Wilfred (U.S. season 1)

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Wilfred (U.S. season 1)
Wilfred Season 1 DVD.jpg
DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 13
Release
Original network FX
Original release June 23 (2011-06-23) – September 8, 2011 (2011-09-08)
Season chronology
Next →
Season 2
List of Wilfred (U.S. TV series) episodes

The first season of Wilfred , premiered on FX on June 23, 2011. The season contains 13 episodes and concluded airing on September 8, 2011. The series is based on the original Australian series, Wilfred, and stars Elijah Wood, Jason Gann, Fiona Gubelmann and Dorian Brown.

<i>Wilfred</i> (U.S. TV series) American sitcom television series

Wilfred is an Australian-American comedy television series that aired from June 23, 2011 to August 13, 2014 for a total of four seasons. 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. The series was adapted for the American television channel FX by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman. Season 4 premiered on June 25, 2014. Wilfred moved to FXX for its fourth and final season.

FX (TV channel) American cable television network

FX is an American pay television channel owned by the Walt Disney Television unit of The Walt Disney Company through FX Networks, LLC. It is based in Los Angeles, California. Originally launched on June 1, 1994, the network's original programming aspires to the standards of premium cable channels such as HBO, Showtime, and Starz in regard to mature themes and content, high-quality writing, directing and acting, and sister channels such as FXX and FXM. FX also carries reruns of theatrical films and terrestrial-network sitcoms, and advertising-free content is available through the FX+ premium subscription service.

<i>Wilfred</i> (Australian TV series) Australian television series

Wilfred is an Australian comedy television series created by Adam Zwar, Jason Gann and Tony Rogers based on their award-winning 2002 short film. The story follows the lives of the eponymous dog Wilfred, his owner Sarah, and her boyfriend Adam, who sees Wilfred as a man in a dog suit. It was directed by Tony Rogers, produced by Jenny Livingston and stars Gann, Zwar and Cindy Waddingham.

Contents

Synopsis

The season began with Ryan, an ex-lawyer, trying to commit suicide by overdosing on pills. His sister, Kristen, knowing that giving out pills to family members is unethical, decides to give him sugar pills without him knowing. At first, he does not know and thinks that Wilfred is just a hallucination, then after a visit from his sister, he finds out about the sugar pills, therefore it is unknown exactly why only Ryan sees Wilfred the way he is. Throughout the first season Wilfred puts Ryan in difficult situations including tricking Ryan into breaking into the neighbor's house while Wilfred steals the man's marijuana plants and defecates in his boots. Ryan confesses everything to his neighbor and is assaulted. Wilfred uses Ryan's growing crush on Jenna to convince Ryan to sabotage Jenna's relationship with her long-distance boyfriend Drew.

Ryan saves Wilfred after he learns that the doggy daycare manager, who he starts leaving him with, is molesting Wilfred, and Wilfred saves a stuffed teddy bear. Wilfred begins having sex with this stuffed animal, with whom he communicates in the same way Ryan communicates with Wilfred. Wilfred also pressures Ryan into pursuing a sexual relationship with a tightly-wound single mother, mainly because Wilfred is infatuated with her son's stuffed giraffe. Wilfred also helps Ryan understand that he was not responsible for the death of his childhood dog, Sneakers. The audience learns that Ryan's mother can see her cat, Mittens, in a similar fashion that Ryan sees Wilfred. Ryan discovers a man, Bruce, who claims to be able to see Wilfred the same way that Ryan sees Wilfred, and tries to convince Ryan to not trust Wilfred. After a struggle, Ryan learns that Bruce and Wilfred were playing a game to test Ryan's trust with Wilfred.

At the end of the season, Jenna accidentally ingests a marijuana-laced candy before her first time as an anchorperson and gets fired from her job, after which Ryan decides to represent her in a legal battle to get her job back. Although Ryan is used to digging up dirt on his opponents in order to win, he decides not to this time. However, Wilfred does instead and Ryan uses this evidence to get Jenna her job back.

Ryan uses his newfound "power" to break up Drew and Jenna, and gets a date with Jenna. When he finds out that she needs to take a drug test he blackmails his sister (with knowledge of a previous affair) into giving him her urine so Jenna will pass the test. This causes a wedge between Ryan and Kristen and she leaves for India. However, Kristen is pregnant, which shows up in Jenna's urine test. Jenna now believes she is pregnant so she gets back together with Drew. Wilfred gets into a car accident and gets amnesia and does not remember Ryan. The season ends with Ryan running back to his house remembering a will Wilfred was writing before the accident so Ryan would know what to do if anything happened to him. Ryan tries to open the door to his basement only to discover it is in fact a closet. A tennis ball (linking back to the first episode in the season) rolls out of the closet, leaving Ryan puzzled.

Cast

Main cast

Elijah Wood American actor

Elijah Jordan Wood is an American actor, film producer, and DJ. He is known for portraying Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003).

Jason Gann Australian actor

Jason Gann is an Australian actor, writer, and executive producer. He is best known for his role as the title character in the Australian comedy series Wilfred, directed by Tony Rogers, and the U.S. reboot of the same name.

