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Better Off With Anything That Makes Us Laugh

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By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

In hard economic times people are supposed to turn to comedy for escape. Right?

So could there be a sitcom revival in our future?

It hasn't happened yet although CBS is enjoying some success on Monday nights with its established comedy block including the aging "Two and a Half Men" and the popular "Big Bang Theory."

And NBC hangs in on Thursdays with its comedy quartet that includes "The Office" and "30 Rock.".

ABC, home of the sitcom that wouldn't die - "According to Jim" - is going for laughs tonight with the debut of "Better Off Ted" at 8:30 p.m.

Both smart and silly, this newcomer stars Jay Harrington as Ted Crisp, the irrepressible and ever-chipper head of research and development for Veridian Dynamics, an amoral company that will market anything.

Many of the gags come from the attempts to develop products such as a "weaponized pumpkin," cloned sheep or "meatless cows."

Corporate America also is a target of the humor. Veridian is a heartless, cost-cutting, profit-above-all-else, ethics-be-damned kind of company. Ted and his under-appreciated staff are ruled by a tyrannical boss, Veronica, (Portia de Rossi).

Ted, a kind-hearted single father, narrates the story. Challenging the office status quo is a new employee Linda (Andrea Anders) who has the potential to become Ted's love interest.

The resident nerds and guinea pigs are bickering research scientists Lem (Malcolm Barrett) and Phil (Jonathan Slavin).

How cold is Veridian? When management considers freezing one of them for a year to test a new cryogenic technique, there's some question whether he will be paid because technically he'll be motionless for 12 months.

And when a failed experiment results in a chair that turns out to be uncomfortable and scratchy, management makes them for all employees because uncomfortable employees are less likely to daydream.

The show works best when it pokes fun at the workplace and the faceless conglomerate that exploits its workers. What doesn't work so well is mixing in Ted's personal life, including his sweet daughter and his bumbling romance.

UNIVERSAL SOAPS UP: The CBS soap "Guiding Light" is taping this week at Universal Orlando. The action runs through Friday at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk and other Orlando locales. The footage will be seen in episodes airing April 24 to May 4.

On Saturday, most of the cast will participate in Universal's Mardi Gras celebration. King and queen of the parade will be Kim Zimmer (who plays Reva) and Robert Newman (Josh). At 10 a.m., Universal annual passholders can attend a meet-and-greet with the stars. Beginning at 11 a.m. cast members will be signing autographs at the Fear Factor Live show at Universal Studios.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Better Off Ted," 8:30 p.m., ABC

Ted finds out just how far Veronica's willing to go for Veridian's greater good when she charges him with convincing brilliant research scientist Phil to be cryogenically frozen for a test experiment. Phil is excited, even if best friend and research partner, Lem, is a little jealous.

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