A Second Look At: Better Off Ted
ABC
If you don't already know, ABC is airing the remaining new episodes of Better Off Ted on Tuesdays this summer. And what better time to remind you of that than the morning after it aired?
When Ted premiered earlier this season, I liked it but was left a little cold. I was a huge fan of creator Victor Fresco's Andy Richter Controls the Universe, for the way that show combined workplace comedy with a rounded picture of the people who worked together. Ted, I thought, was very funny but fell short mainly because of the title character: Jay Harrington played Ted as too much of a satirical stuffed shirt and slickster, as opposed to a more human Michael Bluth type.
I don't know if either Ted or Harrington's performance have improved or if I've just grown accustomed to him. But he seems now to inhabit the character rather than satirize him. In last night's episode, in which Ted needily befriended the lab guys and became obsessed with their Medieval Fight Club—all, it turned out, as a way of sublimating his anger toward his ex-wife—he showed us some chinks in his highly-polished armor. (Ironically, by putting on armor.)
And everything else in the show that works, works so well that I'd be enjoying it even without more affection for Ted. Portia de Rossi, in particular, shows that her Arrested Development wasn't just a one-off; in fact, her Veronica—all smarm and quizzical bird-like stares—may be an even better performance. And the fake Veridian Dynamics commercials get better by the week. If you have a spare half-hour in your viewing schedule—and come on, you do, it's summer—take a weekly meeting with Ted.
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1
I was regretfully distracted for most of last night's episode, so it didn't sink in as well as it usually does. That said, I was disappointed with Ted's feelings towards his ex-wife. I've worked with some real characters who, upon mention of an ex-spouse, are compelled to rant for no fewer than 20 minutes about how much they hate that person and wish them to suffer as much pain as is known to man.
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Not that I think this is healthy or that this is something all divorced individuals feel (I know a bunch of divorced people who get along fine, come to think of it). But for a humor standpoint, the instant, vehement reaction of "I hate her so much" is funnier than vicariously fighting her with medieval weaponry. Maybe that's just my experience with it talking. *shrug*
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Either way, I'm happy that there's more Ted for me to enjoy. -
2
I don't understand people who were iffy about this show at first. When I watched the first episode I thought it was one of the funniest things I'd seen in a long while (aside from Party Down), laughing-out-loud much more than usual. I think maybe people are so used to the shows they are now invested in that they forget that it takes time for characters to develop and for you to invest in them. For example, Parks & Recreation. Are we really that jaded that shows have to be barn burners right out of the gate? The Office wasn't. Party Down was decent, but I saw people express reservations about that at first too.
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I do agree that Ted started off too perfect and got fleshed out better after the first episode, which was good. I also love Portia's comedic timing in this show. I now see her as a comedic goddess.
- poniewozik Loved the season. Mrs Tuned In wd have put u on the main list RT @boredtodeath Thank u for incl us in Time's Top 10. We'll take hon mention. - 4 hours ago
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 4 hours ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 6 hours ago
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