About Wilfred

Wilfred is an American surreal comedy television series that aired from 2011 to 2014. The plot revolves around Ryan Newman, a suicidal man who perceives our titular character, Wilfred, as an Australian man in a dog suit, while others see him as just an ordinary dog. The show is full of dark humor and philosophical themes, exploring mental health through a unique combination of comedy and tragedy.

Making / Production

Wilfred was developed by Family Guy veteran David Zuckerman from the original Australian series of the same name. The show was produced by FX Productions, along with Gaumont International Television and Several of the Episode Productions. The series was shot in Venice, California, giving it a distinct beach-town casting.

Actors

• Elijah Wood as Ryan Newman: He played the character with a sense of vulnerability, making Ryan’s despair and pain feel real amidst the comedy.
• Jason Gann as Wilfred: Gann flawlessly reprised his role from the Australian version, infusing Wilfred with a crude, yet oddly philosophical charm.
• Fiona Gubelmann as Jenna Mueller: Playing Ryan's neighbor and love interest, she brings a genuine likability and innocence to the role.
• Dorian Brown as Kristen Newman: She effectively portrayed Ryan's controlling yet well-meaning sister.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Wilfred is a remake of an Australian show of the same name, and creator Jason Gann played the title character in both versions.
• The show was originally pitched with the tagline, "It’s about a guy, the girl next door, and mixed-breed dog, Wilfred, who only the guy sees as a guy in a dog suit."
• Many of the series’ dark jokes and philosophical discussions were actually deliberated among the writers in a “philosophy circle”.

Awards

Though Wilfred didn’t win many major awards, it was nominated multiple times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role due to its unique premise.

Quotes

• "Happiness is just the absence of pain. So whenever you're feeling good, all that means is that something bad is about to happen." - Wilfred
• "Sadness purifies the heart. Or blackens it. Can't remember which." - Wilfred
• "You can't fix your life like you fixed your closet!" - Ryan

Music, Soundtrack

• The show's unique theme music was composed by Jim Dooley.
• The series often used indie rock music to complement its dark humor and narrative. Important songs in the series include "Sneaky Snake" by Tom T. Hall and "I Gotta Be Me" by Steve Lawrence.