To no surprise, ABC’s Better Off Ted has been cancelled after two seasons on the air. Though it was a hit with critics and a devout group of fans, it just never found a mass audience.
Better Off Ted follows Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington) and his fellow employees at Veridian Dynamics, a strange and heartless technology company. The rest of the cast includes Andrea Anders, Jonathan Slavin, Malcolm Barrett, and Portia de Rossi.
Last May, ABC decided to show some faith in the freshman sitcom and renewed Better Off Ted for a second season. At that time, the ratings weren’t great and they got even worse after the renewal announcement.
When the network began airing the remainder of season one during the summer months, they averaged a terrible 0.74 in the 18-49 demographic and 2.09 million viewers.
For season two, Ted debuted with a 1.5 rating in the demo and 3.82 million viewers. As bad as those numbers sound, they got even worse.
Paired with Scrubs, ABC decided to burn off the remaining episodes of Ted in January. Despite campaigning from some loyal fans, viewership hit a new low for the season — a 0.8 rating and 2.17 million viewers.
The writing’s been on the wall for a long time and realistically, based on the numbers, the TV show shouldn’t have been renewed for a second season. Many in the cast have taken other jobs and the series has now been cancelled by ABC.
What do you think? Many really loved this show but it never attracted a big audience. Why?
Image courtesy ABC.
sad to see that this was cancelled, I loved this show, smart and funny my favourite combo
This show was right up there with Arrested Development for me. Both hilarious, and two of the best tv comedy series out there, and both cancelled. Figures.
It’s a lot better than Cougar Town!
Because the networks never give people a chance to even know about a series before they cancel it! I just discovered this on netfix and it is hilarious. I love it! Bring it back!!!!
Oh no, I just got back off an air New Zealand flight and watched two episodes, they made me laugh that much my other half had to tell me to shut up as I didn’t realise how hard I was laughing with my earphones on. I live in the UK and have just gone on line to see if I can get a dvd of the series and have just seen that they have ditched it. Shame, best laugh I’ve had in ages at a television programme.
It is a great show!!! Did not no it was on or I would have viewed it when it was on ABC.
this was my favorite show :(!!!!
correction: ‘phil & lem’
This is the first time i have ever responded to a show being cancelled on network television. The writing on Better Off Ted was clever, the storyline & characters actually appeared witty & interesting (especially for light cynics out there.) The two lab rats, Phil & Lem, were hysterical. This show seemed pretty original & it is a shame that a show that has gone off the beaten path that has some trace of intelligence is thrown on to the trash heap. I hate to sound cynical, but I have to wonder if the Tv execs wanted to throw a… Read more »
Oh no!!
I really loved te show!! Here in Holland i can sometimes watch reruns, but i was hoping for more episodes. That’s a real shame. Here the dance and music shows are competing with each other for whomever has got the highest grades. Thank god Big Bang Theorie and Two and a half men aren’t cancelled yet.
This was one of the funniest shows ever on televison and you didn’t even have to pay attention, it was even funnier if you did. I don’t think the network promoted this show at all as I discovered by accident and have been a loyal fan since. I am now streaming seanson one and two and will watch each episode at least twice. The acting from all was superb and each fit his role like a glove. Had this show been given more time and even a little promotion I know it would have been a hit. I have recommended… Read more »
I loooove Better off Ted. I wish they would bring it back!
Chris, I feel your pain. Most shows I find awesome end up getting killed. It was good while it lasted though – there`re some awesome moments in Better Off Ted and Portia de Rossi should`ve won something for her acting in it.
This show is amazing and is a perfect candicate for being picked up by another network. I never even knew it was on ABC. Everyone I know that’s watched it at least LIKES it if not LOVES it. The cast and the writing was great and its one of the few shows that is not only entertaining but I actually LAUGH OUTLOUD at. Porsia DeRosi lone is worth watching. Another great show whose time has come far too soon.
Awww man! I was just wondering when the new season was gonna start and whaddaya know, it’s been cancelled!!! It was such a funny show. Damn. I hate the networks these days. They don’t give a show any chance at all unless it’s some crappy dancing show, and then they load the schedule up with extra hours and a couple of days a week of showings. It’s all crap!
I must have really poor taste. All my favorite shows never seem to make it. Screw you ABC!