Wilfred (U.S. TV series)

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This article is about the American series. For the Australian series, see Wilfred (Australian TV series).
Wilfred
Wilfredintertitle.png
Genre Buddy comedy
Philosophical fiction
Dark comedy
Created by
Developed by David Zuckerman
Starring
Composer(s) Jim Dooley
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 26 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Running time 20 minutes
Production company(s) Prospect Park
Fox Television Studios
FX Productions
SBS Australia
Starline Entertainment
St. Western Films
Zook, Inc.
Renegade Australia
Broadcast
Original channel FX
Original run June 23, 2011 (2011-06-23) – present
Chronology
Related shows Wilfred (TV series)
External links
Official website

Wilfred is an American sitcom television series which debuted on June 23, 2011, and is based on the Australian SBS One series of the same name. It stars Elijah Wood and series co-creator Jason Gann, reprising his role of the eponymous dog Wilfred. The series was adapted for the American television channel FX by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman.

Contents

Plot [edit]

Main article: List of Wilfred (U.S. TV series) episodes

The show follows a young man named Ryan (Elijah Wood) and his neighbor's dog Wilfred (Jason Gann). In the opening episode, Ryan concocts a drug cocktail in order to commit suicide. After this failed attempt, Ryan's neighbor, Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann), knocks on his door to ask him to look after Wilfred, whom only Ryan sees and hears as anthropomorphic.

Cast [edit]

Main cast [edit]

  • Elijah Wood as Ryan Newman, the depressed and looking-for-more-in-life protagonist. Originally a washed-up lawyer, Ryan was suicidal and lost until he met Wilfred, who advises him to live life his way.
  • Fiona Gubelmann as Jenna Mueller, Ryan's perky, attractive neighbor and Wilfred's owner.
  • Jason Gann as Wilfred Fazio Mueller, Jenna's seven-year-old dog. He is protective of his owner and manipulative toward Ryan, to whom he becomes a mentor. He smokes cigarettes and copious amounts of marijuana, drinks beer, eats mainly junk food, and is prone to various vices. While Ryan and the viewers see Wilfred as a man in a dog suit, he is a normal dog through everyone else's eyes.
  • Dorian Brown as Kristen Newman, Ryan's older and controlling sister.

Recurring cast [edit]

  • Ethan Suplee as Spencer, the rude and loud neighbor.
  • Chris Klein as Drew, Jenna's husband, whom Wilfred dislikes.
  • Gerry Bednob as Mr. Patel, the grumpy and cheap Indian neighbor.
  • J.P. Manoux as Leo, Kristen's husband.
  • Allison Mack as Amanda, a biochemist and former love interest for Ryan.
  • Steven Weber as Jeremy, Ryan's new boss at a medical firm.
  • Rob Riggle as Kevin Jesquire, Ryan's co-worker.
  • Nestor Carbonell as Dr. Arturo Ramos, Kristen's boss and lover.
  • Dwight Yoakam as Bruce, a mysterious man from Wilfred's past, who appears to be the only other person who views Wilfred the way Ryan does.
  • Mary Steenburgen as Catherine Newman, Ryan and Kristen's institutionalized mother who has a similar relationship with her pet cat (played by Rhea Perlman).
  • John Michael Higgins as Catherine's doctor.

Production [edit]

Development [edit]

Wilfred is based on the critically acclaimed Australian series of the same name and was adapted for FX by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman.[1] Wilfred is produced by FX Productions while the executive producers include: Zuckerman;[2][3][4] Rich and Paul Frank; Jeff Kwatinetz; and Joe and Ken Connor from the original Australian series. Wilfred co-creator Jason Gann and Randall Einhorn serve as co-executive producers. Einhorn directed 10 episodes of the first season and Victor Nelli, Jr. directed three.[2] The pilot episode was filmed in summer 2010,[3][4] written by Zuckerman, and directed by Einhorn.[4]

Unlike the Australian version—which concentrated equally on Wilfred, his owner, and her boyfriend—the American version is presented as a buddy comedy between Wilfred and Ryan.[5]

Casting [edit]

The casting of Elijah Wood as Ryan was announced on June 29, 2010.[3][4] Ryan is described as "an introverted and troubled young man struggling unsuccessfully to make his way in the world until he forms a unique friendship with Wilfred, his neighbor's canine pet."[6] Series co-creator Jason Gann also reprises his role of the eponymous dog Wilfred, a character described by Zuckerman as being a mixed breed dog who is "part Labrador Retriever and part Russell Crowe on a bender".[3][4] Fiona Gubelmann stars as Jenna, Wilfred's owner and Ryan's next-door neighbor, who works as a local news producer.[7] Dorian Brown was then cast as Kristen, Ryan's controlling and condescending older sister.[8]

Filming [edit]

"Wilfred" is unique in that the entire series was shot using a DSLR, the Canon 7D, using a three camera setup.[9]

Reception [edit]

