Better Off Ted - The Chaos AG

Television series
German title	Better Off Ted - The Chaos AG
Original title	Better Off Ted
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Year (s)	2009-2010
length	22 minutes
Episodes	26 in 2 seasons
genre	Comedy , mockumentary , sitcom , science fiction
idea	Victor Fresco
production	Victor Fresco
music	Scott Clausen , Chris Lee
First broadcast	March 18, 2009 (USA) on ABC
German-language first broadcast	August 19, 2010 on Comedy Central Germany
occupation
Jay Harrington : Ted Crisp ( Boris Tessmann ) Portia de Rossi : Veronica Palmer ( Arianne Borbach ) Andrea Anders : Linda Zwordling ( Katrin Zimmermann ) Jonathan Slavin : Phil ( Rainer Fritzsche ) Malcolm Barrett : Lem ( Tommy Morgenstern ) Isabella Acres : Rose Crisp

Better Off Ted - Die Chaos AG (Alternative title: Office - Das verrückte Leben im Chaos ) is an American sitcom produced by 20th Century Fox Television and first broadcast on March 18, 2009 on ABC . The series received good reviews and was extended for a second season by ABC despite poor ratings . On May 13, 2010, ABC announced that Better Off Ted would not receive a third season. In Germany, the series was shown from August 19, 2010 on Comedy Central Germany .

action

The plot of the satirical office comedy revolves around Ted, the head of research and development at Veridian Dynamics. Veridian Dynamics is an unscrupulous multinational company that puts profit above morality. Ted is the single father of a seven-year-old daughter named Rose. At the company he is the manager of two research scientists, Lem and Phil, and the product tester Linda, for whom he has romantic feelings. His boss is Veronica, an emotionless and unscrupulous woman with whom he once had an affair. After the company cryogenically freezes one of its scientists for testing purposes, Ted begins to question the company's goals and morale.

During the show, Ted regularly breaks through the fourth wall and speaks directly to the viewer to tell from his life and to comment on the events of the show, sometimes cynically.

The episodes include a commercial for Veridian Dynamics that depicts the episode's theme, such as food or family. Some of the commercials have contradicting statements and are exaggerated.

Actors and characters

Portia de Rossi plays Veronica Palmer

Jonathan Slavin plays Phil

Ted Crisp , played by Jay Harrington , is the successful but conscientious director of research and development at Veridian Dynamics. He is the eponymous figure and often speaks to the audience. He tries to do his job, but also stands up for his employees, as far as his position allows. Ted seems to have feelings for Linda, but his “Just one office affair!” Rule makes it difficult for him to reveal them. He had his office affair with Veronica. He is the single father of his daughter Rose.

Veronica Palmer , played by Portia de Rossi , is Ted's manager. She is emotionless and free of conscience, ready to do anything that will help her or the company to an advantage, which is why many employees tend to be afraid of her. Although she and Ted once had an affair, she doesn't seem to have any feelings for him anymore. A subplot that is mentioned sporadically in Season 1 and more frequently in Season 2 is that Veronica becomes Linda's mentor.

Linda Zwordling , played by Andrea Anders , is a product tester at Veridian. She seems to want a relationship with Ted, which is why she is often frustrated by Ted's "Just an office affair!" Rule. At the end of season two, Ted and Linda kiss in Ted's office after "breaking up" on a rumor that they were sleeping together. In the course of the series it is mentioned as a running gag that Linda is kleptomaniac and constantly steals creamer from the office, which some employees seem to know about.

Dr. Philip Phil Myman , played by Jonathan Slavin, is one of the scientists in Ted's department. Most of the time he works with Lem. His wife apparently hates him. As the series progresses, it turns out that she was a member of the Mossad . After Phil was cryonically frozen by the company and thawed again prematurely due to an accident, he utters noises and his face literally freezes.

Dr. Lem Hewitt , played by Malcolm Barrett, is the other scientist in Ted's department.

Rose Crisp , played by Isabella Acres , is Ted's daughter. She often asks Ted questions, which then leads Ted to question Veridian Dynamics' unscrupulous practices (such as the freezing of Phil). When her nanny can't, she goes to the company's daycare during Ted's working hours. However, she prefers to stay at home.

Guest appearances

Many celebrities, especially American ones, have guest appearances. These are:

Merrin Dungey Patricia Belcher Vivian Bang Taye Diggs Chris Parnell Richard Riehle

Kyle Bornheimer Rachelle Lefèvre Stefanie von Pfetten Eddie McClintock Virginia Williams Kevin Chamberlin

Jennifer Irwin Khandi Alexander Dakin Matthews Kristoffer Polaha Rick hoffman Geoff Pierson

Seasons

Logo of Comedy Central Germany , the broadcaster of the German premiere

Charisma

Season	Episodes	Broadcast (USA) ABC	Broadcast (Germany) Comedy Central
season 1	13	March 18, 2009 to August 11, 2009	August 19, 2010 to July 12, 2011
season 2	13	December 8, 2009 to January 26, 2010	July 13, 2011 to July 29, 2011

Episode list

* ¹ These episodes were not broadcast in the United States.

Web links

• Better Off Ted in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Official website (archived, English)
• Better Off Ted at Serienjunkies.de

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Office on media-agentur.de ( Memento of the original from August 10, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ serienjunkies.de
3. ↑ Bill Gorman: ABC drops "Better Off Ted" . TV By the Numbers. May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
4. ↑ Better off Ted: Comedy Central shows series from August 19, 2010