Ted is now streaming on Peacock.
Comedy has changed a lot since Ted came to the cinema 12 years ago. Aside from the shifting tides of culture and taste, the once-dominant genre's theatrical fortunes have plummeted, with only a handful of celebrity-led projects managing to break through each year. With big names like Adam Sandler, Melissa McCarthy and Kevin Hart retreating to streaming, it's easy to imagine how a prequel to one of the biggest comedy hits of all time would land on Peacock. But that might be the only sign that Ted is able to move with the times. This flashback to the school days of John Bennett (Max Burkholder, reprising the role originated by Mark Wahlberg) and his stuffed best friend (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) relies heavily on a well-worn premise: Yes, the cute teddy bear still says rude things.
The clever opening theme, reminiscent of “Family Guy,” is a first clue: “Ted” is a well-made live-action version of some of MacFarlane's popular animated sitcoms, just with slightly different characters. Burkholder does an excellent job of channeling Wahlberg's over-the-top performance (and Southie accent) from “Ted and Ted 2,” while the rest of the cast is equally frustrating/hilarious depending on your tolerance level. John's parents have been renamed Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alanna Ubach) for some reason, and much of the series focuses on the tension between them. Add in a random cousin (Giorgia Whigham) and the new season of Family Guy Ted is off to a decidedly good start.
Ted Gallery
Unfortunately, Patrick Stewart didn't make the jump from film to series. Luckily, the Star Trek legend has handed over the role of narrator dealing with Apache helicopters to his friend and X-Men nemesis Ian McKellen. McKellen is vastly underused, only appearing in a handful of episodes – but when he's around, he delivers some real hits.
The jokes in “Ted” are largely what we've seen and heard before – outrage is the order of the day, and much of the humor relies on the well-worn joke of a cute, cuddly teddy bear saying really terrible things. There are punchlines about Jewish people, cannibalism, John Belushi, and even a joke you've definitely heard before in the Paul Rudd-Seann William Scott vehicle “Role Models.” Again, if you've seen Family Guy, you know what to expect, and that's the biggest problem.
The show builds as it progresses, reaching its climax about halfway through. The introduction of a wild new character adds a quirky twist to the formula, and Ted's pop culture riffs only grow stronger as the series progresses. Whether you stay that long or even give Ted a chance depends on your enthusiasm for the films and MacFarlane's other work.
There is no overarching narrative or even reason for Ted's seven episodes to exist together. Each episode is self-contained – a traditional sitcom without a 100-episode backlog. That's a shame, because “Ted” would make a good comfort watch, exactly what's worth tuning in week after week to see a new slice of the Bennett family's life. Seven episodes barely give Ted enough room to gain momentum, and then he slumps lifelessly across the finish line when things finally get going. Perhaps a second season could go one step further – the laughs may not be particularly original, but it's still a welcome addition to MacFarlane.
If you've seen Family Guy, you know what to expect… and that's the biggest problem.
One of the main reasons to return to Ted is the one-two punch between John and Ted – their relationship is excellent and Burkholder easily takes the reins from Wahlberg. Add in a few nostalgic giggles and a few hilarious callbacks to the films and you have a thoroughly good comedy that captures what's enjoyable about its cinematic source material.