"Better Off Ted" Review

In the current era of television, quirky network comedies are usually critical darlings, but also struggle to get high ratings. Perfect examples of this are "30 Rock," "Scrubs" and "Arrested Development." The one glaring exception to this is NBC's "The Office," which has won many awards while also being able to bring in many of viewers.

The newest quirky comedy to join the club is ABC's "Better Off Ted." The show is very funny, but it's also unusual. It follows Ted (Jay Harrington), the head of research and development for Veridian Dynamics, a giant company that comes up with new uses for old things and old uses for new things. For example, when handed fabric, Ted is asked if he can make a breakfast meat out of it. He oversees a group of scientists who do things like weaponize pumpkins and make computer mice withstand extreme temperatures. He likes his job, he likes his people, but he doesn't always like the people he works for.

The company is represented by Veronica (Portia de Rossi), Ted's confident, but tightly wound and ridiculously literal-minded boss. She is a great executive, but only she doesn't have to deal with actual people; the best way to describe her could be socially awkward. The timing in which de Rossi ("Arrested Development") enters and exits each scene is hilarious, adding to the awkward nature of her character.

Ted's point men in the lab are Phil (Jonathan Slavin) and Lem (Malcolm Barrett), who both complain about the higher ups in the company while producing the innovations Ted asks for. Ted has an office love interest in sunny rebel Linda (Andrea Anders), who's job is to test the products the team produces. Ted is leery about getting involved, saying he ''used up'' his one office affair with Veronica years ago (itself being a funny joke). All the while Ted is trying to balance his career and raising his daughter Rose (Isabella Acres).

The show was created by Victor Fresco, who was behind another short lived quirky comedy "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".

"Better Off Ted" is sharply written and offers dozens of quote-worthy lines and memorable scenarios. One of the best is when Victoria discovers the effect that young, cute Rose has on people and starts using her as a buffer whenever she has to take care of unpleasant business.

In the episode, Ted brings Rose to work, she gets passed from co-worker to co-worker while Ted deals with other problems. At one point, Veronica realizes that having a cute kid in her office is useful for those moments when an angry superior barges in to yell at her, or when she doesn't want to suffer through the crying of an employee she just fired.

de Rossi's performance as a glossy, ruthless corporate henchperson is perfect. She would be absolutely scary if she weren't so absurdly funny. Speaking to Ted about one of their co-workers, Veronica says sharply, "We want to freeze Phil -- just to see if it's possible."

The first two episodes started off with hilarious ads for Veridian Dynamics, each promoting the company's various products and slogan: "We can do that."

Veridian manufactures almost every familiar product; in one ad a ptchman admits, "We don't make cows, but we have made a sheep." It seems Ted's office can stand in for any kind of company, in any kind of situation. This type of flexibility gives the show's writers a lot of material to work with and is one reason why the show could be successful.

In the first episode the company takes Veronica's words, and freezes Phil. After being frozen and then accidentally thawing out, Phil begins to make an uncontrollable loud shrieking noise. The running joke is used hilariously throughout the episode.

Another highlight is when Rose finds researcher Linda toying with a bright blue Play-Doh-like substance and asks what it is. "Something we invented for a line of diet foods," Linda explains. "People are going to eat this?" Rose asks. "Not knowingly," Linda admits.

An aspect of the show that is a little different than most comedies is that throughout the episode Ted will monologue directly into the camera. It's an idea partially borrowed from "The Office," but it's done differently because Ted is the only one to speak to the audience.

As Ted, a man who means well but has to pick his battles with the uncaring Veridian bosses, Harrington does a formidable job. He stands handsome and polite, while playing off the the funnier people around him.

de Rossi, plays an entirely different kind of character from her stint as the spoiled daughter on "Arrested Development." She gets all the best lines, due to the fact that de Rossi delivers each of them with a perfect, sarcastic yet serious tone. She also brings an unexpected likability to a character who could be a complete sociopath. There's a moment in the Rose episode where Veronica is struggling to relate to the kid, and Veronica tries to compliment her skin: "I wish there was a way to peel it off your face and attach it to mine."

I enjoy the character of Linda and the flirtation between her and Ted. Anders (once stuck on the sitcom "Joey"), is extremely likable and rebels against Veridian by stealing all the creamer from the kitchen. Slavin and Barrett are hilarious as Phil and Lem, bringing an extra bit of fun to the show and also proving that sometimes the nerds are way funnier than the pretty kids.

The show's one major pitfall is that it can be a little too quirky for its own good. Even the more realistic characters, Ted and Linda, step into the crazy zone at times. There's a fine line to walk between showing exaggerated versions of real worklife and veering into too ridiculous territory. Comedies like this need something to ground them, like the relationship of Jim and Pam on "The Office."

"Ted" is sometimes too silly, but there was some evolution between the pilot and the second episode. If the characters become even more fleshed out as the season goes on, that should help balance the wacky humor and situations. The problem with that is, if the show doesn't find a large enough audience, it may not have enough time to solidify itself.

"Better Off Ted" will drive a divide between the people who will quote the show's lines and those who will just wonder "why should i watch another one of these comedies?" I hope ABC gives "Ted" time to grow and find an audience, because it is a genuinely funny show.

ABC would be wise to follow follow in the footsteps of NBC and how they handled "The Office." Towards the beginning of the show's run the ratings were low, but NBC stood by the show, giving it time to grow and now it is one of the best rated, highest quality comedies on television.
With "Scrubs"'s future up in the air and "Arrested Development" long cancelled, the timing is good to add a sarcastic, sweet and witty comedy to network TV.