Better Off Ted

[BillBrasky]

ABC just announced some more series pickups for midseason, and one of them is a sitcom from Victor Fresco, who was the creator/executive producer of "Andy Richter Controls the Universe". I've always had a soft spot for ARCTU and its quirky sense of humor, and this show sounds similar in style:

BETTER OFF TED

For the team at Veridian Technologies, no achievement is too far-fetched. Need a suicidal turkey? Done. Need a metal that's as hard as steel, but bounces – and is edible? Done and done. The head of the research and development department, Ted Crisp loves his job. He loves everything about it. He loves his super human boss, Veronica. He loves his colleagues, Lem, Phil and Linda. Especially Linda. But most of all, he loves what they do. Straddling the threshold between science and imagination, the R & D crew consistently turn the ridiculously impossible into the hilariously plausible. The only problem with Ted's job is that ethics are not a part of company policy. As Ted says, "Work's not a question of right or wrong. It's only about success or failure." Luckily Ted has his precocious daughter, Rose to set him straight. But what happens when you start to take a closer look at your seemingly perfect job? Why is the company trying to cryogenically freeze one of Ted's scientists? What's with the new itchy chairs? Who's been stealing all of the creamer? The new comedy from Emmy-Award nominated writer/producer, Victor Fresco (Mad About You, My Name is Earl) proves that it's not easy being a single father and a middle manager, but somebody's got to do it. After all, what would the world be without exploding pumpkins?

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Andrea Anders as Linda
· Jay Harrington as Ted
· Jonathan Slavin as Phil
· Malcolm Barrett as Lem
· Portia de Rossi as Verónica

Hopefully this show will be more like ARCTU and less like "Life on a Stick", which was Fresco's follow-up project.

[BillBrasky]

The review for this over at the Futon Critic compares it to "Pushing Daisies", "Willy Wonka", "The Office", and "Flight of the Conchords", which are all things I like, so it looks like this is one to look forward to.

[BillBrasky]

ABC ANNOUNCES NEW THURSDAY NIGHT COMEDY BLOCK WITH "IN THE MOTHERHOOD" AND "SAMANTHA WHO" AT 8:00 P.M. AND 8:30 P.M.

"BETTER OFF TED" WILL PREMIERE PAIRED WITH "SCRUBS" ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

ABC announces a new Thursday night comedy block, with "In the Motherhood" premiering March 26 at 8:00 p.m., paired with "Samantha Who?" at 8:30 p.m. In addition, "Better Off Ted" will premiere Wednesday, March 18 at 8:30 p.m., following "Scrubs" at 8:00 p.m.


"In the Motherhood" Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.

Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace") and Cheryl Hines ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") come to ABC in the new comedy "In the Motherhood," which takes a look at the importance of family and friends while trying to juggle motherhood, work and love lives in an overly complicated modern world. The story focuses on Rosemary (Mullally), Jane (Hines) and Emily (Jessica St. Clair), who represent mothers we all know. Rosemary is a free-wheeling mom who plays it fast and loose when it comes to parenting her teenaged son, Luke. Married numerous times, but currently single, Rosemary lives by her own rules. Much to the amazement of the other moms, her nontraditional parenting style has yielded a son much more responsible than she. Rosemary's best friend, Jane, is a recently divorced working mother of a pre-teen, Annie, and a baby girl, Sophie, who is just trying to keep her career and home afloat. Having just returned to work after giving birth eight months ago, Jane struggles to find a happy balance lucky for her she has her "manny," Horatio (Horatio Sanz, "Saturday Night Live"), to help out. Jane's younger sister, Emily, sees herself as the model stay-at-home-super-mom for her two young children, Esther and Bill. Emily's home is a work of art, and her kids are polite and sweet -- everything has its place in her world. Married to Jason (RonReaco Lee), Emily takes parenting as seriously as any mother could.

"In The Motherhood," based on a popular web series of the same name, will feature stories inspired by real life experiences of viewers shared through our website www.inthemotherhood.com. From play dates and daycare to stretch marks and potty training, ABC wants to hear about your poignant, hilarious, emotional and even your most banal mommy moments.

"In the Motherhood" stars Cheryl Hines as Jane, Jessica St. Clair as Emily, Horatio Sanz as Horatio, RonReaco Lee as Jason and Megan Mullally as Rosemary.

Jennifer Konner & Alexandra Rushfield ("Undeclared"), Stuart Bloomberg and David Lang are the executive producers of "In the Motherhood," which is from ABC Studios.


"Better Off Ted" Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.

