Life's too short to be cool" -Shirley Manson-

www.myspace.com/grbgfreak1

Lex09's picture

cant wait

Submitted by
Lex09 (13 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 5:42am.
the previews look hilarious! cant wait to see portia back on tv again. love her and Ellen so much!
siobhan's picture

Too Clever?

Submitted by
siobhan (96 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 8:05am.

...for its own good? Possibly.

It does shout 'cancelled' from the rooftops but I hope to God it's given a chance. That made me belly laugh! There are some wonderful lines in those previews. I love it already.

I hope America is ready for it. 30 Rock had a shaky start and now look at it! 

swoopesbabe's picture

can't wait 2c "portia"back

Submitted by
swoopesbabe (57 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 9:11am.
can't wait 2c "portia"back on tv.she is1 my favorite actress.
7Up's picture

Cool for Portia

Submitted by
7Up (639 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 9:38am.

It actually seems very well done and funny!!!!

 

 

LD82's picture

Veridian

Submitted by
LD82 (20 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 11:09am.

but not Veridian Dynamics is an actual military contractor.  They are based out of Southern Maryland near Naval Air Warfare Center Patuxent River.  Interesting to see if they make a big stink out of the companies name.

LieutKusa's picture

I'm watching tonight with my

Submitted by
LieutKusa (208 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 12:43pm.
I'm watching tonight with my sister and best friend!  I hope it gets a good amount of viewers.
awesome_possum's picture

ABC's way of trying to get forgiveness

Submitted by
awesome_possum (75 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 1:29pm.

I certainly hope this will last. It looks to be one hell of a show

Thanks ABC. This does not forgive all the pain you've caused this year, but it's a start.

alex's picture

looks fantastic

Submitted by
alex (471 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 2:21pm.
ive seen clips online, and the veridian website is great - abc is doing a good job marketing, and im hoping that after the success of shows like it's always sunny, the office and 30 rock, America might just be ready for a show like Better off Ted.

------
http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com
Janay's picture

Yay!

Submitted by
Janay (481 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 4:49pm.

Excuse my language but this shit looks fucking HILARIOUS!!!!!!!! I'm stoked!

Andrea Anders grabs my attention in EVERYTHING she does I hope she's finally found a show that will have her around for a while! And Jonathan Salvin is a comedic fave of mine too, its really just something about the tone of his voice I love it makes EVERYTHING he says funny!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I know how I was born and I know that I have no choice. I know it may not show on the color of my skin, but I know it’s in my heart and in my soul."-Sara Quin

Raygun's picture

jus watched!

Submitted by
Raygun (10 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 8:02pm.
HILARIOUS. i loved it
Catelynn's picture

It was sooooo funny.  I'm

Submitted by
Catelynn (60 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 8:22pm.
It was sooooo funny.  I'm really excited I'm going to be able to watch it!
hypothesis's picture

Bah!

Submitted by
hypothesis (641 posts)
on March 18, 2009 - 11:26pm.
'Freeze the black guy? They're not stupid.' I hope they show this in Australia at some point!
Amanda's picture

it was hilarious.

Submitted by
Amanda (59 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 7:48am.
I watched it last night and couldnt stop laughing. Portia;s character was hilarious!
aem's picture

"Maybe I'm too funny"

Submitted by
aem (58 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 8:26am.

It was genius!

...pie

7Up's picture

Glad it's so great, bummed I

Submitted by
7Up (639 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 8:42am.
Glad it's so great, bummed I couldn't watch it last night because I had plans from a long time back. Next week ;-)
Janay's picture

Genius!!!

Submitted by
Janay (481 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 4:19pm.

 Veronica: Your department uses too much creamer

Ted: Does it matter?

Veronica: It's not Katrina but it's a problem

This show is mad genius and I completely dig it!!!!!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I know how I was born and I know that I have no choice. I know it may not show on the color of my skin, but I know it’s in my heart and in my soul."-Sara Quin

akiraj's picture

Better off Ted

Submitted by
akiraj (196 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 4:47pm.

Mmmm articles about shows like Better off Ted insinuate that Americans don't like smart television- which isn't true. Maybe we're not watching these shows because they are boring and a complete and utter waste of time?

Lowell's picture

watched it

Submitted by
Lowell (193 posts)
on March 19, 2009 - 7:41pm.
it was good, entertaining. will def be watching next week.
Scout's picture

I'll give it a go....

Submitted by
Scout (24 posts)
on March 22, 2009 - 10:41am.

...for as long as it lasts.

 

Can I ask those of you who are American a question?  On the first page of this article it says:

"Can a company be bitchy?" Linda asks, as millions of Americans who have worked for large corporations shake their head yes. (Linda's revenge against the company? Stealing creamer.)

My query is with the word 'shake'.  In the UK if you shake your head then you are saying no and you would nod to say yes.  Is it different in the US?  Is this just yet another difference in a common language?  I just can't see how shaking your head means yes.

Just curious.

Dara's picture

Portia can pick 'em!

Submitted by
Dara (40 posts)
on March 31, 2009 - 9:55pm.
This show is brilliant. Portia can really pick 'em!
Chemx's picture

Fantastic Show

Submitted by
Chemx (11 posts)
on April 1, 2009 - 1:00am.
I have recently discovered Arrested Development and I LOVE it... So I had to check out this show and can I just say that Portia is completely amazing? I had never truly realized how awesome she is... Now I know and I feel like I've been missing out.
EverytimeYouCloseYourEyes's picture

Arrested Development

Submitted by
EverytimeYouClo... (125 posts)
on April 2, 2009 - 12:13am.

I'm soo happy to hear you've discovered the amazement that is Arrested Development. I have a serious obsession with that show.

and yes. Portia IS awesome. :]

Ries's picture

You're obsessed with me....

Submitted by
Ries (3 posts)
on April 6, 2009 - 12:47am.

You're obsessed with me.... I like that about you.

OMG I'm Speechless, but full of giggles.

 

Spring is in the Hair.


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