Line #89 Characters/BetterOffTed


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8	[[foldercontrol]]
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10	!!Main Characters
11
12	[[folder:Ted Crisp]]
13	!!Ted Crisp
14	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ted_crisp.png]]
15	[[caption-width-right:350:''"The company does all sorts of crazy things, that doesn’t mean we have to be crazy too. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go seduce a 55-year-old man."'']]
16	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/JayHarrington
17
18	Theodore Margaret "Ted" Crisp is the successful and yet conscientious head of research and development at Veridian Dynamics. Ted has a somewhat liaison-like position between the workers and the management of Veridian smoothing out the demands and expectations made on the other.
19	----
20	* BenevolentBoss: To Phil, Lem and the rest of his underlings. They all prefer to speak to Ted rather than go to Veronica or Chet.
21	* BiggerIsBetterInBed: Veronica comments positively on his size a couple of times after she slept with him.
22	* ChickMagnet: He's a good-looking, pleasant guy and doesn't have trouble getting girls. Keeping them is another story.
23	* CommonalityConnection: She and Ted bond with the struggle of each trying to be a good person while working on a morally dubious company.
24	%%* DeadpanSnarker
25	* InformedAttractiveness: Much is made of Ted's looks.
26	* InternalReformist: He tends to be the one pushing for kinder company procedures within Veridian.
27	* NiceGuy: Chronically. He is nice to people for the sake of being nice, though he's also a bit obsessed with everyone liking him.
28	* OfficeRomance: He has a "one office affair" rule that only allows him to have a single affair with a co-worker, which he used when he had a one-night casual VictorySex with Veronica after a rather good deal they finished. Which is the reason why he and Linda are on a WillTheyOrWontThey relationship for most of the show.
29	* OnlySaneEmployee: His job is explicitly to wrangle every BunnyEarsLawyer in his department and utilize their talents to accomplish their goals.
30	* OnlySaneMan: The other main cast consists of the borderline sociopathic Veronica, the socially awkward and eccentric Phil and Lem, and Linda, who steals creamer/throws bagels at vents.
31	* StrugglingSingleFather: He has struggled to his daughter Rose by himself, after a hostile break-up with his wife Stacy, who left both of them to "save the world".
32	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Most of his interactions with Linda is filled with sexual tension and "non-flirting" and are on a WillTheyOrWontThey for most of the show.
33	* WellDoneSonGuy: He frequently mentions his strained relationship with his Dad disapproved of his academic interests and eventual career choice, rather than following in his footsteps to become a plumber. Though he tries to forget it, there's at least one episode that involves him breaking test protocol to get him a good gift for Father's Day.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Veronica Palmer]]
37	!!Veronica Palmer
38	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/veronica_palmer.png]]
39	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I’m different than other women, Ted. And by different, I mean better."'']]
40	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/PortiaDeRossi
41
42	Veronica Palmer is Ted's boss. Though she once had an "office affair" with Ted, she prides herself on her ability to detach herself emotionally from her employees, actively cultivating an image of being emotionless, devoid of conscience, and willing to do anything to advance herself and the company (Phil at one point describes her as a sociopath). Despite this, she does use Ted as an advisor on some of the more "touchy-feely" parts of her job, and often surreptitiously aids him and her other employees when needed.
43	----
44	* ActionGirl: One need only see her fight in "Swag the Dog" where she goes at a soon-to-be ex-board member with a handsaw and a two-by-four to see this in action.
45	* TheComicallySerious: Her ice queen demeanor is often played for laughs in contrast to the rest of the cast, or for when she has a NotSoStoic moment.
46	* ConsummateLiar: To the point where Phil and Lem have to reprogram a lie detector so it will specifically work on her.
47	%%* DeadpanSnarker
48	* DefrostingIceQueen: Mainly towards Linda, who she initially views as just another underling but eventually forms an unsteady friendship with.
49	* InformedAttractiveness: Many characters ([[ProudBeauty herself included]]) comment on her beauty.
50	* ItsAllAboutMe: She's a very self-centered woman, though she [[DefrostingIceQueen defrosts]] somewhat over the course of the series.
51	* LackOfEmpathy: She can't even really understand her ''own'' feelings, let alone anyone else's. She describes guilt as "itchy", and thinks sugar is an emotion.
52	* LettingHerHairDown: When Veronica is told that she is too intimidating, she starts wearing her hair down as part of an attempt to be more approachable, and hates it. She also wears her hair down when she's with her stage magician lover.
53	* OddCouple: She gets into a relationship with a StageMagician named Mordor, who brings a very different side of her. She even occasionally works as his assistant.
54	* PetTheDog: Despite her selfishness and LackOfEmpathy she does occasionally show kindness, such as when she saved Linda from being the company's scapegoat or got Phil's medical records for him.
55	* PrimAndProperBun: Frequently wears her hair in a bun, due to it apparently scaring people away. In "Trust and Consequences" we actually learn she stole in from Linda, who wore her hair like this on her first day, and Veronica forbids Linda from ever using it again after.
