What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 11 “Mess of a Salesman” (B+)

It was hard for me to imagine an actor who might work as Ted’s brother, but I’m very impressed with the casting choice, Eddie McClintock, star of sci-fi extravaganza “Warehouse 13” and the short-lived comedy series “Crumbs.” He has just the right vibe and immaturity to play Ted’s big bro who is far less accomplished and less serious. The best part about having him around is that he brings out the competitive kid in Ted, and though the actions don’t quite suit Ted, it’s fun to see him try and have such a good time doing it. It’s also refreshing to see that he’s not an abysmal failure and that he’s able to quickly recognize that he’s gone too far with Lem and Phil, whose ill-fated venture into “dealing with it” was quite humorous. It’s a pity that Billy only got the chance to interact with Rose rather than to meet either of the other women in Ted’s life, because that could have been very entertaining. Instead, those two were up to some pretty ridiculous shenanigans intimidating people into giving money to a charity and head-butting the president of the Veridian foundation. Unlike Lucy on this week’s episode of “Scrubs,” Linda is capable of channeling her inner crazy, and it was hilarious to see Veronica cheering her on so excitedly and ferociously. Casting Rick Hoffman of the late “Samantha Who” as the head of the foundation was brilliant, and I hope we see him again. I loved the way that Billy, Lem and Phil saved the day by putting a corpse in the trunk of his car and then documenting him dumping it. It was always as cool as Liz Lemon phoning in a bomb threat to Penn Station to delay someone’s train on “30 Rock” a few weeks ago.

Missing: the final two episodes of this show. Hopefully only the final episodes of the season, not the series, but in any case, it’s not clear that they’re ever airing. If anyone has any information on when or where they might be available, please post in the comments.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 10 “Lust in Translation” (B+)

This episode is a rare case where I’m actually wholeheartedly into the Ted storyline, and where it’s that storyline that both dominates and carries the episode. I wasn’t so into Linda and Veronica’s bagel-throwing competition only because it didn’t use them that excellently, but it wasn’t bad. What really made the episode for me was the translator device. I thought it was incredibly clever that Phil and Lem decided to use Phil’s voice instead of the fear-inspiring, godlike booming voice they first tried. What made it so amusing was how much it bothered Ted, and how funny all of his German girlfriend’s dialogue was coming out with Phil’s voice. My favorite part of the whole thing was how old-fashioned the translator devices looked, like something out of the 18th century. Ted is really growing on me as a character, and while I’ve said in the past that this show would be better titled something else more related to its ensemble and Veridian Dynamics, I do think that Ted is a great straight man lead, and he’s even capable of being hilarious if the moment calls for it. This was a terrific episode for him, and his bumbling in response to the accidental initial come-ons of his German flame were topped by his subsequent ambition to date her and ensure that it didn’t adversely affect their professional collaboration. Ted really is driven to succeed, but he’s also foolhardy, something which Veronica knows well, and that’s just plain enjoyable. There isn’t much “Better Off Ted” left this season since “Lost” premieres in less than two weeks, and I do hope all these rumors of cancellation aren’t true since I’d love to see this show stick around for a while.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episodes 8 & 9 “The Impertenence of Communicationizing” & “The Long and Winding High Road” (B+)

A double dose of this show each week is truly satisfying. Veridian’s typos are always good for some good fun, and this episode was no exception. The best running joke was Casual Frisday, and Veronica’s response to Ted’s unusual outfit designed to make him look laidback, “Casual Frisday isn’t until 2024,” was pretty hilarious. She had a number of other funny quotes in both episodes, including “that’s the fastest I’ve ever lost interest in anything.” Most of her quips are made infinitely funnier by her delivery of them, so they may lose some of their hilarity when rewritten here by me. These two episodes are up to the usual par, but there’s something particularly impressive that both of them do exceptionally well. That’s the incorporation of their guest stars in a way that uses their talents perfectly but doesn’t overshadow or distract from the regular players. In the first episode, Chris Parnell, better known as the hapless Dr. Spaceman on “30 Rock,” was a great sounding board for Veronica to shoot her guilt off of as the Walter Palmer (the P is silent). In the second installment, Kyle Bornheimer, star of the one-season sitcom “Worst Week,” was a fantastic nemesis for do-gooder Ted who was able to bring out the competitive, slightly cutthroat side of our loveable hero. Watching the genius plans orchestrated by Ted, Veronica, and Andrea interact so tragically was a pretty hilarious way to cement Ted’s original inkling that taking the high road usually pays off.

