Arresting, but Not Quite “Arrested”
"Better Off Ted" /
Dustin Rowles
TV Reviews | March 24, 2009 | Comments (18)
I’ve watched “Better off Ted,” four times now in preparation for a review. It’s not that it’s a show funny enough to warrant repeat viewings, it’s that it took three times before I could actually force myself to focus on what’s going on. But on the third try, it clicked into place for me. The fourth time, I even laughed a few times. It’s not the show you’re expecting, and it takes several viewings to realize that a prime-time network is actually aiming for a one-camera sitcom that mines elements of a lot of better, but ultimately unsuccessful shows, ratings-wise. You’d think the networks would realize that washed-up movie actors in crass, family sitcoms were the only way to find mainstream success. Sometimes, as is the case here, it’s good to see the networks fail to learn from their mistakes.
It’s clear what “Better Off Ted,” is going for: A cross between “Arrested Development” and “30 Rock,” which is an ambitious goal, and more or less dooms its fate on network television, even if it doesn’t quite manage to capture the spirit of either show (but then again, the “30 Rock” pilot wasn’t particularly great, either, which suggests that “Better Off Ted” can rise to the level). It’s full of that deadpan zaniness that made “Arrested Development” the holy grail of sitcoms, while mixing in off-the-wall bits and a morally black, humorless boss (Portia de Rossi), striving to be the show’s Alec Baldwin. Unfortunately, the characters as a whole just aren’t that compelling yet; the deadpan freezes out the empathy, and this particular workplace is often too bizarre to completely wrap your head around.
From creator Victor Fresco (the brilliant, quickly cancelled, and stylistically similar “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”), “Better of Ted” is a workplace comedy set in an evil mega-corporate research-and-development facility. Ted (Victor Harrington) — a single-father who often breaks the fourth wall — manages the company, coming up with oddball ideas, like for instance creating “The Focus Master,” an uncomfortable office chair meant to increase productivity.
In the pilot episode, bottom-liner Veronica (de Rossi) pushes the idea to cryogenically freeze one of the lab technicians, Phil (Jonathon Slavin), for a year, just to see if it can be done. Ted debates the morality of such a move, mostly with his precocious daughter, and eventually allows it, with comically bizarre results (Phil — clearly in the Tony Hale role — is accidentally unfrozen after only three days, and is left with a tendency to spontaneously screech). There’s also a love interest: Ted has feelings for the charmingly whimsical Linda (Andrea Anders), who runs focus testing. She also steals creamer for no apparent reason. Ted, however, can’t follow through on his feelings for her because apparently he used his one office-relationship freebie with Veronica a year prior.
It’s a difficult show to pin down. It often feels like it’s trying too hard, although if it’s allowed to finish out its six-episode run (or, even more unlikely, get a second season), it could very well settle into its groove. Jay Harrington, who is the comic-equivalent of Jon Hamm in his “30 Rock” turn, is brilliant, and de Rossi’s character — who is more emotionless than sinister — has great comic potential. Unfortunately, there’s no real sweetness underlying the show — it’s too much quirk and not enough compassion, although you can sense that Fresco is aiming for a light “Pushing Daisies” thing in Ted and Linda’s relationship. It does, however, have the makings of an infinitely quotable show, although it’s third-place showing last week in its debut following the well-complimented “Scrubs” suggests that we probably won’t be seeing a lot of Ted in the future. I just hope they pull it before I get too attached.
Comments
Posted by: Julie at March 24, 2009 2:04 PM
I liked this last week well enough. Phil made me laugh and Andrea Anders had really great comedic timing.