Better off Ted » Cybermage

It’s no surprise when ABC cancel FlashForward, Better Off Ted, Scrubs and Romantically Challenged. Better Off Ted is the one I am going to miss most but it was not unsuspected. I wrote this January 28 Better Off Ted 2.11 Mess of a Salesman (Series finale?). FlashForward has been going on my to-watch pile for a while and Scrubs I stopped watching when they moved it to a medical school. Romantically Challenged hasn’t had time to register much before it got canceled.

Better Off Ted, I will miss you!

Source: Aussiello Files

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Updated May 23

ABC
Better Off Ted: A long shot. Officially canceled.
Castle: A sure thing. Officially renewed.
Cougar Town: Already renewed.
FlashForward: Could go either way. Now a long shot. Officially canceled.
Romantically Challenged: Officially canceled.
Scrubs: A long shot. Officially canceled.
V: Could go either way. Officially renewed.

CBS
Accidentally on Purpose: Could go either way.
The Big Bang Theory: Already renewed.
Gary Unmarried: A safe bet. Canceled
Ghost Whisperer: A safe bet. Canceled
The Good Wife: Already renewed.
Medium: Could go either way. Renewed
The Mentalist: A sure thing. Renewed
NCIS: A sure thing. Renewed
NCIS: Los Angeles: Already renewed.
Numb3rs: A long shot. Canceled
Rules of Engagement: Could go either way.
Miami Medical Cancelled
Two and a Half Men: Already renewed.

FOX
Bones: Already renewed.
Dollhouse: Already canceled.
Fringe: A safe bet. Officially renewed.
Glee: Already renewed.
House: A sure thing. Renewed
Human Target: Could go either way. Renewed
Lie to Me: A safe bet. Renewed
Past Life: A long shot. Officially canceled.

NBC

Chuck: A safe bet. Could go either way. Back to being a safe bet. Officially renewed.
Heroes: Could go either way. Canceled
Mercy: Could go either way. Canceled
Trauma: A long shot. Canceled

THE CW
Gossip Girl: A sure thing. Officially renewed.
Life Unexpected: Could go either way. Renewed
Smallville: A sure thing. Officially renewed.
Supernatural: A sure thing. Officially renewed.
The Vampire Diaries: A sure thing. Officially renewed.

ABC Family
10 Things I Hate About You: Already renewed for a second season to debut March 29. After that it looks bleak

AMC
Breaking Bad: Renewed for a fourth season.
Mad Men: Already renewed for a fourth season to debut later this year.

FX
Archer: A long shot. Officially renewed for a second season.
Sons of Anarchy: Already renewed for a third season to debut in September.

HBO
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: Could go either way.
True Blood: Already renewed for a third season to debut in June.

Showtime

Dexter: Already renewed for a fifth season to debut next fall.

Starz!

Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Already renewed for a second season.

Syfy
Caprica: Could go either way.
Eureka: Already renewed for a fourth season.
Sanctuary: Already renewed for a third season.
Stargate Universe: Already renewed for a second season.
Warehouse 13: Already renewed for a second season.

TNT

The Closer: Already renewed for a sixth season.
HawthoRNe: Already renewed for a second season.
Leverage: Already renewed for a third season.
Saving Grace: Final Season running

USA
Burn Notice: Already renewed for a fourth, fifth, and sixth season.
Psych: Already renewed for a fifth season.
Royal Pains: Already renewed for a second season to debut later this year.
White Collar: Already renewed for a second season.

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I will miss Better off Ted. This very funny and weird show has brightened my days for a while now. But it has suffered from bad ratings being opposite American Idol and now there isn’t any more episodes on the schedule, has the network pulled the plug? There should be two more unaired episodes left.

This weeks episode Mess of a Salesman might not be the best episode ever but it was certainly amusing and tricked a few laughs out of me.

(ABC’s episode description)
Ted helps his fast talking brother, Billy (Eddie McClintock), get a job selling lab equipment for one of Veridian’s biggest suppliers, but no good deed goes unpunished, as Billy proceeds to sell Veridian more equipment than they could ever use and corrupts Phil and Lem in the process. Meanwhile, a charity for girls that Veridian supports gives Veronica an award, but when she and Linda learn that the company actually gives very little of the money it raises to the charity, they set out to make things right.