What I'm Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episodes 6 & 7 “Beating A Dead Workforce” & “Change We Can’t Believe In” (B+)

Two episodes of this show in one night is definitely a fantastic gift for the new year. Of course it means that the season will be over all the sooner (to make way for the return of “Lost” in the 9pm timeslot), but it should be great while it lasts. The first episode was full of terrific laughs, and the second wasn’t too shabby either. I enjoy Veronica’s relationship with Ted, and the banal way they interact. When Ted rounded the corner and spotted Veronica, her response of “you’re always coming to me with a problem” was hilarious and truly fitting for their dynamic. Her subsequent rant about praising her like a celebrity pop star was a little weird but still fun. Ted’s attempts to find a kindly counterpart to the horror of Stephen King with Stephen the Clown and a poorly-conceived effort to put Steven Seagal into that category were great. All of Veronica’s lines were spot-on, especially “he may not have been alive when we hired him” as the company’s defense for the employee’s untimely death. I laughed out loud at her inability to comprehend his name while announcing it, unwilling to toss out the Carl in his name despite the fact that it was Gordon Jenkins, no Carl. Other memorable quotes from Veronica in the first episode include: “this cartoon resonates with my experience of office life, but through a comical lens,” “the future is a cake which may never come,” and the whole “the moment is gone…savor it…it’s gone” manipulation of a rather violent Andrea. The second installment was enjoyable in the way that it allowed unprecedented interaction between Phil, Lem, and Veronica and her ill-fated efforts to separate them into two people so that she would only have to deal with one of them ever. Seeing how people find Ted and Andrea obnoxious is always a plus too.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 5 “The Great Repression” (B+)

This special January 1st installment was a nice bonus episode. Another hair-brained scheme from Veronica to circumvent legal and institutional practices by classifying sexual harassment as a disease made for a hilarious chain of events. The absurd behavior that came about as a result was quite amusing, especially how Veronica and Ted actually liked it. There were some fun quotes, including “I don’t know what that means but it’s flipping my switches” from Veronica and “that’s the sound of me deflecting your whiny bitching.” Linda’s speech about her being a sexual harassment defender was pretty hilarious as well. It was great to the long-absent Merrin Dungey, formerly Francie on “Alias,” as the woman who filed the complaints against Linda and Ted. She played Naomi in the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off episode, but the role was recast by the time “Private Practice” became its own show. This is a fitting role for her, and it’s fun to see her react to both Linda and Ted, and also entertaining how they both accidentally let out the words “don’t fight it” while talking to her. The supporting plotline with Phil and Lem trying to save their beloved robot was nice as a counterpoint to all the craziness upstairs. The best line of all was Phil’s declaration that the basement was “like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre if they massacred the chainsaws.” The fury of the janitor trying to claim his territory was enjoyable as well.

Top Ten New Shows of 2009: #8

My annual TV Awards, the AFT Television Awards, are given out during the summer. But this year, during both the spring and the fall, produced many impressive new television series. As 2009 closes out and 2010 begins, here’s a look back at the best new shows of the year.

#8: Better Off Ted
This quirky show was unexpectedly full of chuckles, and populated with entertaining, lively characters. The likeable enough Ted isn’t the heart of the show; it’s the company Veridian Dynamics and its employees who endure so much. The real star is Portia de Rossi, who manages her underlings like cattle and couldn’t be bothered to crack a smile. Watching this show, it’s a bit harder to suppress amusement.

