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.
but… but… I loved that show! 🙁
Better off Ted was a terrific show and they should bring it back….And someone should pick up Arrested Development also…
I can’t believe they would cancel this show, most of it’s unsuccess came from the fact that they did not even advertise for it. I just recently heard about this show from a friend and it is absolutely brilliant! ABC has made a huge mistake, and perhaps they were threatened by the content of the show which shows Veridian Dynamics as a bloodless company who thinks of nothing other than money, maybe ABC saw too much of themselves.
Only just discovered this show, by accident of course, on netflix. It had a great pace, awesome cast and witty banter. Some shows just need some advertising behind them. This obviously had little. Abc hasn’t had a great deal of appeal to me, besides lost. They are going for a different demo, but this was great…I’ll miss it.
Why did it get cancelled? Because most people are effing RETARDS. Why did Arrested Development get cancelled? People are to stupid. They want shows like HIMYM – shows with NOTHING new whatsoever.
Better Off Ted was one of the few shows that actually made me laugh. Like Malcolm In The Middle. Oh well, the world is doomed anyway.
I’m so upset. The only reason better off ted couldn’t get a mass audience was because there wasn’t good advertising. I’m just finding this show now from looking through net flix. Best show I’ve seen in a long time. Real comedy and u don’t just try and push it. That hurt my heart whe I looked for season 3 and there was nothing. Bring it back please ,and advertise!! let there be some good tv stations left!
All other sitcoms are just rubbish compared to this sophisticated show, it will be a tragedy if Better Off Ted is stopped. Why on earth would anyone want to stop such a high ranking, much loved show such as this?
Bring Better off Ted back! Just finished the 2nd season on Netflix and I already miss it! 🙁
Bring back Better off Ted. It is one of the best TV comedy series of all time!!
I`ll miss it, but it took me a long time to warm to it and i`m enjoying the re-runs more than the first time round. Bye Ted………….you`ll be missed :0)
It never acquired a mass audience because the show requires focus and knowledge, as much of the writing’s wit was subtle and often referenced other subjects. This show isn’t in your face and full of sex and crude jokes, which is why it didn’t grab lots of people. Sadly, America’s mass audience TV has devolved into nothing but an endless stream of obnoxious and cheap shock-factor material.
Bring back TED!!!!!
I thought Better off Ted was a great show! It’s too bad it was canceled in only it’s 2nd season. While garbage like Survivor and American idol are in their what 10th seasons LOL. I hate reality tv!
Better Off Ted is much better than Scrubs! I really do love how the sheep watch crap, meanwhile, the great shows never last!?
I agree, bring back better off Ted!
Better off Ted was very smart, funny and witty. It was great to watch. How about less “Reality” TV and more of these kinds of down to earth shows that make you laugh and listen to the puns!!