Todd Margaret: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret

Now Playing: The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret

Season Details & Credits

IFC | IFC - Independent Film Channel | Season Premiere Date: October 1, 2010

Starring: David Cross, Will Arnett, Sharon Horgan

Summary: Originally aired in the United Kingdom, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret features David Cross as office worker Todd Margaret who ends up being sent by his boss (Will Arnett) to the company's London office to help sell its energy drink.

Creator: David Cross and David Cross

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E6. What Can Only Be Considered a Dreadful Day for Todd
Air Date: November 5, 2010
tbd
S1:E5. Where Todd and Brent Misjudge the Mood of a Solemn Day
Air Date: October 29, 2010
tbd
S1:E4. In Which Brent Wilts Arrives and Things Take a Turn for the Worse
Air Date: October 22, 2010

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Heather Havrilesky

Oct 22, 2010

Although every second of this comedy is far from genius, the disturbed mood and unique mean-spirited flavor of it all points to what the network comedies are so often lacking: bold choices that border on the absurd. Read full review

Diane Werts

Proceed with caution into this foul but funny cauldron of catastrophe. Read full review

Keith Staskiewicz

Cross wrings laughs from his clueless character, but the fish-(and chips)-out-of-water story isn't as consistent. Luckily, there is plenty of potential for Increasingly Poor to become increasingly good. Read full review

Rob Owen

As long as you're OK with comedy-of-the-uncomfortable, then IFC's The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is by far the funnier of the two David Cross-Will Arnett series airing this fall (the other being Fox's "Running Wilde"). Read full review

Robert Lloyd

It isn't until the glimmer of a plot finally emerges, after Todd stumbles into a Middle Eastern market with a can of Thunder Muscle, eliciting sudden mysterious interest--that the series inches past mere mockery to the promise of more muscular misadventure. Read full review

Ginia Bellafante

Though it has moments of sublime satire and a typically memorable performance from Mr. Cross's "Arrested Development" colleague Will Arnett, it still has the feel of a dish that has been sitting on the table well past the point of cooling. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Told in flashback that implies things have gone terribly, terribly wrong, the ensuing gags are either lame or (for a U.S. audience, anyway) or culturally confusing--frequently falling back on blue language in lieu of being genuinely clever. A more fundamental problem lies with Cross, whose mixture of wide-eyed innocent/ugly American/myopic moron has no nuance to engender even a trace of sympathy for his plight. Read full review

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User Reviews

l96ninja

Feb 3, 2012

I've never literally lol'd more in my life than I have watching this show. David Cross' portrayal of Todd is phenomenal, at every wrong-turn and comedic failure, I find myself becoming more enamored with the hilariously stupid character. It's got just the right amount of "British" too;I've never literally lol'd more in my life than I have watching this show. David Cross' portrayal of Todd is phenomenal, at every wrong-turn and comedic failure, I find myself becoming more enamored with the hilariously stupid character. It's got just the right amount of "British" too; unlike The Office (U.K. version), so that the viewer isn't thrown off by the accents, but knows they're located in England. Throw in Will Arnett's now more involved role, and you've got the makings of a show so amusing you'll have trouble breathing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pandaking

Nov 20, 2010

Brilliant. I would imagine this show wouldn't be quite as funny if you weren't British, but as one I can tell you it's hilarious. Sure it can be too cheesy, or a little obvious at times, but every episode will have you in tears with laughter, and as a comedy show that means it's got it right.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Jul 30, 2014

I think this series Cross does a good job of bringing dark/black humor to a larger audience. It's short, clocking in at only six episodes, and only really picks up the pace in the second half of the season, but with plenty of laughs and another hilarious performance from Cross and ArnettI think this series Cross does a good job of bringing dark/black humor to a larger audience. It's short, clocking in at only six episodes, and only really picks up the pace in the second half of the season, but with plenty of laughs and another hilarious performance from Cross and Arnett it's hard not to enjoy it. Watching Todd Margaret get manipulated into increasingly troublesome situations by smarter characters whose motivations are yet unknown is entertaining and makes me look forward to the second season. If you can handle some vulgar humor and mature subject matter, then this is definitely worth a look. I give this first season a 7.9/10-Good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KundK

Nov 4, 2010

Another comedy of cringes - this time about transatlantic misunderstandings and misadventures of a likable idiot. Piling on of embarrassments and gross-out moments (dead cat, vomit stained suit, adrenaline induced erection...) never really pays off in big laughs or real emotion. Fortunately,Another comedy of cringes - this time about transatlantic misunderstandings and misadventures of a likable idiot. Piling on of embarrassments and gross-out moments (dead cat, vomit stained suit, adrenaline induced erection...) never really pays off in big laughs or real emotion. Fortunately, they went for the UK format of a six episode series. For the fans of Will Arnett and David Cross, I would recommend "Running Wilde" instead of this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alexandergreen

Sep 8, 2011

At it's best, this is a mildly amusing series, with some okay moments. But at it's worse, it's a generally uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. Not in a hilarious way, in an unsettling way.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

OrwellJames

Apr 8, 2012

There was genuine potential in the concept - an unqualified temp uses business "bravado" to con his way into a high-profile role in a foreign country, and each time his con is nearly exposed he must double down with a new lie a little bit more invested than the last. This is what I expectedThere was genuine potential in the concept - an unqualified temp uses business "bravado" to con his way into a high-profile role in a foreign country, and each time his con is nearly exposed he must double down with a new lie a little bit more invested than the last. This is what I expected after the first five minutes of the "Increasingly" Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret; a humorous cautionary tale about the dangers of the slippery slope.

But make no mistake about it, from the very start Todd Margaret's decisions could not possibly get any worse. His lies are outrageous and he does a very poor job of covering them up (but boy does he try), and while these bits could be clever and funny, they will make you cringe far more often than you laugh. I had to fast forward a couple episodes because it was so painful to watch Todd say things that were so contemptibly stupid. This is one of the biggest flaws - a main character who is not relatable or likeable even on a comic level.

Of course, Todd's idiotic charade couldn't possibly continue but for the stupidity of his supporting cast, and, while they always seem modestly suspicious of his lies, they never quite pin him down despite the sheer absurdity of his responses. Again, I recognize that this is a comedy, so hyperbole is acceptable and even desirable, but the dialogue is so bad it breaks the fourth wall, and Todd's lines actually cross the "so stupid it's funny" line straight into "just plain stupid" territory.

I can't help but feel that Cross and Arnett have been desperately trying to capitalize on the success of Arrested Development, Arnett clearly with more success, but do yourself a favor and just demand Arrested Development. Running Wilde fell well short and Todd Margaret, I believe, falls even shorter despite its promising concept. Disappointing for sure.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

batman

Sep 29, 2010

i have always been a fan of David Cross but this show is very disappointing, not sure what they were going for, but they missed. it is awkward in an un-rewarding way. uncomfortable ala Larry David with no pay off. Embarassing actually.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Seasons & Episodes

66

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: January 7, 2016
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 6, 2012
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 1, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E6. What Can Only Be Considered a Dreadful Day for Todd
  Air Date: November 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E5. Where Todd and Brent Misjudge the Mood of a Solemn Day
  Air Date: October 29, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E4. In Which Brent Wilts Arrives and Things Take a Turn for t...
  Air Date: October 22, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Snooker Player, The Black Canadian, The Turkish Terro...
  Air Date: October 15, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E2. A Plan is Hatched and a Date is not a Date
  Air Date: October 8, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E1. In Which Claims are Made and a Journey Ensues
  Air Date: October 1, 2010