Best Episode: “Jabberwocky”
Pilot Review | Episode Reviews

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 4 “It’s Nothing Business, It’s Just Personal” (B)

Veronica is really at her best when she’s being her usual cold self, and having her fall under someone else’s spell hardly seems sensible. I really didn’t care for the first episode to feature her magician boyfriend Mordor, and bringing him back made for a few quick laughs but ultimately proved more distracting than anything else. Seeing Ted boxed up in the smallest office imaginable where he literally has devote time to getting into his chair and behind his desk is fun, and watching him sputter about as he tries to harmlessly meddle in other people’s affairs is somewhat satisfying. Linda and Ted working together is once again a good thing, and it’s refreshing to know that neither of them quite knows exactly what they’re talking about, and it’s a good thing that they have each other to get things done as a not-quite-operative team. However dazed she was, Veronica’s explanation of the company’s strategy for motivation was hilarious. Manipulating its employees is one of the things Veridian Dynamics does best, and this is certainly one of those cases. The rationale behind changing something, even if there’s no reason for it, as a motivating factor is quite brilliant, and it’s humorous to see how it works on lab rats Lem and Phil. It helps that the two of them are so funny together and that the red coat really stands out. Watching them keep guessing what the coat means and Phil dreadfully proclaim that he worked so hard not to get the coat they had deemed a punishment was a great way to wrap up that plotline.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 3 “Battle of the Bulbs” (B)

This was an episode that tried hard and sort of came through in the end, certainly funny but definitely a little odd. Putting Andrea and Ted together on the same project in a work context was fun, especially since, as Andrea pointed out, they’ve never really had the opportunity to actually work together. Watching Ted get his idea stomped on when he refused to hear Andrea out was a little bit satisfying, though the best part of the whole plotline was Veronica mentoring Andrea on how to be intimidating and not to back down even if her idea was stupid. And like all of the products manufactured by Veridian Dynamics, there’s always some unanticipated malicious side effect that threatens to shut down the whole project. The incorporation of Lem’s mom into the main storyline didn’t feel quite as welcome or effective, and was more of a distraction than a compelling plot arc. It did give Phil something fun to do and served as a good way to incorporate him, but for the most part it didn’t work too well. The random reappearance of Maz Jobrani as the occasionally hilarious but sometimes just crude Dr. Bhamba was entertaining, however I do have one bone to pick with his presence on the show. As I speculated in my review of the show’s first season finale this summer, didn’t he take the blame for a huge scandal and get fired by Veridian a long time ago?

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Lawyer, The Lemur & The Little Listener” (B)

This is a funny but altogether peculiar episode, where all of the plotlines are a bit too strange for the episode to be completely terrific. First of all, seeing Lem start aggressively making out with a woman in the elevator with Phil right there seemed a tad out of character, and him having to pay for the time he was spending with her for her law services then didn’t make much sense or have much relevance since the relationship was already outlandish and weird to start. Andrea’s children’s book followed that same logic, and Phil’s semi-delight at being the main character and her snappy responses to his efforts to chart his character’s course were amusing. Veronica has already used Rose to help her fire people, and incorporating the young one strongly goes against the commonly emphasized notion that this show isn’t really about Ted, and that all of the supporting characters are for the most part much stronger than him. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting and entertaining to see Veronica try to manipulate Rose for her own good and see how she appeals to the young girl in order to get her to help her. The mix-up where Rose overheard the wrong information about an employee was funny, and it’s always enjoyable to see Ted get the blame for something he didn’t do. Overall, the cast makes these more than slightly silly plotlines work, and they deserve credit for that, as does the successful show as a whole.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted (Season Premiere)

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episode 1 “Love Blurts” (B+)

