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Better Off Ted: Lust in Translation

Ted tries to woo a German executive, but she insists on talking... and the only translator device available uses Phil's voice. Meanwhile, Phil and Lem wonder if they're really evil scientists, and Veronica is infuriated when she can't win a bagel-tossing game against Linda.


9.3/10 (18 Votes cast)

Episode Info


Episode number: 2x10
Production Number: 2APX12
Airdate: Tuesday January 19th, 2010


Alternate Airdates:

UK (FX) Oct 12, 2010

Guest Stars
Stefanie Von PfettenStefanie Von Pfetten
As Greta (Greta Schultz)

Co-Guest Stars
Rizwan ManjiRizwan Manji
As Rick
Recurring
Stefan MarksStefan Marks
As Brett
Recurring
Hans TesterHans Tester
As Hans (Hans Mueller)
Jeffrey AnthonyJeffrey Anthony
As Carl (Carl Hoffman)
Main Cast
Jay HarringtonJay Harrington
As Ted Crisp
Portia de RossiPortia de Rossi
As Veronica Palmer
Andrea AndersAndrea Anders
As Linda Zwordling
Jonathan SlavinJonathan Slavin
As Phil Mymen
Malcolm BarrettMalcolm Barrett
As Lem Hewitt

Recap

Ted notes that the stress levels are up and he has to be calm so his people will remain calm. He visits Phil and Lem, who are working on the multi-language translator, and they realize Ted is being calm because they're in trouble. When Ted explains that their German partners want to see a demonstration, Phil and Lem are relieved. Ted suggests that they hide their more evil devices while he keeps the Germans upstairs. After he leaves, Phil and Lem try to figure out if they make anything that isn't evil. They fail, although Phil gets to laugh evilly about it...

Read the full recap
Episode Quotes
Ted: And listen. The Germans are all worried because, ironically, they think that Veridian is ruthlessly efficient and bent on world domination.
Phil: Wow. That's like when those Irish auditors thought our accounting department drank too much and wrote overly depressing poetry.

Lem: We don't create evil things.
Ted: Some might see this long-range people-skinning laser as evil-ish.
Phil: Well, that was only designed so you could peel an orange in your kitchen while sitting comfortably in your living room.
Ted: Well, now it's used to peel enemy soldiers overseas while you sit comfortably in the Pentagon.

Lem: Oh, my God. Maybe we're evil scientists.
Phil: (laughs manically) I'm sorry. I laugh like that when faced with an unpleasant truth. That's why I got thrown out of that Al Gore movie.

Veronica: We believe the multi-language translator will create a furor in Germany, a furor that will sweep across Europe, crushing... no.

Veronica: Do you live here? Do all the cubicle workers have little hobbit holes like this?
Linda: No, some of us nest in trees, others have underground warrens.

Veronica: Because I'm good at everything I do. I'm not bragging, because bragging is the one thing I'm not good at. Although, if I wanted to be, I'd be excellent at that, too. As I just proved.

Ted: Veronica is late for our big meeting with the Germans, who, of course, are right on time. What? It's a positive stereotype.

Veronica: Oh, God, we have unhappy Germans. Nothing good has ever come from that.

Veronica: I saw what was going on in there between you and Fraulein Cheekbones. When you show her around town, keep your Hansels off her Gretels.
Ted: I was just being friendly.
Veronica: I'm serous, Ted. This deal is too important and sex can screw things up. Why do you think the Three Stooges went through so many Curlys?

Ted: Phil, why on earth would you use your voice for the translator device?
Phil: It was the fastest way to fix it, since we already had my voice in the computer from that failed talking frying pan project.
Lem: Stupid thing wouldn't stop screaming when you put it on the burner.
Phil: Plus, it was very critical. "You really need that much butter?" Screw you, frying pan.

Ted: It's hard for me to fulfill my manly duties when Phi keeps telling me how much I'm pleasuring him.
Phil: Oh, my God.
Ted: Yes, you said that a lot last night.

Ted: What are you afraid of? If you... if you throw a game, it's gonna keep you out of the time-wasters hall of fame?
Linda: No. My position there is secure from getting my art history degree.

Lem: Maybe we should take a stand. Maybe we should say this is the one thing that must not be used for evil.
Phil: Or maybe we say that the next thing we make must not be used for evil, but this one we're fine with. And maybe the next one after that. But someday, they will push us too far, and the next time after that..
Lem: No, the time is now. 12:35. Maybe we should discuss this for another 20 minutes and then commit to something.

Phil: Are you sure we're doing the right thing?
Lem: I've never been so sure about being unsure of anything in my life.
Phil: Good. Then we're on the same page. Let's do it.

Ted: And congratulations to you for falling through the ceiling in a metal tube and winning that game. That's gotta feel good.
Veronica: You're gonna have to speak up. I'm temporarily deaf in one ear. As you may know, I fell through the ceiling in a metal tube. But at least I won that game, and that feels good.

Lem: These super-bagels are terrible. You can totally taste the high impact carbon.
Phil: That's because they're 98% high impact carbon. Whenever you go past 97%, it's hard to mask the taste.



Other Episode Crew

CreatorVictor Fresco
Executive ProducerVictor Fresco
Co-Executive ProducerKat Likkel  |  Michael Teverbaugh  |  Tim Doyle  |  John Hoberg  |  Michael Shipley  |  Michael A. Ross
ProducerMarc Solakian
Associate ProducerLisa Iannone
Production DesignerDawn Snyder
EditorLance Luckey
CastingJill Anthony  |  Laura Adler
Unit Production ManagerJack Philbrick
First Assistant DirectorLeo Bauer
Second Assistant DirectorJason Roberts (2)
Staff WriterIngrid Escajeda
MusicScott Clausen  |  Christopher A. Lee (1)
Costume DesignerBrandy Lusvardi
Key GripTom Keefer
Set DecoratorAndi Brittan
Transportation CoordinatorMike Paventi
Property MasterKevin Shaw (3)
Construction CoordinatorGreg Hamlin
Production Sound MixerJaya Jayaraja
Script SupervisorRebecca E. Asher
Production CoordinatorJohn Barney
Script CoordinatorEve Weston
Assistant EditorJoan Wrzala
Post Production SupervisorJohn M. Myrick
Supervising Sound EditorRandy Thomas
Re-Recording MixerTamara Johnson
Director of PhotographyBrian J. Reynolds
Story EditorElijah Aron  |  Jordan Young  |  Becky Mann  |  Audra Sielaff
Costume SupervisorPatricia McLaughlin
Production AccountantSuzie Shimizu
Chief Lighting TechnicianDerrick Kolus
Department Head HairLorna A. Reid
Department Head Make-upDarla Albright
Music ConsultantKevin Edelman
Original CastingGeraldine Leder  |  Sharon Klein
Assistant To The Executive ProducerChris Luccy
Production StaffOscar Sosa  |  Kate A. Ross  |  Jessica Poter  |  Robert Olmedo  |  Shel Gilbert  |  Jason Suhrke  |  Rob Hoffman  |  James Gordon  |  Rick Glassman  |  Patrick Dunn  |  Nickole Doro  |  Katie Botkin  |  Christopher Horan
Writing AssistantDevin Mahoney
 

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