A prequel to a 2010s buddy comedy franchise filled with lowbrow (and occasionally dated humor) may not seem like the winning formula for a comedy series, but Ted thankfully exceeds expectations. Delivering two winning seasons that manage to be funny, surprisingly poignant, and super sweet. Set in the early 90s, the show follows 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder) as he attends high school in Framingham, Massachusetts, along with his best friend and sentient childhood teddy bear Ted (voiced by creator Seth Macfarlane).

The key difference between the movie and the show is its structure as a family comedy instead of a buddy comedy. The show introduces us to the household unit of John’s parents Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (a standout Alanna Ubach), as well as John’s cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham), who lives with them. The family unit simply offers up a richer comedy engine and stronger conflicts to help drive the episodes, especially compared to the movies, which are mostly restricted to the buddy comedy dynamic that can get stale after a while. The family members are all strikingly different and well written, forming a fertile ensemble that makes for great television. From Ted’s crassness and John’s immature insecurity to Matty’s emotionally stunted conservatism, Susan’s heartfelt sweetness and sincerity and Blaire’s fiery liberal politics and sharp sardonic edge, the show draws on this diverse mix to power its conflicts and comedy for every episode.

As mentioned, the cast is a huge highlight and a big part of why the show works as well as it does, sharing excellent chemistry and making the family believable. Max Burkholder is tasked with playing a young Mark Wahlberg, succeeding by both nailing the accent and perfectly embodying teenage boy insecurity and sweetness. MacFarlane is also as fun as expected, returning as the voice of Ted. The character itself is brought to life with seamless visual effects work, impressively making a talking teddy bear feel natural within this world. Scott Grimes also does amusing work as the cantankerous Matty, playing the familiar archetype to perfection. Season 2 in specific offers him the opportunity to peel back the layers and show a more emotional side to the character that wasn’t as present in Season 1. As Blaire, Giorgia Whigham is often playing the voice of reason in most episodes as well as being handed some of the show’s more emotional plotlines throughout the seasons, which she does well, balancing them alongside other episodes where she gets to flex her comedic muscles. 

The show’s secret weapon, though, would have to be Alanna Ubach, who delivers an utterly charming and hilarious performance as Bennett family matriarch Susan. She imbues Susan with such genuine heart that she almost always steals the show with her delightfully sweet voice, that punctuates at times with weird, unique and hilarious line deliveries and pronunciations. She helps make an already funny script even funnier, transforming what may have been in other hands a typical sitcom mom role and elevating Susan until she becomes an utterly delightful and, at times, moving certified scene stealer. 

This ensemble cast is serviced by top-notch comedic writing, which manages to be constantly hilarious and delivers fun and fresh plotlines for every episode. The general premise of the show is already set up for laughs, with the idea of a sentient teddy bear being funny on its own, but there are also plenty of hilarious jokes made from the characters and the time period. 

While the show certainly showcases the crass humour that has become the hallmark of MacFarlane’s work, it also manages to have a surprising tenderness throughout. Having John and Ted be well-meaning but immature idiots in this rather than the sad and mean-spirited adult losers they are in the movies certainly goes a long way to achieving a sense of sweetness. The show also retains its good heart thanks to the family dynamic and the characters of Blaire and Susan. 

Both seasons of the show are really strong, but Season 2 is perhaps more impressive, as it's here where the show experiments and pushes the boundaries more, especially with the excellent Dungeons & Dragons episode that has ridiculously impressive production value and many unexpected creative choices. 

Ultimately, Ted is an excellent family comedy, making it a drastic improvement over the movies. Thanks to strong and consistently funny writing, a genuine sweetness that balances out the occasional vulgar comedy and a superb ensemble cast, Ted is a welcome addition to television’s roster. 

8/10