It’s only been a few months that his show has been off the air since the back half of its first season aired this summer, and it’s a welcome return for the show. The series started off decently and eventually managed to find its footing by capitalizing on its stellar ensemble. The cast works marvelously together, and amid the often absurd and somewhat questionable plotlines, they’re always great. The second season begins with perhaps the most ridiculous idea that Veridian Dynamics has come up with yet – pairing up its employees based on calculated sexual compatibility. Everyone’s reaction to the situation was equally amusing, and I like how they were all so different yet just as entertaining. Veronica’s business-only approach to having the surprisingly capable Lem as her sperm donor just so that she can think about having a baby was typically over-the-top in a good way, and her reasoning for wanting to have a baby as explained to Ted was pretty funny. Phil’s researching of his ancestry was fun, but it’s the sexual tension and weird rivalry between Ted and Andrea that really makes the show work. The fact that both of their potential partners had just something a little off about them was great so that it wasn’t at first so obvious. Seeing Taye Diggs in this role was fun, and the highlight of his performance was his excitement at detailing his desire to dress up as a bear. Ted’s rambling about Utah was just bizarre, but then again, this show has never really been about Ted, and more about the hilarity of Veridian Dynamics.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted (Season Finale)

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 13 “Secrets and Lives” (C)

I was going to review both episodes of “Better Off Ted” together since they aired back-to-back, but I figured that the drastic difference in quality called for separate pieces. Where “Jabberwocky” excels, “Secrets and Lives” fails. It’s not quite terrible, but the premise is so thin and forced that the episode just doesn’t work very well. Veronica has always been the stiffest character on the show, but for good reason. That’s what her personality is, work-centric and lacking in people skills. Sure, of course she has some venue where she relaxes, but as a magician’s assistant? It feels like someone just pulled that one out of a hat. It doesn’t fit with anything we know about Veronica, and therefore it falls very, very flat. The attempt to make it seem more suited to her by having the entire act be sexually suggestive and inappropriate doesn’t really work too well, especially because the show is on network television, so they can’t really show anything but only imply that it’s something weird. Linda setting Ted up with her friend also doesn’t work as a storyline; it’s a funny concept for a second, but quickly becomes dumb once it’s made clear that no one, including Linda, Ted, Rebecca, and Rose, actually wants this relationship to happen. The return of Maz Jobrani as Dr. Bhamba was fun, but didn’t he get fired by the company and take the blame for all those drugs?

“Better Off Ted” isn’t slated to return until mid-season. Until then, be happy that we got some extra “Ted” during the summer and remember the “Jabberwocky” episode, the better-than-average pilot, and any other installments you really liked fondly and forget about this one.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Portia de Rossi

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 12 “Jabberwocky” (A-)

This is really an example of what every episode of this show should be like. It’s a strong, fervently funny installment which stresses one thing above all: a good premise. The idea of managers and bosses not knowing what their underlings know and the lengths they’ll go to cover it up is quite amusing, and probably not so far from the truth. Ted’s ending presentation of the Jabberwocky project and the understandable confusion of the scientists after the product is sent to be developed are extremely entertaining. Lem and Phil have never made a better pair, decrying that no one would want to be them when Ted shoots down their idea. The running joke about the flaming plate kept getting funnier, and Lem’s continuing insistence that it could be used in any situation was simply terrific. The overarching notion that Ted was giving Linda the opportunity to do her project because he likes her was another excellent part of the episode, providing it with an unexpected dramatic backbone. This is a fine show of talent on everyone’s part, and I’m hoping that season two, whenever it airs, can bring us more episodes like this.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 11 “Father, Can You Hair Me?” (B+)

Now here’s a show that really knows its characters. Veronica is highly competitive and generally unsentimental, and a deeply spirited back-and-forth battle with her father to release new products first makes a lot of sense. Her very literal Frisbee-tossing and park bench hangout with her father were both very funny moments, and Geoff Pierson (President Keeler on “24”) was a fitting choice to portray her dying father. The episode’s end with Veronica tricking her father into picking up the hair-growing parasite after hugging and kissing him was a nice coda for their relationship. Ted’s personality is also very well-defined. He’s highly motivated to excel, and projects that same determination onto his daughter. Similarly, he wants to be the first out of the gate with the patent for the hair-growing product, even testing it on himself. He is grounded enough, however, to realize and accept that his daughter doesn’t necessarily have the same desires he does, and that’s what makes him a good parent – and “Better Off Ted” a good show.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 10 “Trust and Consequences” (B+)

