“Better Off Ted”
Wednesday 8:30pm, ABC
More “Dilbert” than “The Office,” “Better Off Ted” follows Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington), a nice-guy single dad who is the director of research and development for Veridian Dynamics, a morally questionable business that creates, say, gourds that double as WMDs, and isn’t above creating the world’s most soothing hemorrhoid cream even if it means wiping out an entire population of muskrats. Much of the humor comes from watching Ted navigate the company’s exceedingly bizarre business decisions, like putting the kids in its childcare program to work painting parking space lines. He finds an ally of sorts in Linda (Andrea Anders), his work crush, while trying to deal with his former office fling, ice queen boss Veronica (Portia de Rossi).
“The Amazing Race”
Sunday 8pm, CBS
The perennial Emmy winner for Best Reality Competition got an upgrade this year with souped-up music, graphics and some really entertaining challenges. So far we’ve had coffin dragging in Transylvania, bobsled racing in Siberia, and gymnastic routines in Romania. And don’t even get me started on the hilarity that was wheels of cheese careening down a hill in Switzerland. We’ve also got some great teams, although curiously few to root for. Siblings Tammy and Victor are solid when they stay on task, but Victor’s poor decision making and spaz attacks often derail them. I know I’m supposed to be inspired by mom Margie and her deaf son Luke, but he’s often an impatient little prick. That leaves me pulling for father and son Mel and Mike (Mike being Hollywood screenwriter Mike White), who continue to defy the odds by being awesome.
“Brothers & Sisters”
Sunday 10pm, ABC
The behind-the-scenes scandal has practically eclipsed what ends up on screen in this third-year family drama. Actor Balthazar Getty (Tommy) was slammed by the press for publicly canoodling with serial homewrecker Sienna Miller. Add in reports of diva-like behavior, and he’s rumored to be off the show as a result of his embezzlement storyline. Meanwhile, Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and Robert (Rob Lowe) have serious marital issues regarding his health concerns and political ambitions; new half-sib Ryan (Luke Grimes) is swooping in to pick up brother Justin’s ex, one-time sister Rebecca (Emily VanCamp); and gay couple Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) are about to get an indecent proposal from Kevin’s ex.