56	* SexGoddess: She's "wildly fun in bed" according to Ted, Mordor and [[AwesomeEgo herself]].
57	* SoBeautifulItsACurse: {{Parodied\|Trope}}.
58	-->'''Veronica:''' If it wasn't for the modeling contracts and the comfort of college boys, I don't know how I would've made it.
59	* TheStoic: She acts like an emotionless ice queen and even states that she likes being unapproachable so that she won't be bothered by the "drones" (other employees).
60	* TokenEvilTeammate: She's by far the most morally scrupelesss employee within Veridian.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Linda Zwordling]]
64	!!Linda Zwordling
65	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/linda_zwordling_removebg_preview.png]]
66	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Can't we develop one product that doesn't end up being used to kill people? Even our fat-free cinnamon roll led to that new sticky bomb."'']]
67	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/AndreaAnders
68
69	Linda Katherine Zwordling is in the testing department at Veridian. Originally from Wisconsin where she used to work in cheese-making, she seems to desire a relationship with Ted, but is frustrated by his "one office affair" rule (though this is finally resolved in the series finale).
70	----
71	* BookDumb: {{Downplayed\|Trope}}. She's often at a loss when it comes to the science stuff.
72	* BrutalHonesty: She always speaks her mind, and doesn't seem to mind offending people
73	* CentipedesDilemma: Her first week at Veridian, she was so nervous she couldn't even laugh properly.
74	* CommonalityConnection: She and Ted bond with the struggle of each trying to be a good person while working on a morally dubious company.
75	* CountryMouse: Ahe jokes about staying in Wisconsin and majoring in Cheese sciences.
76	%%* DeadpanSnarker
77	* FlexibilityEqualsSexAbility: In [[OperationJealousy to make Ted feel bad for rejecting her]], she boasts to him about how seven years of yoga practice made her into a SexGoddess.
78	* HeadTurningBeauty: She's described as a "beautiful flower in a sea of concrete". When she and Ted are forced to share an office, he finds it extremely difficult not to be constantly EatingTheEyeCandy.
79	* TheHeart: Easily the most moral (or at least moral-appearing) employee of Veridian.
80	%%* TheIdealist
81	* InternalReformist: She's constantly pushing for the company to do more environment-friendly projects.
82	* OnlySaneEmployee: She's usually the most rational person in the company, as it's her job to decide the actual usability of the Veridian Dynamic products.
83	* OperationJealousy: Linda tried to make Ted jealous by going out with her ex-boyfriend Don. This ended up backfiring when Don and Ted hit it off and became friends. Then Ted pretends to hate him when he realizes Linda was only trying to make him jealous.
84	* NotSoAboveItAll: In "Battle of the Bulbs", she states that even though she hates the company, it felt really good when they validated one of her ideas. This is also true of her relationship with Veronica, where she tries to prove she can be immoral too.
85	* ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: She values her morals and principles above money... most of the time.
86	* SoulCrushingDeskJob: Since she's the only member of the main cast who is neither a manager nor a researcher, she is constantly trying to avoid boredom by engaging in [[StealingFromTheTill small, safe acts of rebellion]], such as stealing all the creamer from the coffee stations (her desk is full of it) or throwing donuts into the ventilation system (which she eventually turns into a competitive sport).
87	* TokenGoodTeammate: She's the most moral of Veridian's employers, and often acts as TheConscience of the team, with Ted explicitly referring to her as "their conscience" at one point.
88	* TotallyRadical: Occasionally. Mostly when talking to younger people.
89	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Most of her interactions with Ted is filled with sexual tension and "non-flirting" and are on a WillTheyOrWontThey for most of the show.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Phil Myman]]
93	!!Phil Myman
94	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phil_myman.png]]
95	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I'm thinking confidence may be one of those things people can't tell if you really have, or are just pretending to have, like the female orgasm."'']]
96	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/JonathanSlavin
97
98	Dr. Philip "Phil" Myman is an emotionally sensitive man who is also one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian's Research Department. He is usually working or hanging out with Lem, who works with him on almost every project. He generally does whatever he can to be accepted and avoid conflicts.
99	----
100	* AbsentMindedProfessor: After spilling a beaker of eagle stem cells that Lem had been working on for twelve years because he thought it was water:
101	-->'''Phil:''' Sorry. You should label things.
102	* CannotTalkToWomen: Has a notable crush on Veronica throughout the show, and, like Lem, gets nervous and uncomfortable around attractive members of the opposite sex.
103	-->'''Phil:''' Can you imagine what it would be like to take Veronica out and have...''lunch'' with her?\
104	'''Lem:'''...You should aim higher with your fantasies.
105	* CloudCuckooLander: He's actually imagined what a beard of fingers would feel like.
106	* TheDividual: As part of 'Phil & Lem'.