It’s always a bit of a risk to utilize a flashback device so early in a show’s run, but this is a harmless comedy, and here it’s entirely effective. Ted and Veronica are completely the same, Linda’s just as awkwardly over-chatty, and both Lem and Phil have hilarious hairstyles (which, of course, makes for a terrific joke about it being 60s day rather than actually a really long time ago). The premise for the episode is perfectly appropriate for the tone of the show. Linda’s willingness to be acknowledged as the scapegoat was entertaining, and everyone being interviewed and showing how they perform under pressure was fun. Lem and Phil’s lies to each other were also completely hilarious – and the reactions each of them had to Phil’s attendance at the University of Aruba (his comment about the academics there was great) and Lem’s superfluous wearing of glasses were terrific. The whole existence of the sex tape and its story was a great driving plot point – and the interactions between Ted and Veronica, and Linda for that matter, in the episode were all high quality. The best part was a recurring player who it seems will now be off the show, Dr. Bhamba, played by Maz Jobrani from “The Knights of Prosperity.” Jobrani has a very distinctive style which many probably find grating, but in this case it was incredible. His continuous declaration of all the drugs he smoked, and the places he smoked them, was a major highlight.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 9 “Bioshuffle” (B+)

The setup of this episode was far superior to last week’s, forcibly reorganizing its characters due to a biochemical spill. It’s always really fun to see the chemistry between Ted and Linda, and having the two of them share an office and each do zero work was fun. Their conversation towards the end of the episode was a highlight, and the note Linda taped in Ted’s staring place was very amusing. Ted turning to Veronica for help was especially surprising, since the two rarely interact in such a manner. The most entertaining plotline, however, involved the two geeks in the lab. Lem’s newly developed crush on guest star Lucy (played by Joy Osmanski from “The Loop”) was very fun, and their almost-romance was the highlight of the episode. The preposterously dangerous Veridian Dynamics products continue to be outlandish and wonderfully fitting for the episodes’ plotlines. I think I’m beginning to enjoy this summer run.

Next week’s episode is a repeat of “Win Some, Dose Some,” and the next original episode airs July 14th.

What I’m Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 1, Episode 8 “You Are The Boss Of Me” (B)

This marks the return of ABC’s freshman comedy for its run of fresh summer episodes before it revs back up for a second year sometime midseason. These six installments should be considered as a bonus supply that has no reason for existing. Therefore, expectations aren’t high, since this is a fun opportunity to see what the writers of “Better Off Ted” came up with for episodes that should have been included during the first season, and there’s still a second season in the works where they can improve on the first season. This first episode isn’t quite as clever of some of the previous episodes of “Ted,” but it still contains a few laughs. It follows a traditional sitcom setup: the bosses want to become friends with their underlings, but things go awry when people realize that business and pleasure don’t quite mix well. The eventual result for both Veronica and Ted is obvious from the start, though it’s a bit of an amusing ride there. There’s little to complain about, but the show just isn’t quite as sharp as it often is. The medieval fight club is a bit geeky to be sure, and it would be great to actually see Ted’s ex-wife instead of just hear about her, especially because it might give Jay Harrington a chance to show some emotion. Veronica’s tormenting of Linda is fun, although I’m not sure that it’s possible to top the earlier episode where she tries to be nice to everyone. Hearing her talk about (and demonstrate) how easy it is to fire people is a hoot, however, and a highlight of this episode.

