# Better off Ted - Pilot Episode **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967 "2009-03-19T00:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/1 "2009-03-19T00:50:53Z")
What a cute, funny show so far. “Wait for -20 degrees…that’s when his eyes might explode!” Everyone holding their breath was priceless. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/2 "2009-03-19T01:25:42Z")
Oops. Can a mod move this over to Cafe Society? ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/3 "2009-03-19T03:52:34Z")
There are so many people I love in this show! Hopefully it gets some good momentum going. Had a good start and kinda limped to the finish tonight. One of my favorites is the Arabic (make that Persian) guy, Maz Jobrani, but IMDB says he’s only in 2 episodes of 6. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/4 "2009-03-19T03:55:02Z")
I’ll give it a fair shot. It looks funny. Just wondering how silly they’re going to get with the love interest(s). ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/5 "2009-03-19T04:18:39Z")
I liked it, but it’s merely amusing instead of laugh-out-loud funny. The kid as greek chorus is going to get old quick, I think, although she is cute as a button. I think I see a problem with the premise, though. People hate their bosses and they may hate the machinery of their company’s function, but I think most people who work in a professional setting actually think their company, if it works well, works to the benefit of society. It is very easy to believe that your efforts are socially useful, and very difficult to do work that you don’t see as at least somehow beneficial. Look at Dilbert, which mines this same field. The company is portrayed as completely a haven for incompetents, but the problem is that prevents the engineers from doing as good a job on their projects as they theoretically could do in a vacuum. Not that their work itself isn’t worth doing. Ergo, the universality of the evil corporate master might not be as universal as the show is expects. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/6 "2009-03-19T04:47:55Z")
It got a few chuckles out of me. I’ll definitely give it a shot, especially since it’s sandwiched between Scrubs and Lost. It pretty much feels like Andy Richter Controls the Universe Part 2, especially since it has the same creator and features that same weird guy. And I really thought until today that [Ted](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4220228608/nm0364280) was the same guy as [Keith](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1813287168/nm0835722). Guess I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/7 "2009-03-19T06:14:46Z")
Damn, I thought this started next week. Is there a place to watch the episode online? ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/8 "2009-03-19T12:12:48Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > It got a few chuckles out of me. I’ll definitely give it a shot, especially since it’s sandwiched between Scrubs and Lost. It pretty much feels like Andy Richter Controls the Universe Part 2, especially since it has the same creator and features that same weird guy. And I really thought until today that [Ted](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4220228608/nm0364280) was the same guy as [Keith](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1813287168/nm0835722). Guess I was wrong. You weren’t the only one! It’s weird how similar those guys are…I’m wondering how much of that was by accident or if they wanted to cast the guy from Andy Richter but had to settle for his virtual cousin instead. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/9 "2009-03-19T12:33:57Z")
I _think_ I recorded this, so I’ll check it out this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/10 "2009-03-19T12:54:52Z")
Not bad, with some very funny moments. Like in all comedy pilots, they tried too hard, but I’d definitely watch again. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/11 "2009-03-19T13:15:46Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Damn, I thought this started next week. Is there a place to watch the episode online? I’m sure it’ll be available on [ABC.com](http://ABC.com) if it isn’t there already. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/12 "2009-03-19T17:15:58Z")
It failed my “10 minute test”. If I don’t laugh out loud in the first ten minutes, it’s off my rotation. They can’t possibly sustain the wacky, IMO, and still have it be funny (which, in most instances, it wasn’t anyway). It was, in fact, borderline plain stupid. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/13 "2009-03-19T17:34:03Z")
I’m with **ChefGuy**. I was rolling my eyes instead of laughing. I’ve heard people say that we shouldn’t judge too quickly, that it takes time for a show to hit its stride and pilot episodes are sometimes clunky. But every show I’ve liked, I’ve liked immediately. Sometimes they go off track later (Desperative Housewives) and I stop watching, but I do judge a show by its first episode. It’s like the first chapter in a book. That’s where all the hard work should show. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/14 "2009-03-19T18:05:24Z")
I thought it was cute, but I disliked the calliope-like music. It just made it seem like they were trying too hard: “We’re wacky! We’re zany! It’s a comedy!!” But I admit I LOL’ed at Phil’s scream the first time he did it. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/15 "2009-03-19T20:15:23Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > I thought it was cute, but I disliked the calliope-like music. It just made it seem like they were trying too hard: “We’re wacky! We’re zany! It’s a comedy!!” > > But I admit I LOL’ed at Phil’s scream the first time he did it. Calliope? I heard a lot of mambo…but no calliope. I LOL’d at the motion-sensor drinking fountain. But when the little girl got screen-time, I thought…oh, no. I had the feeling that they put all the zany & wacky in the pilot, and we’re going to get more of the kid and the girl friend and standard sit-com plots. I hope I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/16 "2009-03-19T20:21:07Z")
It was OK. I’ll give it another shot. I do hate the kid being an all knowing moral compass for the dad. Maybe he’ll volunteer her for an experiment that will see her going away. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/17 "2009-03-19T22:37:02Z")
Was it just me, or did it look like Phil’s voice was being overdubbed? It seemed like his mouth movements were always a half second off from what he was saying. I don’t know if it was funny enough that I’ll continue watching it, but at least it’s better than a pop-up “Lost” rerun. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/18 "2009-03-20T00:33:08Z")
I liked it. Thought it showed a lot of promise. It didn’t seem to me as if the company was being portrayed as evil so much as totally amoral in the pursuit of profit. And today that is a universal. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/19 "2009-03-20T00:41:13Z")
It was a very cute show. I’ll be watching again to see it they can keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967/20 "2009-03-22T21:30:45Z")
I thought it was great. I laughed several times. For a pilot, I thought it came in very strong. Even the kid didn’t annoy me. Portia de Rossi is still sexy. Andrea Anders has always done it for me and I’ve watched a few bad sitcoms just because she was in them. I’ll watch again next week, we’ll see if they can sustain it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-off-ted-pilot-episode/489967.md?page=2)