107	* EvilLaugh: Any time he's confronted with an unpleasant truth. [[Film/AnInconvenientTruth Which is why he got kicked out of that Al gore movie.]]
108	* ExtremeDoormat: Not as much a Lem, but he cannot stand up to Ted or Veronica.
109	* HenpeckedHusband: His unseen wife is rarely referred to in a positive light.
110	%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Lem.
111	* MadScientist: He and Lem are actually rather horrified to discover this is the case.
112	* ThoseTwoGuys: He's almost always paired off with Lem for their goofy science projects.
113	[[/folder]]
114
115	[[folder:Lem Hewitt]]
116	!!Lem Hewitt
117	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lem_hewitt.png]]
118	[[caption-width-right:350:''"We can't leave work in the middle of the day. We're not Somali pirates."'']]
119	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/MalcolmBarrett
120
121	Dr. Lem Hewitt is one of the laboratory scientists in Veridian's Research Department. He is best friends with his lab partner Phil, who works with him on almost every project. Lem is just as conflict-averse as Phil, and seems just as willing to roll over and take whatever abuse the company has to offer. Lem and Phil usually work on inventions that border on the fantastic or impossible, like hover boots, "cow-less" beef or a cure for baldness that grows hair on anything it touches, like Ted's desk. Phil and Lem are best friends, so close that they often protect each other as a spouse or parent would.
122	----
123	* AbsentMindedProfessor: He cleaned out a coffee mug with hydrochloric acid and left it sitting out where Phil almost drank it.
124	* BlackAndNerdy: One of the nerdiest. He even wears glasses just to make himself look smart.
125	* CannotTalkToWomen: Better about his shyness than Phil (he's had two or three girlfriends over the show's run), but still gets nervous when confronted by, say, Linda's "lady shoulder".
126	%%* CloudCuckooLander
127	* TheDividual: As part of 'Phil & Lem'.
128	* ExtremeDoormat: Even Phil thinks Lem's a pushover. Whenever he has an issue with the company, he has a great deal of difficulty confronting someone about it.
129	%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Phil.
130	* MadScientist: Which unnerves both him and Phil.
131	* MommasBoy: He's apparently a major momma's boy and shares with her ''everything'' that goes on at the company.
132	%%* NiceGuy
133	* PurelyAestheticGlasses: His glasses are non-prescription... he only wears them because...
134	* SmartPeopleWearGlasses: He wanted to look smarter.
135	* ThoseTwoGuys: He's almost always paired off with Phil for their goofy science projects.
136	* WellDoneSonGuy: Is belittled for his work by his theoretical physicist mother, and in one episode teams up with Dr. Bhamba to gain her approval.
137
138	[[/folder]]
139
140	!!Recurring Characters
141
142	[[folder:Rose Crisp]]
143	!!Rose Crisp
144	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rose_crisp.png]]
145	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/IsabellaAcres
146
147	Rose Crisp is Ted's daughter. She often asks Ted questions that make him question Veridian's unscrupulous policies and practices (such as cryonically freezing Phil), acting as his moral anchor when he sometimes is pushed to put the needs of the company over his own conscience and friends and steering him back in the right direction. Despite this, Rose bonds with Veronica in an early episode and is later "manipulated" by both Veronica and Ted on occasion.
148	----
149	* DeadpanSnarker: Occasionally; when asked if she did her homework, she gave a noncommittal answer, and when asked what 7×8 was, she only said "Yes, that was one of them."
150	* MissingMom: As Ted explains, her mother left to go save the world. When Rose does get to stay with her for a brief time, she gets extremely spoiled (such as having ice cream for breakfast.)
151	* MoralityPet: Keeps Ted from getting too caught up in the company's evil-ness.
152	* PrimAndProperBun: Veronica put her hair into one while she was watching her for a few hours. Rose commented that it felt funny. Veronica said that that would go away in a couple of years.
153	* ShipperOnDeck: Likes Linda and wants her dad to go out with her, sometimes she even tries to [[KidsPlayMatchmaker play matchmaker]].
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Dr. Bhamba]]
157	!!Dr. Bhamba
158	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dr_bhamba.jpg]]
159	!!!'''Played By:''' Creator/MazJobrani
160
161	Dr. Bhamba is one of Veronica's employees. He is portrayed as an enemy of sorts to Lem and Phil, although at times they are seen working in the same lab room. Bhamba has, according to Lem, among other things, made warfare exponentially more horrifying.
162	----
163	* AffablyEvil: He's a very nice and jovial guy while also being horrifyingly sociopathic.
164	* MadScientist: Heartily embraces this as the company's lead bio-weapons expert.
165	* TheScapegoat: Willingly. One episode shows that whenever Veridian Dynamics does something that catches negative public attention, Dr. Bhamba takes the blame, attributing to a non-existent drinking problem he's "working to overcome".
166	* TokenEvilTeammate: Among Ted's team of scientists, he is the most happily amoral and contributes almost exclusively to warfare.
167
168	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / BetterOffTed