Finishing Up The Season: Better Off Ted

My feelings toward this freshman show at the time of its pilot weren’t overly favorable, since I have a long history with short-lived ABC comedies. It’s been a few years since I truly liked and appreciated two ABC shows that faded quickly and were canceled just as quickly (“Sons and Daughters” and “Crumbs”). Since then, I’ve gotten attached to shows with pilots that surpassed my expectations in that they weren’t terrible, like watching “Carpoolers” because its pilot made me laugh a few times after “Cavemen” set my face in a permanent cringing imprint. In any case, “Better off Ted” was far more charming than I thought.

I have continued to enjoy the premise of the series more and more as it went on over its first set of seven episodes. The focus has very little to do with the show’s title, and Jay Harrington really serves only as the narrator and the straight man, which is a very appropriate role for him. I’ve watched Mr. Harrington for a while, predating his arc on “Desperate Housewives” as a doctor trying to woo Susan, going all the way back to his serious role as a hardworking federal agent husband on “The Inside.” He’s not terribly funny, but he’s appropriately goofy and a good fit for the lead role in this show. His part didn’t seem to have been ironed out or finessed fully for most of the season, but they really got it right in the season finale. Ted’s desperate, yet still casual, wish to be liked by everyone resulted in him taking everyone out and goofing off until things got too unserious. His flirtation with Linda is another great aspect of his character. Then again, it’s really not the main point of the show.

The show is actually about Veridian Dynamics, a humorously awful company which could have, and I fully expected to be, a one-line joke. Somehow, the writers have managed to keep it fresh (or rather, never fresh because they don’t use real stuff for their products). I really enjoy the Veridian Dynamics commercials that air midway through the episode. I like that the episodes don’t start off with the commercials but they rather serve do drive home the theme of the episode. I hope that this doesn’t fade away like these kinds of gimmicks (as used in the pilot of “Six Feet Under,” for example) often get tossed out after first attempts. Then again, shows like “NCIS” add in their own special brand of uniqueness later in their seasons, so perhaps next season “Better off Ted” will have even more tricks up its sleeve.

The cast as a whole is terrific. I’m become increasingly impressed with all of them as I’ve realized that there isn’t even one series regular who bugs me, or fails to sufficiently entertain me. Lem and Ted are great, and while they started off being pretty annoying and the cryogenic freezing plotline didn’t bode well with me, they’ve come into their own and I enjoy their constant bickering. Andrea Anders has finally found a role that fits her talents, after starring in two extremely poor temporary comedies (“The Class” and “Joey”). Her role as Linda, and her chemistry with Harrington, is both endearing and funny. The real star of the show, however, is Portia de Rossi. Don’t hate me, but I’m not an “Arrested Development” fan, though I am happy to see all the alumni (namely movie stars Jason Bateman and Michael Cera, “Chuck” player Tony Hale, and “30 Rock” guest star Will Arnett) doing so well. De Rossi is great here as the dry, emotionless Veronica, whose sensibilities perfectly complement Ted’s eternal laidback optimism. This is a much greater cast than I would ever have expected. Wonderfully, “Better Off Ted” has been given a renewal for a second season, and my hope is that its second go-round allows it to come into its own rather than fail because it can’t sustain additional episode plotlines.

Pilot: B-
Season finale: B+
Season grade: B
Season MVP: Portia de Rossi

Spring Pilot Reviews: Part Three

This spring included a flurry of pilots, some of which faded immediately and others that soared with impressive ratings. To play catch-up, I’m going to forego my usual pilot reviews and offer brief thoughts on all of the pilots in three segments. I’ll try to group them by my general feelings towards their quality and enduring possibility.

