Quartet The Blanks (aka ‘Ted’s Band’) composed of best friends enjoying music
By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
Every TV sitcom has its signature gags and jokes, but ABC’s “Scrubs” is absolutely packed with them.
Nestled among the fits of “man love” between J.D. and Turk, the epic, acidic burns from Dr. Cox and Carla’s demands
to be recognized as Dominican, not Puerto Rican, is a barbershop quartet that sings TV theme songs.
The group, led by lawyer Ted Buckland, appears in odd places and backs up the show’s comedic moments with the perfect song.
A tense moment where J.D. steels himself for a confrontation is punctuated with the quartet singing the theme from “Underdog.” Elliot’s mad studying pace in order to appear cool, calm and knowledgeable is highlighted by the group’s rendition of “Maniac,” the theme to “Flashdance.”
The quartet’s dulcet harmonies are even used as torture in one episode: In front of a doctor taped to his office chair, they repeat the chorus of Chili’s infamous baby back ribs commercial — only they never say “ribs.”
“Ted’s Band” has made 16 appearances on the show so far. But before becoming a staple on “Scrubs,” they were their own group performing a capella across the country.
Known as The Blanks, the quartet will perform in Pittsburg on Saturday as part of Pittsburg State University’s Performing Arts and Lecture Series. The band has also released a CD, “Riding the Wave,” that features all of their “Scrubs” songs and several original works.
Sam Lloyd, who plays Ted Buckland, said the group originally got its start at Syracuse University as a Beatles tribute band. He, George Miserlis and Paul F. Perry formed The Butties, and played a series of gigs around the area.
Lloyd eventually moved to Los Angeles to start an acting career. He appeared in episodes of “Night Court,” “Seinfeld,” “West Wing” and movies such as “Rising Sun” and “Flubber.”
After Lloyd’s move, Miserlis and Perry followed and started their own acting careers. The group later added Philip McNiven to the lineup.
Though each member had acting careers that spanned over a range of TV shows, Lloyd said Miserlis’ big plan involved getting the band to perform on a cruise.
“We actually auditioned, and two of the microphones didn’t work, and that was the end of that,” Lloyd said. “But at that point, we said, ‘Let’s keep singing for the fun of it.’”
Lloyd said Perry arranged an incredible version of John Williams’ theme to “Superman.” Soon after, Lloyd landed the role of Buckland on “Scrubs,” and one of the show’s writers heard the song during a Christmas party.
“We went and sang at the Christmas party,” Lloyd said. “The writers said, ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing we’ve ever heard, so let’s put those guys on the show.’”
Because they couldn’t secure performance rights to the “Superman” theme, they worked up the rendition of the theme to “Underdog,” and Ted’s Band was born.
When singing for “Scrubs,” the band gets direction about what song to perform, then arranges it themselves.
“Luckily, they came from the same place, as far as humor and time, as we did,” Lloyd said. “It was a lot of stuff we were familiar with, the cartoon themes, TV theme songs and stuff like that. It worked great for us.”
The band’s original work has more varied influences, however. A song about Halloween was inspired by — and almost performed with — an electronic, talking pumpkin that said “Happy Halloween” ad nauseum.
The band also does about 15 to 20 shows a year, Lloyd said, and hopes to get 30 to 50 performances in 2010. And they are content with that — they have no aspirations to push a capella music onto the pop scene.
It may not be a cruise ship, but the “Scrubs” gig and the touring schedule lets good friends sing fun music and enjoy each other’s company.
“One of the underlying parts of the (live) show is that there’s is something about friendship,” McNiven said. “There’s something about sticking together through thick and thin, and we’ve been together a dozen years now. There’s something really fun about going work at ‘Scrubs,’ hanging out with your best buddies, being able to sing and have fun. People tend to react to that.”
Want to go?
The Blanks will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Auditorium in Pittsburg, Kan. Tickets: $7.50, $5 for PSU faculty and staff, seniors and children, and free for PSU students. Details: 620-235-4796.