Critical reception of the US adaptation of Wilfred was comparable to that of the original Australian series, with generally positive reviews. Review aggregator website Metacritic gives the series an average of 67 out of 100. Curt Wagner, writing in Redeye (The Chicago Tribune), said: "Stuffed with absurd situations and piles of bad taste, Wilfred is the strangest new show on TV. And the funniest."[10] David Wiegand, in the San Francisco Chronicle, said: "Wilfred works on many levels, something that may not become apparent until after you stop laughing."[11]

Some of the less positive reviews included Mike Hale, who wrote in The New York Times: "Some shows aspire to cult status; this one goes straight there, practically bypassing the need to be broadcast at all," but concluded: "Gann’s bits of doggie business ... are reliably humorous, but beyond that the show doesn’t offer a lot of bark or bite."[12] Tom Gliatto of People Weekly also gave a less positive review, saying, "The show is The Odd Couple redefined by psychosis and whimsy. I'm not wagging my tail."[13][14]

The series premiere hit a positive note with viewers and curious watchers as it became the highest-ranking debut sitcom ever for FX Networks. It continued to remain in the top 10 shows for Thursday night cable television throughout the first season. It was picked up for a second season on August 6, 2011.[15] The second season premiered on June 21, 2012. On October 31, 2012, Wilfred was renewed for Season 3.[16]

International broadcast [edit]

  • Australia – Premiered on Eleven, June 28, 2011, in the Tuesday 9:30 pm timeslot,[17] and currently being repeated on The Comedy Channel in the Monday 9 pm slot.
  • Belgium - Premiered on 2BE, March 21, 2013
  • Canada – Premiered on October 31, 2011, in the Thursday 10 pm timeslot, as an anchor title for the launch of the FX Canada network.[18][19]
  • Philippines – Premiered on Jack TV, March 20, 2012, in the 9.00 pm timeslot.[20]
  • United Kingdom – Premiered on BBC Three, August 16, 2011, in the 10.30 pm timeslot.[21] Season 2 premiered on August 16, 2012, during the 10 pm timeslot, remaining on BBC Three.[21]
  • Latin America – Premiered on FX, November 13, 2011, in the Sunday 11.00 pm timeslot.
  • Russia – Premiered on 2×2, August 27, 2012.[22]
  • Spain – Premiered on FOX, September 14, 2012.
  • Germany – Premiered on ProSieben Fun, February 24, 2013[23]
  • Turkey - Premiered on FX, March 1, 2013
  • Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia – Premiered on FOX, March 2013

References [edit]

  1. ^ Knox, David (May 12, 2010). "Wilfred is coming to America". TV.com. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Wilfred Official Website". FX. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d Ausiello, Michael (June 29, 2010). "Scoop: FX snags Elijah Wood for new comedy 'Wilfred'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Lang, Brent (June 29, 2010). "Elijah Wood to the Small Screen, for FX's 'Wilfred'". The Wrap. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  5. ^ Curtis, Amy (July 12, 2011). "Interview With Fiona Gubelmann On Wilfred". We Got This Covered. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Elijah Wood as 'Ryan'". FX. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  7. ^ "Fiona Gubelmann as 'Jenna'". FX. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Breaking News – Development Update: Thursday, December 2". TheFutonCritic.com. December 2, 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  9. ^ http://eugenia.queru.com/2011/10/11/interview-with-the-dslr-professionals-behind-the-wilfred-tv-show/
  10. ^ Curt Wagner (June 22, 2011). "Review: FX's 'Wilfred' has a dog complex". Redeye (The Chicago Tribune). Retrieved October 25, 2011. 
  11. ^ Wiegand, David (June 22, 2011). "'Wilfred' review: Show could be man's best friend". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  12. ^ Mike Hale (June 22, 2011). "Two Men Hang Out on a Couch. But One Appears to Be a Dog.". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2011. 
  13. ^ Tom Gliatto (June 17, 2011). People Weekly. p. 46.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ Tucker, Ken (December 26, 2011). "Best (and Worst) TV of 2011". Entertainment Weekly. 
  15. ^ by Todd VanDerWerff August 6, 2011. "FX renews Wilfred, Louie, and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  16. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 31, 2012). "'Wilfred' Renewed by FX for Season 3". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 1, 2012. 
  17. ^ "US Wilfred premieres tonight; Renegade Films interview". Encore Magazine. June 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-09. 
  18. ^ Alex Strachan (October 24, 2011). "Man & dog & man in dog suit". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved October 25, 2011. 
  19. ^ Cassandra Szklarski (October 19, 2011). "Wilfred's surly Aussie in a bad dog suit anchors FX Canada launch". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved October 25, 2011. 
  20. ^ "Wilfred Premiere on Jack TV". JackTV.com.ph. Retrieved March 30, 2012. 
  21. ^ a b BBC Three – Wilfred – Series 1 Episode Guide
  22. ^ http://2x2tv.ru/blog/post/1121
  23. ^ http://www.wunschliste.de/tvnews/16964

External links [edit]

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