Ted is now gushing over Peacock.
Comedies have changed a lot since Ted first appeared in cinemas 12 years ago. Beyond the changing tides of culture and taste, the theatrical fortunes of this once-dominant theatrical genre have declined, with only a handful of celebrity-led projects achieving success each year. With big names like Adam Sandler, Melissa McCarthy, and Kevin Hart retreating to streaming, it's easy to see how it could be a precursor to one of these films. The biggest comedy hits of all time He'll end up on the peacock. But this may be the only sign of Ted's ability to change with the times. This throwback to the school days of John Bennett (Max Burkholder, inheriting the role created by Mark Wahlberg) and his stuffed friend (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) relies too heavily on a tired premise: Yes, the cute bear still says rude things.
A wonderful opening theme reminiscent of Family Guy is an early indicator: Ted is a well-made live-action take on some of MacFarlane's famous animated sitcoms, with only slightly different characters. Burkholder does a great job of channeling Wahlberg's over-the-top performance (and his southern accent) from Ted and Ted 2, while the rest of the cast manages to be equally frustrating/funny depending on your tolerance levels. John's parents' names were changed to Mattie (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alana Ubach) for some reason, and much of the series focuses on the friction between them. Throw a random cousin (Georgia Whigham) into the mix and This is the new season of Family Guy Ted is certainly off to a decent start.
Unfortunately I didn't make the jump from the movie to the series: Patrick Stewart. Fortunately, the Star Trek legend has handed over the role of Apache helicopter-busy narrator to his friend and X-Men foe, Ian McKellen. McKellen is underused, only appearing in a handful of episodes – but when he's around, he provides some real excitement.
The jokes in Ted are a lot of what we've seen and heard before – anger is the name of the game, and a lot of the humor is derived from the well-worn gag of a cute, cuddly teddy bear saying some truly awful things. There are lines about Jewish people, cannibalism, John Belushi, and even one joke you've definitely heard before in the Paul Rudd-Sean William Scott vehicle an example. Again, if you've watched Family Guy, you know what to expect, and that's the biggest problem.
The show improves as it progresses, hitting its stride around the halfway mark. The introduction of a wild new character puts a twist on the formula, and Ted's pop culture grows stronger as the series progresses. Whether you stick around for the long haul or even give Ted a chance in the first place will depend on your enthusiasm for the films and other MacFarlane works.
There is no overarching narrative or even a reason for the seven Ted episodes to be together. Each episode is self-contained – a traditional sitcom without the 100-episode buildup. It's a shame, because Ted will sit well as a relaxing watch, and is the kind of thing worth listening to week after week to get a new slice of the Bennett family's lives. Seven episodes give Ted barely enough room to increase his speed, and then he collapses lifelessly at the finish line by the time he gets to the good stuff. Season 2 might take things even further – the laughs may not be quite as original, but they're still a welcome addition to MacFarlane's repertoire.
One of the main reasons to return to Ted is the back-and-forth between John and Ted – their relationship is great, and Burkholder takes over from Wahlberg with ease. Throw in some nostalgia-driven laughs and some funny movie callbacks and you've got a perfectly good comedy that captures what's fun about its cinematic source.
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