0
0
When my son was a senior in high school, there was one television show that we both found so comical that we looked forward to watching it every week. When he recently came home from college, I surprised him with the DVD of the show, Better Off Ted: The Complete First Season. While re-watching the two-disc DVD set, we found that each episode was just as hilarious the second and third time around.
Ted (Jay Harrington) heads the R&D department of one of the country’s largest research companies, Veridian Dynamics. The company is a leader in all types of scientific research, from bio-medical to synthetic food to weaponry. In fact, a frequent goal is “making something out of nothing.” Unfortunately, what we hear most are the glitches, like the hair growth product that grows on all porous surfaces and the perfume that winds up attracting bees. However, these failed inventions are mostly humorous side plots.
More importantly, Veridian Dynamics puts “profits before people,” which causes an inner conflict with single dad Ted but not with his attractive and ruthless boss, Veronica (Portia de Rossi). Two of his brightest scientists, lab partners Phil (Jonathan Slavin) and Lem (Malcolm Barrett), are so socially inept that they don’t seem to notice. However, Ted’s employee who runs testing, Linda (Andrea Anders), often has to devise ways to rebel against this heartless company (like stealing coffee creamer that she doesn’t need) just to keep her sanity. She, along with Ted’s precocious daughter, Rose (Isabella Acres), reminds him of moral values that are easy to forget in this work environment. In fact, the views of the audience are often expressed through Rose.
The company isn’t without its employee benefits, though. They provide childcare, teaching the children valuable lessons, such as cleaning offices, and art projects that include painting white lines in the parking structure.
Okay, I can’t deliver the jokes like they can. You won’t find long, comical set-ups on Better Off Ted, just constant punch lines that are perfectly paced to keep you laughing hysterically. Each show includes a realistic commercial for Veridian Dynamics that suddenly goes bizarre—like the promo of the company making the world better…usually (then we see a city blowing up—oops).
Combining the themes of science versus ethics with corporate politics and workplace relationships makes the show relatable to most adults. The only elements that don’t work for me are the infrequent sexual relationship between Ted and Veronica and the chemistry between Ted and Linda, which they’re constantly fighting. Not only does neither scenario make sense—Veronica’s sexual urges, though cold, don’t go with her “success at all costs” personality, and the Ted and Linda attraction seems forced—but they also preclude you from watching the show with your pre-teen.
That aside, I still consider Better Off Ted the funniest comedy series of last season. Though there are no special features, the 13-episode DVD set will make the perfect holiday gift for someone who’s in need of side-splitting laughs …and that’s most of us.
