Scripted series · ABC
Better Off Ted
They're putting comedy to work.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Jay Harrington
Ted Crisp
26 eps
Portia De Rossi
Veronica Palmer
26 eps
Andrea Anders
Linda Zwordling
26 eps
Jonathan Slavin
Phil Myman
26 eps
Malcolm Barrett
Lem Hewitt
26 eps
Isabella Acres
Rose Crisp
26 eps
Kevin Chamberlin
Ted's Father
1 eps
Richard Fancy
Mr. Campbell
1 eps
Kristoffer Polaha
Don
1 eps
Richard Riehle
Bob
1 eps
Maz Jobrani
Dr. Bhamba
6 eps
Taye Diggs
Greg
1 eps
Khandi Alexander
Stella
1 eps
Jeff Doucette
Mr. Krebs
1 eps
Stefanie von Pfetten
Greta
1 eps
Chris Parnell
Walter
1 eps
Kyle Bornheimer
Pete
1 eps
Eddie McClintock
Billy
1 eps
Janet Varney
Female Lawyer
1 eps
Geoff Pierson
Elijah Palmer
1 eps
Mark Deklin
Mordor
2 eps
Richard McGonagle
Manny
1 eps
Jennifer Irwin
Denise
1 eps
Patricia Belcher
Janet
2 eps
Rick Hoffman
Mr. Page
1 eps
Ernie Grunwald
Clark
1 eps
Chris Dotson
Joe
1 eps
Jesse Head
Stu
1 eps
Rocky McMurray
General McMillan
1 eps
Natalia Reagan
Mindy
1 eps
Alison Robertson
Kathy
1 eps
Peter Spruyt
Jerome
1 eps
Sean Christopher Davis
Jerry
1 eps
Julian Bailey
Hal
1 eps
Mason Lauderdale
Little Boy
1 eps
Jonathan T. Floyd
Bert
1 eps
Roger Narayan
Jim
1 eps
Benjamin King
Gil
1 eps
Abner Genece
Francis Groth
1 eps
Joy Osmanski
Lucy
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Better Off Ted actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Better Off Ted reads strongest on Bingeability, Humour and Character Depth.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
The story
What it's about
Ted, a successful but morally conscious man, runs a research and development department at a morally questionable corporation, Veridian Dynamics. No achievement is too far fetched and no invention too unorthodox for Veridian. Ted loves his seemingly perfect job; he loves his superhuman boss, Veronica, and colleagues Lem, Phil and Linda, but he's starting to take a closer look at the company's extremely questionable practices... especially when they try to cryogenically freeze one of Ted's scientists for testing purposes.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E04
Racial Sensitivity
Ted discovers Veridian has a problem when their new motion detection system proves unable to recognize black people.
- Directed by Paul Lazarus
- Written by Michael Glouberman
S01E12
Jabberwocky
Ted creates a phony project for Linda after she hears that Veridian is going green, which becomes problematic when other staffers want to join the cause.
- Directed by Michael Fresco
- Written by Michael A. Ross
S01E07
Get Happy
After a survey reveals that the staff is unhappy, Veronica tries to improve their morale.
- Directed by Gail Mancuso
- Written by Mike Teverbaugh
S01E03
Through Rose Colored HAZMAT Suits
When Ted's nanny calls in sick, he is forced to take his daughter Rose to work where Veronica bonds with her. Meanwhile, Ted learns where he stands with Linda when her ex-boyfriend arrives in town.
- Directed by Michael Fresco
- Written by Justin Adler
S01E02
Heroes
Due to Phil's after effects from the cryogenic experiment, Ted tries to get him to sign a waiver to protect Veridian from possible future litigation. Elsewhere, Phil and Lem try to create beef despite having no meat in the lab.
- Directed by Michael Fresco
- Written by Victor Fresco
S01E06
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Ted inadvertently deletes himself from Veridian's system when he tries to fix his employee ID, and, as the lab falls into chaos, his peers try to remedy the situation.
- Directed by Michael Spiller
- Written by Becky Mann, Audra Sielaff
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S02E13
Swag the Dog
- Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
- Written by Michael A. Ross
S02E12
It's My Party and I'll Lie If I Want To
- Directed by Michael Spiller
- Written by Mike Teverbaugh
S02E11
Mess of a Salesman
- Directed by Marc Buckland
- Written by Tim Doyle
S02E10
Lust in Translation
- Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel
- Written by Michael Shipley
S02E08
The Impertence of Communicationizing
- Directed by Michael Fresco
- Written by Mike Teverbaugh
S02E09
The Long and Winding High Road
- Directed by Michael Spiller
- Written by Michael A. Ross
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Victor Fresco
Showrunner
- Photo unavailable
Kat Likkel
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jordan Young
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Mike Teverbaugh
Writer
Ingrid Escajeda
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Michael Glouberman
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Dan O'Shannon
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Justin Adler
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Tim Doyle
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Michael A. Ross
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Becky Mann
Writer
Michael Shipley
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Audra Sielaff
Writer
- Photo unavailable
John Hoberg
Writer
Elijah Aron
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Victor FrescoExecutive Producer
- Marc SolakianProducer
- Skip BeaudineProducer
Writing
- Kat LikkelWriter
- Jordan YoungWriter
- Mike TeverbaughWriter
- Ingrid EscajedaWriter
- Michael GloubermanWriter
- Victor FrescoWriter
Direction
- Michael SpillerDirector
- Marc BucklandDirector
- Chris KochDirector
- Gail MancusoDirector
- Reginald HudlinDirector
- Michael FrescoDirector
Cinematography
- Brandon MastrippolitoDirector of Photography
- Sharone MeirDirector of Photography
Music
- Chris Alan LeeOriginal Music Composer
- Scott ClausenOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
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Where to go from here
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Never stop watching
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