Wednesday, June 8, 2016

List #59: Great TV Shows, Terrible Titles


A.K.A., the spiritual successor to List #51: Great Books, Terrible Titles.



Better Off Ted (Rec. #147, QfFC #5, SSoW #18)

Streaming on Amazon and Netflix

Why the show is great: It is very possibly the wittiest workplace comedy ever. Endlessly quotable, with well-judged touches of the absurd.

Why the title is terrible: The main character's name is Ted.

Given the verbal dexterity of the episode scripts, I can only imagine that the title itself represents some kind of comedic double bluff.




Schitt's Creek

Streaming on Amazon

Why the show is great: Despite being about a wealthy family forced to move to a small town, the show is only partially about fish-out-of-water gags. The rest is actually kind of Northern Exposure-ish character study (but broader).

Why the title is terrible: Well, at least this terrible title is built in to the plot -- the family bought a town named Schitt's Creek for laughs, and now it's all they have left.




Scrotal Recall (List #57)

Streaming on Netflix

Why the show is great: Flouting all reasonable expectations, this show is sincere and wistful and British-charming-funny.

Why the title is terrible: This? This is what we've come to? Really?



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