Fiona Gubelmann American actress

Fiona Victoria Gubelmann is an American actress. A native of California, she has appeared in a number of single-episode roles in television, including CSI: NY, My Name Is Earl and Knight Rider, as well as a handful of films including Employee of the Month and Downstream. She starred as Jenna in the FX comedy series Wilfred.

Special guest cast

Ethan Suplee American actor

Ethan Suplee is an American film and television actor best known for his roles as Seth Ryan in American History X, Louie Lastik in Remember the Titans, Frankie in Boy Meets World, Randy Hickey in My Name Is Earl, Toby in The Wolf of Wall Street, Elwood in Without a Paddle, and his roles in Kevin Smith films.

Ed Helms American actor and comedian

Edward Parker Helms is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He is known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show as well as playing Andy Bernard in the U.S. version of The Office, and Stuart Price in The Hangover trilogy. He also provided the voice of Captain Underpants in Dreamworks Animation's Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

Jane Kaczmarek American actress

Jane Frances Kaczmarek is an American actress. She is best known for playing the character of Lois on the television series Malcolm in the Middle (2000–06). Kaczmarek is a three-time Golden Globe and seven-time Emmy Award nominee.

Recurring cast

Gerry Bednob is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian American actor and comedian of Indo-Trinidadian descent. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Toronto, and worked as a high school counselor before turning to comedy and moving to Los Angeles. Bednob often refers in his standup acts as Bangladeshi, as his grandfather was from East Bengal in British India which is present-day Bangladesh.

Chris Klein (actor) American actor

Frederick Christopher Klein is an American actor who is best known for playing Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher in the American Pie comedy teen films, and more recently, the serial killer Cicada on The Flash.

J. P. Manoux American stand-up comedian

Jean-Paul Christophe "J. P." Manoux is an American actor, voice actor, comedian and television personality best known for his work in multiple Disney productions, including S.T.A.N. in Aaron Stone, Curtis the Caveman and Vice Principal Hackett in Phil of the Future, and the voice of Kuzco in The Emperor's New School. He voiced Scrappy Rex in Scooby-Doo. Manoux was also a contestant on Jeopardy!, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune.

Guest stars

Charles Esten American actor

Charles Esten Puskar III, known professionally as Chip Esten, is an American actor, singer and comedian.

Ellia English is an American singer, dancer, stage and film actress. She is best known for her role as Helen "Aunt Helen" King on the comedy sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show which originally ran from 1996-2001 and as Mary Lou Wentz, the mother of Teddy's best friend Ivy on Good Luck Charlie from 2010-2014. English was featured in a central role on the former, and was paired onscreen with Garrett Morris, who plays her husband Junior King.

Damon Herriman Australian actor

Damon Herriman is an Australian actor known for his film and television work in Australia and the United States. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dewey Crowe in Justified. He will portray Charles Manson in both the Netflix series Mindhunter and the Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
11"Happiness" Randall Einhorn David Zuckerman June 23, 2011 (2011-06-23)XWL010012.55 [1]

After a failed suicide attempt, Ryan forms a unique connection with his neighbor's dog, Wilfred.

Opening quote: "Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination." – Mark Twain
22"Trust"Randall EinhornDavid ZuckermanJune 30, 2011 (2011-06-30)XWL010022.04 [2]

Ryan betrays Wilfred's trust to gain favor with Jenna, but his deception yields an unexpected secret about her.

Opening quote: "Trust thyself only, and another shall not betray thee." – Thomas Fuller
33"Fear"Randall Einhorn Eric Weinberg July 7, 2011 (2011-07-07)XWL010041.52 [3]

Ryan finally learns why Wilfred planted his wallet at the scene of the crime when Spencer comes around seeking vengeance.

Opening quote: "Fear has its uses but cowardice has none." – Mahatma Gandhi
44"Acceptance"Randall Einhorn Jason Gann July 14, 2011 (2011-07-14)XWL010031.56 [4]

Ryan's efforts to reconcile with his sister cause Wilfred to have a shocking experience at doggy day care.

Opening quote: "Happiness can exist only in acceptance." – George Orwell
55"Respect"Randall EinhornMichael GloubermanJuly 21, 2011 (2011-07-21)XWL010051.44 [5]

Ryan and Wilfred volunteer at a hospice and discover Wilfred may have a remarkable secret talent.

Opening quote: "Seek respect mainly from thyself, for it comes first from within." – Steven H. Coogler
66"Conscience"Randall EinhornDavid BaldyJuly 28, 2011 (2011-07-28)XWL010061.74 [6]

Wilfred persuades Ryan to help him get rid of Jenna's boyfriend.

Opening quote: "Conscience is the dog that can't bite, but never stops barking." – Proverb
77"Pride"Randall EinhornJason GannAugust 4, 2011 (2011-08-04)XWL010071.40 [7]

Wilfred's pursuit of a new love interest forces Ryan to swallow his pride – among other things.

