ABC, intent on wiping Better Off Ted from our memories as quickly as possible, ran two new episodes of Ted between two super-mediocre episodes of Scrubs last night.
The first Ted, about the staff being worked to death (literally, in one case) wasn’t quite as funny as usual, which means it was only 425 times funnier than your average Two and a Half Men. Actually, the first one was pretty hilarious, as I look at my notes. When someone cradles your chin in his or her hands, you can now call it “a beard of fingers.” And Veronica’s line, “No one knows how many licks it takes to get to my moral center” was marvelous.
The second episode was instant-classic material. From an uncharacteristically-nervous Ted fighting off spiders nesting in his immaculate hair to Phil trying to demonstrate a new public-address system gadget to Veronica, it was great:
More Veronica-isms last night:
• “I’d like to unhinge my jaw and swallow you like a mouse.”
• “I would like to unsubscribe to whatever you’re doing right now.”
• “If someone’s bothering you, change them.”
As well as the latest Veridian company slogan: “Friendship. It’s the same as stealing.”
There was, I’m afraid, the use of the word “douche” at least four times: Quick, call The New York Times!
And Ted and Veronica’s duet on “I Got You Babe” was completely, unironically sweet, don’t you think?
Veronica’s CD! Veronica’s CD! What, I have to wonder, is the correct term for the elevator song? Veronic-rolled? Ve-rolled-nica?
hahahahahahah yessss. that and the “sweep the leg” and karl gordon jenkins gordon jenkins was hilarious.
Hah, I think its so funny
As well as Ted’s spot on dance performance to said Veronica-rolling!
Incredible. Please, ABC, Please don’t cancel this show.
That was great! Last night was the first time that I actually laughed out loud to this show again. It seems like they are getting their groove back IMHO – hopefully not too late. Both shows last night were really good. Scrubs is just biding its time and it is killing Ted.
I know right? If ABC cancels another one of my favorite shows i’m gonna go on a killing spree… well just kidding….but i will be pretty pissed.
Please ABC, do not cancel this show. This is one of the funniest shows on today (aside from Modern Family and Glee). Why cancel it? Last night’s episodes were classically funny…especially the second one…Love, love, love this show!!
I’ve been watching television for over 60 years. During those years, I knew the lineup for each day of the week in my head without looking at a TV log. How can a show be a success when it is moved, preempted, cancelled, brought back and bumped temporarily for other shows to air? Better Off Ted, one of the funniest shows on TV, is an example of that kind of time management. Is it on Tuesday or Wednesday? Who knows? Until you look at the log you’re not quite sure.
I’ll bet shows in the past such as The Andy Griffith Show, Lucy, and even Ed Sullivan would not have succeeded if they were given the treatment that some shows get now. Characters need to develop for us to love them, hate them, can’t wait ’til next week to see them. Our only savior is Tivo and I don’t know if that is counted in the ratings.
Thank you! You are SO right! One has to wonder what the heck those TV execs are thinking the way the juggle around so many shows. I hope we don’t lose such a funny comedy as Better Off Ted.
The problem is, 60 years ago you didn’t have a Tivo. You had to sit through commercials, and that’s what the network counted on. Nowadays it’s a whole new equation. Ad revenues are nosediving like crazy, and networks are trying every trick they can think of to capture the audience. It doesn’t matter how many people watch the show. It matters how many people watch the commercials. Broadcast network TV may soon be a thing of the past.
I thought the video playing in the elevator was hilarious! I was brought to tears.
Honestly, this show is so smart, sharp and engaging. Why won’t ABC give it a better lead-in (or move to Wed)??? With ABC’s track record for yanking shows before they’ve had a chance to find and build an audience, I fear for this show.
Veronica had some great lines as usual, but I thought Lem & Phil showed once again why they are the top comedic duo on tv.
Phil code-whistling to Lem what to say to Veronica was hilarious!
Phil’s whistling reminded me of R2-D2 “conversing” with C-3PO.
I thought Phil’s whistling was like the owl in “Clash of the Titans”. Yes, I am a geek.
I so agree with you. I can’t believe ABC would be dopey enough to let this show die. It needs to be with Modern Family and Cougar Time. Let it live!
If you’re going to insult on insulting Scrubs, Ken, I hope Ted is cancelled. Ted being sandwiched between the excellent Scrubs is the only reason I checked this show out. But if it came down to it, I’d pick Scrubs over Ted any day.
I like Scrubs 2.0 more than Ken does, but I definitely think Ted’s the better show. I certainly laughed plenty at Scrubs last night, but “mediocre” is about right.
I think they’re both great! Two-hour block for me last night. Second Scrubs ep seemed to recall the old magic.
Actually Scrubs is sandwiched between Ted.
Were you watching reruns of old seasons of Scrubs or the current season? The new version of Scrubs is horrible and is destroying the show’s legacy of actually being a good one.
