ABC says it’s still behind ‘Better Off Ted’
ABC plugged unaired episodes of “Better Off Ted” into the schedule this summer, but fans have been annoyed by many preemptions and schedule changes, and ABC can’t be thrilled with poor ratings for the comedy, already picked up for Season 2.
“Summer was tough in general,” ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson told TV critics meeting in Los Angeles. “We felt like where we wanted to go creatively with the show, we really wanted to get that
start. And we’ve (read) a couple episodes and feel like we’re in really good shape there. So I don’t
know. Hindsight is 20/20. We would have definitely liked a better performance, but I do think we’re going
to put on really good shows in the fall or, you know, after the (’Dancing With the Stars’) run. That’s going to be what is going to determine whether the show works or not.”
The final two episodes of “Better Off Ted” are scheduled for 8 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on KDNL. Season 2 isn’t due until January. The office satire from Victor Fresco (”Andy Richter Controls the Universe”) stars Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders and Jonathan Slavin.
Sigh.
They want a better performance? Put it on the same time and day every week so people can find it, and don’t pre-empt it for silly reruns of The Bachelor(ette). They do this with every sitcom other than “According to Jim.” Geez.
That’s why I record all shows on DVR. I don’t have to worry about when they are on, they are always there on DVR when I want them.
While it is very easy to and tempting to complain about ABC’s handling of this gem of a show - and any criticisms of its scheduling and complete lack of promotion would be entirely justified - I instead want to give the network kudos for renewing it for the Fall, which was a major surprise, and for at least airing it in the first place.
So while their handling of the show has been at best incompetent, at least they have handled it. Hopefully they’ll get a clue in the Fall and remember how to promote and nurture quality shows, a skill that seems to be a dying art amongst network programmers and PR departments.
I agree, the scheduling shifting is annoying — and it sometimes confuses my DVR. The “Jabberwocky” episode from Tuesday actually didn’t record for me. My TiVo thought that the episode had previously aired a few weeks ago, when in fact, it had been preempted.
I watched “Jabberwocky” last night on Hulu — so glad I did — it was hilarious. By far one of the best episodes of the season. I’m glad that season 2 starts up in January — that’s sooner than some of the other shows I’m waiting on to return.
ABC is the worst…always screwing up their best shows one way or another…pure sabotage.
“Ugly Betty,” “Samantha Who,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” etc.
I love me some “Better Off Ted.”