RUSSELL TOVEY - No.79

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret TV comedy pilot from the UK’s Channel 4.

American executive Todd Margaret (David Cross) arrives in the UK to take over a company selling power drinks only to find Dave (Russell Tovey) is his only employee sent by head office.

Dave is not very helpful and quickly leads Mr Margaret on the wrong path.

Down to the local pub first.

Dave gives Todd a crash course in selling power drinks to the Brits by taking Todd to a series of pubs. Todd ends up on the floor of a pub, punched out by a lady.

Not one to point the finger Dave encourages Todd to show how he would sell the drinks by using his American sales techniques. Dave takes Todd to a local cafeteria.

Dave asks Todd to use a Brit accent rather than his American one.

Dave encourages Todd to drink more than 6 cans of his power drink while selling it to a conservative cafeteria crowd. Todd is so hyped up it's embarrassing.

A Review:

Created by, written by, and starring David Cross, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret follows the misadventures of Todd Margaret (David Cross), a corporate nobody and pathological liar who unexpectedly finds himself running his company’s London office. Assigned by his blowhard boss (Will Arnett) to launch a new (and terrible) power drink, Todd Margaret is quickly in over his head, knowing nothing about British culture…or sales.

Todd discovers his sales team consists of one unhelpful Brit called Dave (Russell Tovey), and he has less than a week to shift dozens of drinks crates before his uselessness is exposed. Sharon Horgan plays the waitress at the cafe where Todd first meets the locals.

Less a comedy pilot, more the first act of a low-budget British indie made by calling in favours with American talent, The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret "the concept" just wasn't particularly funny enough to sustain a full series. David Cross laying on the floor urinating in his pants was the last shot the punters saw and it wasn't particularly endearing.

As usual Russell Tovey plays himself - friendly, upbeat, positive - not too silly - just right!

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Contrary to the comment of Daryl Smith who said it “won’t get a full season, because it wasn’t funny”, the show has already been given the nod for a full run. Well, a UK-scale full run, which is just 6 episodes of 30 minutes a piece. What can I say? We like to keep these things tight. I think there’s now over 90 episodes of the US Office do-over, but there were only ever 14 of the BBC original.

Posted on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 by Brendon Connelly