I agree, The Truth. They should’ve ended last year. The finale was PERFECT. But this season…I can’t even call it Scrubs! It’s horrid and ruining the name of a once great show
I agree, as well…to the extent that I refuse to even acknowledge that it IS still on…as far as I’m concerned, the real Scrubs ended last year and what they are airing now is a spin-off that someone tragically decided to also name “Scrubs”.
You know, I thought that too, at first. I gave the new “Scrubs – Med School” a bit more of a chance to find their way, and I find myself really enjoying the show – it’s not “Scrubs,” but it’s not bad!
Ted is hilarious. The new Scrubs is terrible. I keep watching to see if it gets better but so far it seems to be, if possible, getting even worse.
I agree…Scrubs has really gotten stupid… keep Ted on!!!
Don’t forget Ted’s triumphant exit from work (complete with bathroom stop for Rose)!
Also, I may have laughed harder at Ted’s phone ringing during his fake phonecall than anything else in my life ever. Totally predictable gag, but handled so SO well.
I loved the fact that he kept going! Most people would have just hung up the phone in embarassment.
That is a great example of what makes BOT so superior. The average sitcom would just settle for the walk out. It’s that stop for the bathroom break – and making her wash her hands when she was finished – that elevate it to genius.
Actually, my opinion is the opposite. While both episodes were supremely entertaining, if found the first to be funnier and more clever, perhaps my favorite to date. Veronica is fast becoming one of my favorite TV characters. So many gems. The Carl-Lewis-Gordon exchange, the eye-gouging, SWEEP THE LEG!, the line about executives throwing naked women at money and about how coddling death will only encourage more employees to die. I was in stiches for both. But I worry about her and Ted getting too chummy. She always works best when emanating an at least vague aura of threatening authority.
I agree, Freezer. Both episodes were great, and while the premise of the second may have been better, the first one delivered more great lines that seemed destined to become classics.
“Carl Jenkins”
“Gordon”
“Carl Gordon”
“Jenkins”
“Carl Gordon Jenkins”
“Gordon Jenkins”
“Carl Gordon Jenkins Gordon Jenkins…are you sure that’s right?”
that was the funniest exchange on t.v. ever!!!
Agree, funny funny funny! I’m going to repeat this at work but I know I can’t come close to doing it justice.
I rewinded my DVR three times to watch that exchange.
I hope they are “burning off” episodes because they don’t want to put it up against the Olympics, and that it will not get canceled. Linda is my least favorite character on the show, but she’s infinitely funnier than anyone on Scrubs, The Middle or Cougar Town.
OMG I would love to work for her. I know she’s mean and heartless but I would put up with it for the funny!!
You are so right. Veronica’s speech was a classic.
“For tonight we dine in hell.”
I also have to agree with Freezer. The first ep was FAR superior to the second one. Also, loved the posters of Gordon Jenkins round the office.
So funny when Veronica couldn’t get the guy’s name right at the memorial service.
Some great quotes:
“Carl Gordon Jenkins Gordon Jenkins”
“He was like many of us: sensitive to heat.”
“Hats, in order of fun: Sombrero, Fez, Ten-gallon.”
“There are two possible meanings of “douchemobile.””
“The company loves money. If they could they’d go to strip clubs and throw naked women at money.”
“The version of Linda you heard in your head is right.”
“Talking about drawer-elves won’t make this any less scary.”
Great list, Mike. The strip club line was my number one. And could I add one more: “We’ll get them next month at the Texas Pillow and Gun Show”.
Texas Pillow and Gun show cracked me up. I think both episodes were winners. ABC DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!!
Carl Gordon Jenkins Gordon Jenkins…are you sure that’s right?
The show is truly great! Please don’t cancel it.
How about when the security guard (can’t remember his name) asked Ted if he could drive his wife to the hospital, something else, name the baby and cut the umbilical cord and Ted responds “yes, maybe, Benjamin, no”. LOL.
Ryan the security guard asked Ted to drive them to the hospital, film the delivery, help name the baby, and cut the chord LMAO….thus resulting in “yes, maybe, Benjamin, and a big no on the chord”
I love this show.
Ted should have been the show ABC built its comedy Wednesdays around. It’s a rarity on TV, it is a funny (not uncomfortably funny, just funny) show. A note on Scrubs, while I have always loved the show, the new mix has still not found its sea legs. David Franco’s character is cliche all the way and nothing more than a rewrite of Aziz Ansari’s Scrubs character from season 8 who was fired by Dr. Cox. Should be fired again.
This show is pure genius! I end up going back & rewatching each episode… several times! And everytime, I find something new I missed the first time.
(I think my all time favourite Veridian ad though, is: Veridian. You can’t spell Individual without U & I. And an L…)
Watched it for the first time, and as a rookie, the sweep the leg part was pretty funny.
Welcome to the hilarious world of BOT, Elizabeth! I hope we can count on seeing you back next Tuesday..or Wednesday…or Friday…or whenevr the hell ABC chooses to toss it into it’s schedule with absolutely no advance notice.