We know it seems like this week’s TV is a wasteland of repeats, holiday specials, and Hoarders/Intervention marathons — but rejoice! Khandi Alexander guest-stars as Lem (Malcolm Barrett, right)’s intimidating mother on a new episode of ABC’s Better Off Ted tonight at 9:30 ET. I’m hoping Khandi wears the enormous designer shades of CSI: Miami‘s Dr. Alexx (pictured) and speaks with the sass of NewsRadio‘s Catherine Duke.
Before BOT, Scrubs is new, too. This is just like yesterday, when I posted that The Nutcracker was on PBS, except at least five more people will care. That’s not enough: Better Off Ted and Scrubs are currently sinking ratings-wise, pulling in millions fewer viewers than they did during their last seasons. Even worse: ABC could burn through both series by the end of January by sandwiching Scrubs between two Teds on Friday, Jan. 1 and airing two episodes of each show on Tuesdays Jan. 5 and 12. That is so not cool, ABC! As Ken Tucker and some commenters suggested earlier this month: Why not give Better Off Ted and Scrubs a fighting shot by moving them to Wednesday night’s comedy bloc along with the much better-performing Modern Family?
Gotta go, P-Dubs. “If I had more time, I’d bat you around like a cat toy” like Better Off Ted‘s Veronica (Portia de Rossi), but as it is, I must devote the rest of the afternoon to my Great Internal Debate of 2009: Should I buy myself a Slanket for Christmas?
Can’t wait for tonight’s ep of Better of Ted. funniest show on TV. People you gotta watch!
i love this show! Since “Hank” was canned, I don’t see why ABC is not putting BOT in it’s Time slot! They would have 2 1/2 hr’s of sold programming with BOT, The Middle (the weak link) modern family, cougar town and the resurgent ugly betty!
You totally should get a slanket! My boyfriend got me one for our anniversary last year, and as sad as that sounds, I really love it.
The new Scrubs is actually pretty good, especially if you view it as a spin-off, rather than a continuation of the original. Give it a chance, folks!
Better Off Ted is hilarious! It is the highlight of my TV week. Please please don’t cancel it. How else will I come up with nicknames, right off the top of my head???
Ted is too good to survive in a world of ‘lowest common denominator’ television.
Buy the Slanket. You won’t regret it. I sit on my couch eating my night cheeses and cry through my mouth.
If they cancel BOT I will be devastated. Not since Arrested Development have I actually begged for a show’s ratings to go up.
Me too, Madd… Thinking about losing BOT makes me MAD! I just hope they did some more of those awesome commercials! Love me some Ted, Veronica, Lem, etc…
I don’t know… there’s a repeat of NCIS:LA
I am so happy Better off Ted is new tonight!
This is by far the funniest show on tv, and must be moved to wednesdays
This new scrubs is not great and it is killing BOT.
I dont mind if they burn through both shows as long as they put the second season of BOT on reruns before modern family because for that audience it will be new. It’s ratings will undoubtedly go up and it will get a third season.
Scrubs is not strong enough for wednesday nights as much as I had hoped it would be..plus there’s no room for 2 shows
=)
My God … moving Ted to Wednesdays is genius! The Middle, Modern Family and then Better Off Ted! It couldn’t get much better than that! Are you listening, ABC?!?!
I hate ABC! Why are they doing this to Better Off Ted? Why do they not want it to succeed? Better Off Ted is one of the best comedies on TV and ABC doesn’t even care. What was the point of grenlighting this show last year if they were barely going to promote it and give it awful timeslots? People always talk about how ABC gives chances to some of the more inventive shows on TV. But seriously, what is the point if they are going to treat the show like this? Better Off Ted deserves better. It is criminally under-appreciated by ABC.
She’s playing his mother? Isn’t she, like, five years younger than him? Please tell me this is part of the joke.
How do you find out if you were the inspiration for a character? Funny enough my name is Lem & my best friend in high school was Phil. I was (and still am) your classic nerd. I was very intimidated by my mom & I was very into science for years. Most people who have seen the show & know me from back in the day say that is me. So back to the original question…how do you find out if you were the inspiration for a character?