Wilfred (American TV series)
A man sees his neighbor's dog as a man in a dog suit.
Wilfred is an American sitcom that aired on FX from June 23, 2011, to August 13, 2014, spanning four seasons. It is based on the Australian SBS One series of the same name and stars Elijah Wood alongside series co-creator Jason Gann, who reprises his role as the titular dog. The adaptation was developed by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman and moved to FXX for its fourth and final season.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom; Black comedy
- Based on
- Wilfred
- Developer
- David Zuckerman
- Starring
- Elijah Wood
- Jason Gann
- Fiona Gubelmann
- Dorian Brown
- Music
- Jim Dooley
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 4
Facts from the source article.
Cast
Elijah Wood portrays Ryan Newman, a timid former shark lawyer who begins the series with severe depression and suicidal tendencies. He remains clingy and dependent on Wilfred and harbors unrequited love for Jenna, often following Wilfred's encouragement. Jason Gann plays Wilfred Fazio Mueller, a foul-mouthed, blunt Australian-accented shepherd dog that Ryan perceives as a man in a dog suit while everyone else sees a real dog. Wilfred loves his owner Jenna, is cocky, and jealous of well-behaved dogs; he has a fondness for stuffed animals, especially Bear, his codependent giant teddy bear in Ryan's basement, and Raffi, a stuffed giraffe he courts by conning Ryan. As the series progresses, Wilfred is torn between his love for Bear and his lust for other stuffed animals, and his instincts often put Ryan in situations that surprisingly help with his life problems. Fiona Gubelmann plays Jenna Mueller, Wilfred's owner and Ryan's neighbor and love interest, a charming TV personality who sometimes gets caught in the crosshairs of their shenanigans and tries to make things work with her on-again-off-again beau Drew. Dorian Brown portrays Kristen Newman, Ryan's sister, an OB/GYN and single mom who becomes pregnant and has a baby named Joffrey in season two. Chris Klein plays Drew, Jenna's easygoing but competitive boyfriend and eventual husband, whom Wilfred despises despite Drew's good relationship with Ryan. Other cast members include Gerry Bednob as Mr. Patel, Ryan's rude Indian neighbor; J. P. Manoux as Leo, Kristen's obnoxious estranged husband; Rodney To as Dr. Bangachon; Rob Riggle as Kevin, Ryan's friendly co-worker; Steven Weber as Jeremy, Ryan's boss who kills himself; Harriet Sansom Harris as Lonnie Goldsmith; and Allison Mack as Amanda, Ryan's co-worker and eventual girlfriend who believes Wilfred can talk to her.
Production
Wilfred was adapted for FX by David Zuckerman, a veteran of Family Guy, and is produced by FX Productions. Executive producers include Zuckerman, Rich and Paul Frank, Jeff Kwatinetz, and Joe and Ken Connor from the original Australian series. Co-creator Jason Gann and Randall Einhorn serve as co-executive producers; Einhorn directed ten episodes of the first season, and Victor Nelli Jr. directed three. The pilot was filmed in summer 2010, written by Zuckerman and directed by Einhorn. Unlike the Australian version, which focused equally on Wilfred, his owner, and her boyfriend, the American version is a buddy comedy between Wilfred and Ryan. Interest in continuing the series on SBS, including a possible film, did not materialize because Renegade Film could not sell the original version internationally. Gann initially hesitated to make an American series, stating he had no interest in making the same show with different accents, but the U.S. version differed greatly. In the transition, Gann took a more advisory role, writing only six episodes over four seasons, and gave up much creative control. David Zuckerman prioritized setting clear rules for the fantasy elements, which he felt the original lacked. Gann used the film My Bodyguard as a reference for reworking Wilfred and his relationship with Ryan, and the show adopted a lighter, more hopeful tone compared to the original's cynicism.
Reception
Critical reception of the American adaptation was generally positive and comparable to the original Australian series. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 78% score based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10 and a consensus calling it proudly vulgar and offensive but with a sentimental undertone. The second season scores 69% from 13 reviews (average 7.4/10), with a consensus noting it remains scaldingly funny but may be too coy with narrative mind games. The third season holds 86% from 14 reviews (average 7.6/10), with a consensus highlighting the combustible chemistry of Gann and Wood. The fourth season scores 100% from 10 reviews (average 7.8/10), with a consensus stating it rewards patient viewers with answers to its mythology. On Metacritic, Season 1 has a weighted average of 66 out of 100 from 33 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews, while Season 2 scores 57 out of 100 from five critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. Curt Wagner of Redeye called it the strangest and funniest new show on TV. David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that it works on many levels. Less positive reviews included Mike Hale of The New York Times, who said it bypasses the need to be broadcast but found Gann's doggie business reliably humorous, and Tom Gliatto of People, who described it as The Odd Couple redefined by psychosis and whimsy.
International broadcast
In Australia, the series premiered on Eleven on June 28, 2011, in the Tuesday 9:30 p.m. timeslot, and later repeated on The Comedy Channel; season three aired on Eleven on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. In Canada, it premiered on October 31, 2011, on FX Canada. It also aired in Israel/Occupied Palestine on yes Oh HD from April 29, 2012; in Russia on 2×2 from August 27, 2012; in Portugal on FX from February 13, 2012; and in Germany on ProSieben Fun from February 24, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Wilfred (American TV series) are there?
Wilfred has 49 episodes across 4 seasons.
When did Wilfred (American TV series) end?
Wilfred last aired on 5 September 2013.
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