If Ted Baxter Was So Bad As An Anchorman, How The Heck Did He Get To Keep His Job?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-06-2011, 07:40 AM

Ted was stingy, pompous and idiotic newscaster. He was obviously unqualified for his job and usually unpleasant, but there he was, week after week. Was There a reason explained for his employment?

Kristen · 11-06-2011, 08:53 PM

Not really, but I always assumed it had to do w/ WJM's budget and their inability to afford anyone better. Either that, or Ted had REALLY good connections, LOL!

Leigh Ann · 11-07-2011, 10:04 AM

Maybe Lou felt sorry for him or something. Or he did have connections from his Fresno days!

OH Nuts! · 11-07-2011, 05:18 PM

Actually Ted was marginal--not out and out execrable bad. He did have a mellifluous voice and good give a good presentation if he was prepped. But of course fell short in so many other areas, as you said.

So....I guess the show took poetic license, having Ted on certainly provided a lot of food for thought and he was a wonderful foil for everyone else. But in the real world, he likely would have been canned a long time ago.

PGood97041 · 11-07-2011, 11:57 PM

LOL!
Yes, Ted looked the part of an anchorman, and he certainly had the voice.
And he could recite what was written on cue cards.
It's just that when the good ones read the news, they actually understand what they're talking about, and that obviously wasn't always the case with Ted.
When he deviated from the script at all, it was usually trouble for WJM ... but classic comedy for the Mary Tyler Moore Show viewer!

treky · 11-08-2011, 01:26 AM

for the same reason Jane Hathaway never quit on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".

scotsguy · 11-08-2011, 12:49 PM

Maybe the powers that be at WJM felt the poor ratings were bad enough and people tuned in to see Ted mess up and if they got a better anchor man,they'd drop further.

The amount of change of managers at the station reflected they didn't know what they wanted,except in the last episode and Terd got kept on!

11-06-2011, 07:40 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	If Ted Baxter Was So Bad As An Anchorman, How The Heck Did He Get To Keep His Job?!? Ted was stingy, pompous and idiotic newscaster. He was obviously unqualified for his job and usually unpleasant, but there he was, week after week. Was There a reason explained for his employment?
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11-06-2011, 08:53 PM	#2
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	Not really, but I always assumed it had to do w/ WJM's budget and their inability to afford anyone better. Either that, or Ted had REALLY good connections, LOL!
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11-08-2011, 01:26 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	for the same reason Jane Hathaway never quit on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-07-2011, 10:04 AM	#3
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	Maybe Lou felt sorry for him or something. Or he did have connections from his Fresno days!

11-07-2011, 05:18 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Actually Ted was marginal--not out and out execrable bad. He did have a mellifluous voice and good give a good presentation if he was prepped. But of course fell short in so many other areas, as you said. So....I guess the show took poetic license, having Ted on certainly provided a lot of food for thought and he was a wonderful foil for everyone else. But in the real world, he likely would have been canned a long time ago.

11-07-2011, 11:57 PM	#5
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	LOL! Yes, Ted looked the part of an anchorman, and he certainly had the voice. And he could recite what was written on cue cards. It's just that when the good ones read the news, they actually understand what they're talking about, and that obviously wasn't always the case with Ted. When he deviated from the script at all, it was usually trouble for WJM ... but classic comedy for the Mary Tyler Moore Show viewer!

11-08-2011, 12:49 PM	#7
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Maybe the powers that be at WJM felt the poor ratings were bad enough and people tuned in to see Ted mess up and if they got a better anchor man,they'd drop further. The amount of change of managers at the station reflected they didn't know what they wanted,except in the last episode and Terd got kept on!