Opening quote: "In general, pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes." – Steven H. Coogler
88"Anger" Victor Nelli, Jr. Sivert Glarum & Michael JaminAugust 11, 2011 (2011-08-11)XWL010081.23 [8]

When Wilfred learns that Ryan feels responsible for the death of his beloved childhood dog, he goes to otherworldly lengths to help Ryan learn the truth.

Opening quote: "Anger as soon as fed is dead – tis starving makes it fat." – Emily Dickinson
99"Compassion"Victor Nelli, Jr. Patricia Breen August 18, 2011 (2011-08-18)XWL010091.18 [9]

Ryan's resentment of his eccentric mother is exacerbated when Wilfred starts treating her like the mum he never had.

Opening quote: "Make no judgements where you have no compassion." – Anne McCaffrey
1010"Isolation"Victor Nelli, Jr.Steve Baldikoski & Bryan BeharAugust 18, 2011 (2011-08-18)XWL010101.04 [9]

Wilfred uses Ryan's unhealthy habit of isolating as a means to rid himself of a neighborhood pest.

Opening quote: "Isolation is a self-defeating dream." – Carlos Salinas de Gortari
1111"Doubt"Randall EinhornReed Agnew & Eli JornéAugust 25, 2011 (2011-08-25)XWL010111.21 [10]

Ryan begins to suspect that his friendship with Wilfred may be self-destructive.

Opening quote: "Doubt must be no more than vigilance, otherwise it can become dangerous." – George C. Lichtenberg
1212"Sacrifice"Randall EinhornSivert Glarum & Michael JaminSeptember 1, 2011 (2011-09-01)XWL010121.32 [11]

Wilfred urges Ryan to sacrifice his newfound happiness for a greater good.

Opening quote: "Love is a willingness to sacrifice." – Michael Novak
1313"Identity"Randall EinhornDavid ZuckermanSeptember 8, 2011 (2011-09-08)XWL010130.90 [12]

Ryan ignores Wilfred's advice, creating an existential crisis for both of them.

Opening quote: "The value of identity is that so often with it comes purpose." – Richard R. Grant

Production

Wilfred is based on the critically acclaimed Australian series of the same name and was adapted for FX by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman. [13] Wilfred is produced by FX Productions while the executive producers include: Zuckerman; [14] [15] [16] 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. [14] The pilot episode was filmed in summer 2010, [15] [16] written by Zuckerman, and directed by Einhorn. [16] The show was shot primarily with the inexpensive Canon EOS 7D dSLR camera. The first episode of the show was included in the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 6 DVD.

<i>Family Guy</i> American animated sitcom

Family Guy is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children, Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog, Brian. The show is set in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island, and exhibits much of its humor in the form of metafictional cutaway gags that often lampoon American culture.

David Zuckerman (TV producer) American tv producer

David J. Zuckerman is an American writer and producer and is best known as the original showrunner and executive producer of the animated comedy series Family Guy, as well as the creator of the American adaptation of the Australian television series of the same name, Wilfred.

Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues. In films, the executive producer generally contributes to the film's budget and usually does not work on set, in contrast to most other producers.

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References

  1. ↑ Seidman, Robert (June 24, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: Burn Notice, Swamp , Suits, NBA Draft, Wilfred top Night + Futurama, Louie & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  2. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 1, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: Pre-Holiday Slump for 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits' But 'Swamp People' Impervious + 'Wilfred,'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 8, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits' Rise, But 'Swamp People' Still Tops Night + 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 15, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Burn Notice,' Rises, Defeats 'Swamp People' + 'Suits,' 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  5. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 22, 2011). "Updated: Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Suits' Rises and 'Burn Notice' Steady, But 'Swamp People' Back on Top + 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  6. ↑ Seidman, Robert (July 29, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Suits' Tops Night in Demo + 'Burn Notice,' 'Project Runway,' 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  7. ↑ Seidman, Robert (August 5, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Jersey Shore' Dominates + 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Project Runway,' 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  8. ↑ Seidman, Robert (August 12, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Jersey Shore' Down But Dominant + 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Project Runway,' 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (August 19, 2011). "Thursday Cable Ratings: 'Jersey Shore' Rises & 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Project Runway' Rise Too + 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama,' 'Louie' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  10. ↑ Seidman, Robert (August 26, 2011). "Thursday Cable: 'Jersey Shore' Gets Bigger + NFL, 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Project Runway' and the Weather Channel". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  11. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 2, 2011). "Thursday Cable: Even 'Jersey Shore' Repeats Can't Be Beaten; 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Project Runway' & Lots More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  12. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 9, 2011). "Thursday Cable: 'Jersey Shore' Takes A Hit, Still Dominates, 'Burn Notice,' 'Suits,' 'Wilfred,' 'Futurama' Finales & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (May 12, 2010). "Wilfred is coming to America". TV.com . Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  14. 1 2 "Wilfred Official Website". FX . Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Ausiello, Michael (June 29, 2010). "Scoop: FX snags Elijah Wood for new comedy 'Wilfred'". Inside TV. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 Lang, Brent (June 29, 2010). "Elijah Wood to the Small Screen, for FX's 'Wilfred'". The Wrap. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
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