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Since it was first announced I’ve been pretty thrilled for The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. The UK show stars David Cross as a doltish American sent to London to head up the promotions for an energy drink. He makes what might be called his best effort, but things go…poorly. The show is UK only for now, but thanks to the miracle of YouTube you can watch the first episode below.

This first episode is a bit uneven, as there’s a chunk in the middle that doesn’t quite get off the ground, but the first few minutes are killer. Corporate culture satire, a vulgar Will Arnett, henpecked Spike Jonze, a hot cafe owner and the bomb squad, all in about give minutes? Perfect.

Here’s a plot refresher:

US comedian David Cross plays Todd Margaret, a hapless office drone who flukes his way into a top management job heading up the British division of a US multinational. All he has to do is sell a dozen container loads of dodgy Korean energy drinks before his psychotic boss, played by Will Arnett, visits in a week’s time. It doesn’t help that he knows nothing about the UK or selling things. What’s more, he only has one very unhelpful employee, played by Russell Tovey, to assist him. Needless to say, it doesn’t go well and Todd’s spectacular failure to impress beautiful café owner Alice, played by Sharon Horgan, only makes things worse.

Once Todd Margaret actually tries to put his non-existent sales tactics to work you’ll either die laughing or just crawl into a corner to die. “Unbelievably tasty, unbelievably good, goes down like a syrup sandwich!” But let it be said that Russell Tovey’s advice should probably not be taken in any situation, ever. At least when he’s playing this character.

Here’s the first episode on three parts. Check it out now while the embeds last. Due to some excessive (and occasionally funny) profanity, this is likely NSFW. [via Vulture]

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  • It was pretty good definitely better than the other garbage on the Comedy Showcase. Unfortunately,todd Margaret hasn't been picked up for a full series.

  • topheavy
    I want to lick Arnett's face and see if he tastes like salted peanuts.
  • Me
    This didn't last one episode and get dropped? I heard about it a long time ago and then it disappeared. I seen somewhere the it comes on some obscure channel here in the US.
  • mihir
    The cab driver is Superhans from Peep Show!
  • I'm afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was supposed to be a dry run, if you will so now I'm afraid I have something of a mess on my hands.
  • Is that Kristen Schall at around 6:10 in the first video?
  • zachyadam
    Yes.
  • dallegre
    "There's no signal! This country doesn't even have signals!"

    Yes, pretty great.
  • Speed
    Will Arnett played Gob a little too hard but David Cross had some golden moments. Looking forward to the future episodes. Some funny seeming characters.
  • Name
    You should watch Arnett on Parks and Rec if you haven't. His character made one of the funnier episodes of the season.
  • shoothamaguchi
    Don't understand all the positive comments. This bored the shit out of me.
    I'm sick of all these british shows that always end with the main character failing. It's not funny anymore.
    Like all the people involved, but won't watch anymore episodes of this show.

    I will probably get abused for this, but David Cross ain't that funny these days.
  • iec
    I agree. This is so unbelievably absurd that I don't know what my response is supposed to be. I definitely laughed a couple times...but creating completely nonsensical situations in which the character really can't do anything but be an idiot for the sake of laughs does not make a good TV show.
  • Saw this last year and I loved it, cannot wait for the series.
  • alan
    I will fuck the old out of you. i love this show
  • JesseWhitehead
    Loved the whole thing but for me Russell Tovey was the standout. Ever since I caught Being Human on BBC America I just can't get enough of this guy.

    On a side note, does anyone remember when BBC America used to have consistently interesting programming? Now it's just fucking reality shows all damn day. I refuse to believe that Gordon Ramsay is the only significant product of British television in the last five years.
  • Justin Jump
    LIKE DRINKING TEN LIGHTNINGS.

    Holy shit that's funny. Thanks for posting this, I hadn't seen it!
  • angelo
    Oh my god, that bit about the rocky movies was awesome.
  • swansea
    sorry to say but think it was just a pilot, part of a series called comedy showcase on channel 4, doubt a full series of it will be made
  • bluerei
    They already ordered a season.
  • Haha wasn't sold till the end but the speech in the cafe is genius.
  • Sarzy
    Last month called, it wants its news back.
  • this month called, it wishes you'd stayed in the last month.
  • I love David Cross! too bad there's no subtitles (captions) in the clip above.
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