David Cross discusses ‘The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret’

David Cross is a master of uncomfortable comedy. Whether he’s verbally attacking hillbilly fan favorite Larry the Cable Guy, ranting against religion in his stand-up act or playing a nude-phobic, ambiguously gay character on the dearly departed “Arrested Development,” Cross knows how to make people squirm.

Expect more in that vein from “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret,” a fish-out-of-water comedy launching Oct. 1 on IFC, where the first couple episodes end in the same terribly embarrassing way: Cross’ character wets his pants. (Once it’s because of a beverage-induced stupor, and the second time, it’s a reaction to paralyzing fright.)

The caustic Cross, who became a comedy geek’s folk hero with HBO’s “Mr. Show With Bob and David” and continued the streak with last year’s bestseller “I Drink for a Reason,” created, co-wrote, produced and stars in “Todd Margaret,” along with fellow “Arrested Development” alum Will Arnett and British actors Blake Harrison and Sharon Horgan.

Each half-hour of the show, created for British television, opens with a shot of Cross’ character, beaten and bruised, hearing a litany of serious and ridiculous charges against him from a stern, old-school British magistrate. How he got there, from well-meaning but misguided expat to public enemy No. 1, promises to unfold in cringe-worthy detail over six episodes.

During a summer stop in Los Angeles, Cross, an Emmy winner for his writing on “The Ben Stiller Show,” spoke to The Times about “Todd Margaret,” his Anglophile tendencies and his own awkward moments.

Q: Is Todd Margaret a complete sad sack, or is he ever in on the joke?

A: I hope people don’t just dismiss him but find some empathy toward the character. At the same time, I don’t think you ever laugh with him. You should definitely laugh at him. For instance, he just meets [Horgan’s character] Alice and he’s only known her for four-and-a-half days and he’s clearly in love. He’s mistaken her kindness for affection, which some people do. It’s always kind of a minor tragedy when that happens.

Q: Do you see this as a straight-up comedy?

A: There’s a tiny bit of mystery to the show, and there are little clues that pop up throughout the episodes. There’s a bit of a “Twin Peaks”/ “Lost” element. I don’t want to mislead anyone — it’s not like there’s a smoke monster. You think you know who the characters are and what they’re doing, but peoples’ motivations are not what they appear to be.

Q: Since you created this show for Channel 4 in the U.K., did you tailor it to local tastes? And how do you think it will go over in the U.S.?

A: Funny is funny. At no point did anybody say situations would have to be changed because somebody in Minneapolis might not get it, or people in Manchester might not understand it. I was 13 when “Monty Python” started playing in the States and I loved it. I laughed a lot. I knew then that I wasn’t getting half the references but it didn’t matter. I got the context of what was happening. I don’t foresee any problems, except maybe with the Irish. That’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Q: How’d you decide to cast Arnett as Todd Margaret’s f-bomb-dropping boss?

A: When I was writing it and thinking of that character, I knew I had to get Will. He’s a big Anglophile as well. In the past, he’s turned me on to lots of British comedy I’d never even heard of.

Q: What’s it like working with Arnett again on his new show, “Running Wilde”?

A: It’s such a treat to work with Will and Mitch [Hurwitz] and Jim [Vallely]. I’d never met Keri [Russell] before, and she’s awesome. After having a hand in everything on my own show, from the writing, producing and editing, to come back home and have just the responsibility of doing these silly, crazy, funny scenes, it’s like a vacation.

Q: What else should we know about “Todd Margaret”?

A: The show is completely organic and edible. It’s good for you and it’s biodegradable. So when you watch the show, and possibly eat it, there’s no ill effect on the environment.

calendar@latimes.com