For my third go, I’ll look at the pilots that just couldn’t capture my attention. Most of them lost me halfway through the pilots, and in some cases, they’re just not the type of shows I’d likely watch. That’s certainly the case for Lie to Me, which despite having a fun concept, doesn’t seem to have any special kind of hook to draw viewers in to its weekly procedural nature. I thought it could have been more like ABC’s “Eyes” from a few years ago with Tim Daly, and a more enthusiastic, capable ensemble might make it work a whole lot better. Tim Roth is pretty cool, no doubt about it, but Kelli Williams isn’t a great co-lead. The show itself isn’t terribly inventive, which is a real shame because a series about lie detectors should be inherently fascinating. No such luck, for me at least, but its second season pickup this week means that its loyal fans (including my roommate) will have many more lies to detect in the future. ABC’s Cupid is another show that just didn’t spark. Actually a remake of a 90s show with Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall, this series doesn’t provide much of a makeover. While comparison isn’t always the fair way of judging a show’s potential (and I made sure to watch the 2009 version first), the new incarnation doesn’t improve at all upon a show that didn’t quite click in the first place. Bobby Cannavale is a lot of fun (his turn as Will’s cop boyfriend on “Will & Grace” won him a well-deserved Emmy), but he’s playing too broadly and freely here, whereas Jeremy Piven had the role more under control. Sarah Paulson, great as she was on “Studio 60” a few years ago, isn’t quite bristly enough, though that is something Paula Marshall specializes in (see “Gary Unmarried” and “Californication”). “Cupid” has the same kind of aimless feel “My Name is Earl” introduced in its pilot – this show could go on forever without ever going anywhere. I feel like I can accomplish a whole lot more in my life before Trevor makes some so-so surprising matches. HBO’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is quite an unusual offering, with each episode deep and extensive like other HBO series, but with a bizarre twist. Unlike past series like “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under,” “Carnivale,” and “Deadwood,” just to name a few among the many, there isn’t a tremendous ensemble here. It’s just one woman, hanging out in Botswana solving cases with her energetic but relaxed approach. It’s not a show made for me, and I don’t think I could handle any further installments, but to its credit, it’s exactly what it’s supposed to be. Jill Scott, though it’s not type of my performance, does do a great job and carries the show along with her obnoxious secretary.

Three other shows left me disappointed because they’re the kind of fare I might typically enjoy. A&E’s The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze, had terrific advertisements trumpeting its premiere, and I got excited about the gritty feel that would make it irresistible, as an ideal kind of improvement on A&E’s other currently-running drama, “The Cleaner.” Swayze’s pretty intense, that’s for sure, though I’m considerably less impressed with his rookie partner and the rest of the governmental players. The main logic that kicks in while watching this show is that there are only so many times that corrupt cops going over the line can be shocking or even interesting. Maybe this one’s gone too far, and there’s little unexplored territory it can cover. The exact same logic rings true for NBC’s Southland, which got picked up for a second season almost right away. It’s another cop drama that seeks to be controversial in its graphic depiction of real life. Ben McKenzie (Ryan from “The O.C.”) does a good job actually acting (!) but we’ve seen this story play out before. Young rookie cop arrives and works with a disgruntled training officer, and both come out of the experience changed. Given how long John Wells’ last NBC drama, “ER”, lasted, this show could have some potential to go further, but I’m not up for sticking around to see if it pans out. Michael Cudlitz, who I recognize from bit parts here and there, isn’t really the lead type, and I think that calling on him for a show of emotion someday will likely disappoint. The final show that left me wanting a bit more is Starz’s comedy Party Down. A great cast of very funny actors, namely Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, and Jane Lynch, just isn’t very…funny. Or interesting for that matter. Marino is talented, but his part just never allows him to be funny unless he’s being stupid, and Lynch, usually a hilarious recurring player, has too much of a big part which results in her overdoing it all the time. Caplan didn’t have a chance to be more than just a depressed sad sap in the pilot, and given her recent insanely great performance on “True Blood,” I’d hope to see her talents used far more shrewdly. I’d like to try and get back into the show, but episode two didn’t really do much for me either.

There were, however, two pilots that I did enjoy a lot: ABC’s Better Off Ted and NBC’s Parks and Recreation starring Amy Poehler. I’ll offer my thoughts on their recently wrapped, shortened seasons in my forthcoming posts on their freshman years. Fortunately, they’ve both been renewed for another season, and everyone will have plenty of time to get into them.

The summer should offer some new pilots, and fall is only a few months away! In the meantime, check back daily for season recaps of all the shows I’ve been watching.