Taking CTRL: New Web Series Wonders If You’d ‘Undo’

Have you ever wished you could undo something you just did? Or maybe go back a few more steps and undo several things? Office drone Stuart (Tony Hale) gets that chance in the new web series CTRL, based on the Sundance award-winning short film CTRL-Z, from NBC Universal.

Steve Howey as Ben, Tony Hale as Stuart, Emily Coligado as Elizabeth / copyright NBCUniversal

CTRL is the story of a mistreated office worker suddenly discovers that his keyboard has the ability to manipulate the reality of his office. NBC sent me the first three webisodes to review, and I have to admit, I put it off for a few days because I didn’t think I was going to like it. How often does a “based on a … ” web series actually end up worth watching? And one headlining Tony Hale, no less. As it turns out, these small doses of Tony Hale are just right. I’m familiar with his work on Arrested Development and Chuck, but Stuart is a new character for him. An accessible, watchable, dare I say endearing, character. In the first three webisodes, we see Stuart go from meek, maltreated office worker to bold (Ctrl B!), take charge fellow, and back again. See, while Stuart has the ability to undo the past and embolden himself, he also has a fatal human flaw: the inability to leave things alone. When he finally has a perfect moment with the girl of his dreams (Emy Coligado as Elizabeth), he ruins it by wanting to go back and do it again. On the other hand, he is able to redo the chance at a clever retort to his overbearing boss (Reba‘s Steve Howey as Ben) until he gets it right.

Written and directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Rob Kirbyson, CTRL is worth a look and will probably grab you from the first episode. Me, I’ll be watching to see what happens when Stuart tries the CTRL V command. How is he going to explain all the extra Stuarts wandering around the office?

The first of ten episodes of CTRL launches today across multiple platforms, including NBC.com, Hulu.com, USANetwork.com, Video On Demand on Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter, and via several mobile and gaming devices.