Written by John Edward Betancourt ![]() A little over a decade ago, writer/director Seth MacFarlane did something quite incredible. In that, he took the wondrous world of the Teddy Bear, a place where children glean incredible lessons from gentle and kind bears that are good to their core and figured out how to make it applicable and worthwhile for adults. Courtesy of the motion picture, Ted. A story that introduced us to John Bennett and his best friend for life, Ted. A magical teddy bear that was brought to life by the sheer will of John one fateful day, and well… what made that magical plot friendly to adults… was the sheer fact that the wonder and awe surrounding Ted quickly faded and he in turn, ended up just being an average bear that enjoyed a weed filled life with his bestie. Which is a slightly nihilistic plot that can speak to our failures in life, but truly… Ted and Ted 2 for that matter, made a point to really dig deep into some wonderful lessons when all is said and done. The kind that spoke to the power and the importance of friendship and what we have to do to really maintain the ones we cherish. Plus, these stories spoke the importance of standing up for ourselves, and what it means to really be recognized for who we are. Which made for a beautiful pair of stories that do indeed offer up some genuine value to adults and they even found ways to spin the more nihilistic aspect of the story into something beautiful and tangible. If anything, the wonder of the Ted franchise is top of mind today, simply because it is about to grow further. For January 11, 2024, will see the debut of Ted on Peacock. A limited series that takes the time to explore the early days of John and Ted’s life. By transporting us back to the 1990s, when John was in high school and that brings out quite the delightful origin story if you will. One that really speaks to how their deep friendship formed and one that offers something deeper. Because this is a story that allows for us to reflect upon our teenage years and the important moments, we experienced that forged us into the adults we are today. Giving rise to some fine lessons and reflections upon the journey that is life, and those moments are wonderfully complimented by the trademark heart that this franchise features. For we’d be foolish to not point that the tender moments you find in the first two films find their way into here, and they are special and heartwarming. But while it is nice to enjoy a loving story about a boy and his bear, make no mistake about it. This is still a comedy through and through. Because this is a story about Ted and John, and it would be nothing without their goofy shenanigans and banter and well, that’s present here in spades, and it really is quite the delight for the viewer. Because the jokes work well in this series, in fact, they’re the stuff of legend. Because they’re unfettered and unleashed here thanks to this story being on a streaming service, and they’re so utterly amazing that this reporter had to stop the show on several occasions to get the laughs out and to rewatch the bit to make sure the joke was properly appreciated. And it also doesn’t hurt, that the laughs are sent our way courtesy of a simply amazing cast. For Scott Grimes is simply sublime as Matty Bennett, John’s father, and he truly reflects a different time for fathers of the world in a manner that is both wistful and hilarious, and Alanna Ubach is a true revelation as Susan Bennett, and her work here also reflects the times and gives rise to deadpan laughs for the ages. And they are counterbalanced nicely by Giorgia Whigham as Blair and Max Burkholder as the younger John Bennett, since they bring a wonderful honesty and awe to their roles, and they still find ways to make us laugh via the friction they create with the old guard. But of course, it is Seth MacFarlane that steals the show as Ted himself, and he once again delivers an amazing performance here as America’s favorite foul-mouthed teddy bear. If anything, all of these elements bring forth, another amazing chapter in the Ted franchise. One that doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to the stuff we love about this saga, and it is one that fills the in the blanks about what happened before we met this duo in the original movie, and the best news of all, is that you are all so close to enjoying it. For Ted debuts on Peacock on January 11, 2024, and we here at NTG cannot wait for you to enjoy this series, and that’s why we’ve got more pre-release coverage to bring you in the days to come. So stayed for our interviews with the cast, and the show’s executive producers, Paul Corrigan, and Brad Walsh as we count down to the release of another incredible chapter in this amazing saga. As an added bonus, here are some Sneak Peek clips from the show for all of you to enjoy. Clip #1 Clip #2 Clip #3
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