Seth MacFarlane, who may reassure us that Ted will returnPhoto: Kevin Winter (Getty Images)
Seth MacFarlane is a controversial figure. For every Family Guy fan, there’s a critic. That’s the nature of comedy. But fans and skeptics agree on one thing: MacFarlane’s stuffed animal creation, Ted, isn’t your grandfather’s teddy bear. Uh, yeah, that bear fucks.
And when this bear isn’t banging bongs, directing a lush Busby Berkeley musical, or helping his pal John (Mark Wahlberg) have sex, he’s making millions of dollars. Together, the two Teds made more than $750 million worldwide. However, while Ted became a surrogate for an audience wanting to sit back, crack open a Sam Adams and watch the Red Sox, the 2015 sequel made half what its predecessor three years earlier did. It was time for Universal to put Ted back in the toy box while MacFarlane made The Orville, several more seasons of Family Guy, and three big band records. But you can only keep this bear in hibernation for so long.
The world is getting over our collective Ted-related hangover, so Peacock is bringing back everyone’s favorite copy of C Bear And Jamal, and MacFarlane will help. NBC/Universal today announced that MacFarlane will be starring as Ted in a television series based on the films. As MacFarlane lives longer than the rest of us, he will also direct, write and co-create the series. MacFarlane is joined by Giorgia Whigham (13 Reasons Why), Max Burkholder (Parenthood) and Scott Grimes (Oppenheimer, The Orville).
But what about Mark Wahlberg? Will the star of the sacred feel-good flick about a boxer-turned-priest return for another hit? In short, no. At least not now. Maybe he’s having too much fun starring in movies with the ardently anti-Jewish Academy Award winner Mel Gibson to spend time drinking beers with his old bear. But don’t worry about the Ted timeline because this Ted will be a prequel. Here is the summary:
It’s 1993 and Ted the Bear’s heyday is over. He now lives with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, who lives with his parents and cousin in a working class house in Boston. Ted may not be the best influence on John, but when it comes down to it, Ted is willing to go the extra mile to help his friend and family.
Finally a chance to watch John and Ted collect their first dime bag together in Dorchester. There’s no word yet on when the show will release, but we all know what to say when the show stinks: “You think this is bad, remember when they made a TV show out of Ted. ”