Mar 26 2009
Give Better Off Ted a Chance
Better Off Ted, the new ABC comedy that airs on Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c after Scrubs, deserves a shot. In its pilot week it received less than stellar ratings; however it held its full lead-in from Scrubs. This week a two-hour American Idol apparently damaged its chances, dropping its ratings even lower. If it bounces back next week, that will be a good sign for the series. If not, well…we know how well ABC likes to nurture quality series. (Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money, Pushing Daisies, Life on Mars.)
Take a peek at Better Off Ted.
We need funny sitcoms on the air, and so far, Better Off Ted is pretty darn funny. Take the insanity, satire, and sweetness of Scrubs and Office Space and add a little bit more insanity and you’ve got Better Off Ted. As Ted, Jay Harrington turns on a little George Clooney-esque charm and breaks the evil sitcom curse where the lead is less interesting than the supporting characters. Sure the supporting characters are hilarious, too, but Harrington has fun with the role and holds his own.
Harrington and Andrea Anders (as creamer-stealing Linda) have wonderful chemistry, able to trade quick banter, be absolutely adorable together, and turn up the sexy factor whenever needed. Portia DeRossi hits the right notes as the robotic-like CrazyEvil boss Veronica, seeming to relish the role even more in the second episode. Jonathan Slavin as the randomly-screaming flash frozen Phil and Malcolm Barrett as his sensitive genius lab partner Lem stir both geek sympathy and laughter from the audience. The whole team works well and I would love to hop on this crazy train and see where it takes us.
Take the ride with me, and maybe Better Off Ted can stay on the air. (Remember, it’s Wednesday nights at 8:30/7:30c.)
The show cracked me up. “Don’t call him Blobbie, or you’ll become too attached.” Heh. Nice addition to Wednesdays, the Holy Nights of Lost.
LOL. I know, I just love it. I liked when they chased the guy down the hall to force him to eat the fake meat. And it was so perfect that it was $10,000/lb. to make…lol.
We need good laughs to loosen us up before the brain strain of Lost every Wednesday…heh.