DO you remember back when you couldn’t turn on a TV without seeing waving fields of peas, followed by blasting rockets, followed by smiling disease-free people and then hearing that scary Stepford Wife voiceover intoning, “We’re Beatrice.”
That was maybe the most ineffective ad campaign in history because, for one thing, it frightened the hell out of everybody. (OK, me.) I just knew – knew – this giant corporation I’d never even heard of was cloning people from bean sprouts.
How about a new show that takes place in one of those multi-national companies? On ABC’s new show, “Better Off Ted,” that corporation is Veridian, a company so morally challenged that it would make Michael Clayton run for cover.
Veridian invents, makes and markets everything from industrial machinery to cryogenics to bio-meds and, yes, weapons of mass destruction – made from vegetables.
Oh, right, did I mention that “Better Off Ted” is a comedy? A very funny comedy starring Jay Harrington (“Desperate Housewives“) as Ted, a good guy in a very bad place.
In tonight’s episode, Ted, who is head of research and development, is told by his corporate-loving boss, Veronica (Portia de Rossi), that they’ve picked Phil (Jonathan Slavin), the company’s genius scientist, to freeze in a cryogenic experiment.
When Ted asks why poor Phil, Veronica replies, “They originally recommended Lem [Phil’s co-genius co-worker played by Malcolm Barrett], but freeze the black guy,” she deadpans. “They’re not stupid!”
The whole cast is funny – especially de Rossi and Harrington, who eat the screen whenever they’re on camera.
Isabella Acres, who plays Ted’s daughter, little Rose, is also that rare thing – a terrific kid TV actress who isn’t annoying.
I also love Ted’s co-worker Linda (Andrea Anders), a slightly disgruntled, subversive employee, who is also Ted’s love interest but isn’t allowed to be.
Out-there upcoming episodes include one in which Veronica uses Rose to fire people, and another in which Veridian’s new sensor system doesn’t detect African-American employees. Like I said, “out there.”
“Better Off Ted” Tonight at 8:30 on ABC