There are quite a few highlights in this episode

Veronica’s reaction to getting a reward, Ignoring any question on the substance of the award and repeating ”I am getting an award” instead.
Billy’s explanation for loosing his last job “He keept falling out with his boss for keeping on sleeping with his wife”
Lem in leather pants
Lem and Phil breaking the rules and telling every one to”deal with it”
We learned that Ted’s father was “Fighting livestock for beer money”
Linda/Veronica’s bad cop/good crazy cop routine hitting up other Veridian employees for a good cause.

I really hope ABC renews Better Off Ted but at the moment it feels like wishful thinking.

Enjoy these Offensive Outakes from the other week

The ad’s of the “Evil” company are a part I enjoyed with the show, here is an example:

Veridian Dynamics responds to President Obama’s request for free air time for his press conference on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

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2009 have been a year of ups and downs when it comes to TV. These have been my favorite TV past times this year. When it comes to TV I am more of an omnivore than with books.

True Blood
Southern Vampires on the screen with extra spices added to make it the best tv show of the year. It is steamy, it is intense and oh so captivating. Twelve episodes is just too short, give us more Sookie!
Castle
Castle is the best new TV serie of 2009. Nathan Fillion could play anything this year and still succed. Richard Castle the Crime writer fits him perfectly. The beautiful Stana Katic plays detective Kate Becket the inspiration for Richard newest hero Nicky Heat. Nice action, good pace, snappy dialogue, wonderful actors and more. Currently airing its second season and renewed for a third.
Fringe
Season two focuses on the alternative universe threat. FBI agent Olvia Dunham and Peter Bishop continues their caretake of Peters enstranged father Dr Walter Bishop. A fantastic season.
Stargate Universe
The starship Destiny was launched by the Ancient to visit new galaxies. The research facility where the 9th cheveron’s secret is being studied is attacked and the people there have to flee using the stargate. They end up on Destiny, billions of light years from home with no way back. They are not made for this, they didn’t sign up for this. So far it has been an interesting tale about survival. The series is Currently in hiatus. Renewed for a second season by Syfy
Being Human
Werewolves are despised by Vampires. But Mitchell, a vampire and George Sands, a werewolf become friends and decide to mainstream their lives being human. So they rent a house and move in. Unknown to them the house is already inhabited by Annie – a ghost. Second season will air in January 2010.
Eureka
Sheriff Carter and the goofy, charmingly inventive town of Eureka makes me happy to watch. This season begins with a robot replacement for Carter, which doesn’t work out. The outer-space-invaders arc with the mind-controlled towns people was a delight. Pity Zoe left for college in the last episode, hope she’ll be back for summer.
Supernatural
It is the end of the world, the Apocalypse is upon us, and Paris Hilton gets her head chopped off, and Sam and Dean are back together, and Lucifer is in comparison a nice guy. They planed Supernatural for an arc of five season, this is the fifth season – is it the end of the show? I hope not! It is better than ever!
Royal Pains
When Hank is blacklisted for saving a little boy’s life instead of an important trustee and his fiancee leaves him, his unreliable little brother decides a trip to the Hamptons might be the right medicine. Hank quickly makes himself a name as a go to doctor, and the grapevine for the rich and famous there is lightning, and they all call Hank now when ill. A beautiful local MD catches his intrest so he let his brother convince him to stay. Royal Pains is a really likable feel-good series.
White Collar
Fresh new series about a conman Neal Caffrey blackmailed into working with the FBI. His handler is FBI Agent Peter Burke. That they brought in Wendy (Natalie Morales II) from the Middleman was just icing on the cake. It Has just been renewed for a second season.
Warehouse 13
Great fantasy series with the most exquisite steampunky gadgets ever. Beautiful and talented cast especially the addition of Claudia.

Special mention to SyFy channels Alice. I should also mention that I save V for when the hiatus is over. Dollhouse did catch my interest at the end but it didn’t make the list, sorry Joss. We had a few good comedy shows this year worth mentioning, Better off Ted, Cougar Town, The Big Bang Theory.

Other good shows not on the list this year: House, Legend of the Seeker, Merlin, Lie to Me, Sons of Anarchy, Trauma.

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