When they adapted Dilbert from a simple comic strip into a television show they had a good idea; they just executed it poorly. The ridiculous nature of bureaucracy and its system of ethics with a Gumbi-like flexibility make a perfect target for lampooning. Dilbert does it perfectly on the page, but when translated to a moving cartoon the humor suddenly falls flat. But it can be done. Other ventures have taken up the mantle of pointing out the ludicrous nature of big business (The Office, Office Space, etc.) and each has been more successful than Dilbert. I would dare to say that when it comes to the funniest take on “business as usual”, Better Off Ted beats the rest. Easily. Heck, it only seems fitting that a sitcom which draws its name from a hilarious John Cusack film should have equally perfect comedic timing.
Ted (Jay Harrington) works in the development branch of a major corporation named Veridian Dynamics. Many of the services offered by the company, and ones like it, affect your life on a daily basis – but a lot of them don’t, and for that you should be grateful. Ted’s lab team consists of Phil (Jonathan Slavin) and Lem (Malcolm Barrett), two scientists who bicker like a married couple as they invent hair stimulant, “ploves” (plate stoves – really just a flaming plate), and megaphones which can induce vomiting. They’re the inventions from the lab of hell, and it’s Ted’s job to figure out how to market them so his boss Veronica (Portia de Rossi) looks good. Completing the office circuit of hilarity is Jill (Andrea Anders), the attractive co-worker of Ted who likes him, wants him to like her, but is content dating other men if it incites an attraction to her within him. Unfortunately, he used up his office romance and now abstains from entanglements to “protect” his daughter (Isabella Acres) from any heartache that may come from the romance.
The chemistry among the cast may be the best since Arrested Development and blows its current competition out of the water. Between the quick verbal epee exchanges of Ted and Veronica or Phil and Lem, there’s a basic premise that allows the show to take its comedy to extremes. Along with being a show about business, it’s a show about a business that can create just about any ill-conceived contraption in a lab, thus paving the way for all sorts of jokes few other shows could even imagine using (the “plove” is a good example). Better Off Ted also tackles legitimate business lunacy, like an exaggerated sense of affirmative action. When a new motion sensor system in the Veridian Dynamics building can’t see black people, the company hires white people to follow every black employee. Unfortunately, this new trend in employment sets off alarms in the company’s computer so they have to hire more black people to offset the hiring of the white people – which requires even more white people… It’s a stellar take on the subject with a fantastically glib PR spin pointing out that while it may not recognize that particular minority, they take pride in its acknowledgement of the rest.
Few shows have the brain power to offer such fresh perspectives on well-worn office place humor, Better Off Ted has it in spades. Even after watching it in its initial run on television, rewatching it all the way through garnered at least 3-4 belly laughs per episode. Sadly the series’ first season fell subject to poor publicity and thus only managed 13 episodes for its first season, hopefully that will change in the upcoming second season.
DVD Bonus Features
What a disappointment – there’s nothing here. After the very first episode aired last year, my first thought was this “I can’t wait for the DVD release when they’ll have all the hilarious Veridian Dynamics commercials set apart for individual viewing.” But no, not even that. No commentaries, nothing. The set is far too barebones for such a great new show, here’s hoping for a rerelease down the road with a set of extras fitting of its greatness.
"Better Off Ted: The Complete First Season" is on sale December 1, 2009 and is rated NR. Comedy. Directed by Michael Spiller, Michael Fresco. Written by Victor Fresco, Michael Teverbaugh, Michael Glouberman. Starring Jay Harrington, Portia De Rossi, Andrea Anders, Jonathan Slavin, Malcolm Barrett.