"Better Off Ted" is a new office comedy about successful good guy Ted who runs Research and Development at the morally questionable Veridian Dynamics. No achievement is too far-fetched and no invention too unorthodox for Veridian. Need cow-less meat grown in a test tube? Done. Need pumpkins that also double as weapons of mass destruction? No problem. Ted's a single dad to a seven-year-old girl and he loves his job, but he's starting to take a closer look at the company's extremely dubious practices. Do you manufacture the best teeth whitener ever if it could also kill off all of the planet's fish? Probably not, but... Ted's also fighting an attraction to co-worker Linda, who enjoys small acts of rebellion against Veridian (she's secretly stealing and hoarding all the company's creamer packets). But he holds back about his true feelings. He's already had his self imposed "one office affair" with uberboss Veronica. Incredibly beautiful (if seemingly devoid of conscience and emotion-free), Veronica lets nothing get in her way when it comes to serving Veridian's needs.

"Better Off Ted" stars Jay Harrington as Ted, Portia de Rossi as Veronica, Andrea Anders as Linda, Jonathan Slavin as Phil and Malcolm Barrett as Lem. Isabella Acres appears in the recurring role of Rose, Ted's daughter.

"Better Off Ted" is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Victor Fresco ("My Name Is Earl," "Andy Richter Controls the Universe") is executive producer and creator of the series.

[A Shot Glass of Humor]

Better Off Ted is probably good, but just like Carpoolers if it's good it will probably be cancelled after the first season.

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

Jonathan Slavin is Victor Fresco's John Cazale.

[BillBrasky]

Bump to remind everybody that this premieres tonight.

It's gotten pretty good reviews; Entertainment Weekly and the Onion AV Club both gave it a grade of B+. From reading the reviews, the dialogue sounds very "Andy Richter Controls the Universe"-ish. ABC is not the network for an odd, quirky show like this to succeed on though- even "Pushing Daisies", which was a show that appealed to women (a big part of ABC's demo) much more than this show, ended up getting cancelled. I predict this show won't last very long.

[TomHicks]

What has worked this season? I'm totally scratching my head.

I have been reading recently that Life on Mars, Dollhouse and Sarah Connor (in its second season) are all pretty much dead. I can't think of anything this season that has worked. The Mentalist? I haven't seen it and hopefully never will.

[Mo!]

Something funny to watch before Lost? Sign me up!

[BillBrasky]

This was really good. This is the kind of show that makes me angry, because I know it's going to last about 6 episodes and then get yanked off the air. Arrested Development and 30 Rock are pretty much anomalies; normally shows I like this much aren't on for long.

[Umlaut]

Well, I set my DV-R to series record, and that was after I almost forgot about it and only caught the last 10 minutes! (I really enjoyed that 10 minutes)

[CapnMonterayJack]

This show is funny! Let's all actually watch it so it can at least get a full season. This is way too different to survive on ABC, but we can watch it while it lasts.

[Keith Whitener]

This show is funny! Let's all actually watch it so it can at least get a full season.

I don't think that's how it works.

[metal2000]

I actually really enjoyed the first episode (finally got around to watching it).

Though I must say... eyeballs exploding at -20? I spend a good month and a half LIVING in temperatures at or colder than that every year. Start talking about -50 and THEN Phil's eyes might have the chance of exploding. :P

[P-Dub]

"I'm sorry, i'm just so nervous.

No, you're not.

No, i'm not. I try, but it just never works for me."

Good stuff.

[kwigibo]

I actually really enjoyed the first episode (finally got around to watching it).

Though I must say... eyeballs exploding at -20? I spend a good month and a half LIVING in temperatures at or colder than that every year. Start talking about -50 and THEN Phil's eyes might have the chance of exploding. :P

I had the same reaction, but I figure it's when his body temp. reaches -20.

[aenemaTron]

"I'm sorry, i'm just so nervous.

No, you're not.

No, i'm not. I try, but it just never works for me."

Good stuff.

Definitely sounds like Arrested Development. Was this a Portia de Rossi line?

[P-Dub]

^ Yup.

[pissedpissedofferson]

My only experience with the show so far is the extended ad running on Hulu. Based on that alone I'm amazed that this show is enjoyable to people.

Wait, are you all being ironic?

[P-Dub]

FAIL

[metal2000]

No irony needed. The show (or at least the first episode) is absolutely hilarious. A nice mix of the comedic sensibilities of AD, Scrubs, and 30 Rock: smart, a little silly, and oozing with sarcasm and wit.