TED returns in this long-awaited series from the movie of the same name, created and starring Seth MacFarlane, while narrated by Sir Ian McKellen.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
SETH MACFARLANE – TED
MAX BURKHOLDER – JOHN BENNETT
ALANNA UBACH – SUSAN BENNETT
SCOTT GRIMES – MATTY BENNETT
GIORGIA WHIGHAM – BLAIRE BENNETT
ARA HOLLYDAY – ANDREW
LIZ RICHMAN – POLLY
MARISSA SHANKAR – SARAH
PENNY JOHNSON JERALD – PRINCIPLE
CHARLY JORDAN – SHEILA BORGWART
IAN MCKELLEN – NARRATOR
CHELSEA DAVISON – BRENDA
CHARLOTTE FOUNTAIN-JARDIM – BETHENY BORGWART
STORYLINE: In Ted, the series, it’s 1993 and Ted’s moment of fame has passed, leaving him living with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett (Burkholder), who lives in a working-class Boston home with his parents and cousin. Ted might not be the best influence on John, but when it comes right down to it, Ted’s willing to go out on a limb to help his friend and his family.
HQ REVIEW: Admittedly, after having been away from the helm of The Orville, Seth MacFarlane has been well missed for his comedy genius. But, here, reawakening his flagship smash hit “TED” movie and breaking it down into a series has been a rising change that refreshes the whole humour game. Even if to raise the level of emotional responses among all those who have slumbered through the pandemic, to bring them laugh after laugh – And, boy, does it make you laugh.
From episode one, when we are introduced to the sixteen-year-old John Bennett (MAX BURKHOLDER), who has grown in both conundrum and wit from his make-real-wish of TED (SETH MACFARLANE), whose stardom and fame have diminished since the ’80s. Bringing a mix of both controversy and seriousness to the series, we are faced with various elements of humour and actions that may be MacFarlane felt restricted with the film. Delving into the whole tongue-in-cheek gags that would make even the most dedicated PC person crack a rib – or two, even – the character set and timings are spot on. TED is, without doubt, the scene stealer, although in certain episodes, it is down to John and Blaire (GIORGIA WHIGHAM), who interact with that precision that most other television series fail to drop at the right times.
While The series runs on John’s growing pains into manhood; having a father, Matty (SCOTT GRIMES) who you will remember from The Orville series, a man lost in time and lacking the right amount of compassion as well as interaction with his wife, Susan (ALANNA UBACH) who has been knocked with self-esteem as well as confidence. However, it has to be said that the one additional character in the Bennett household who only too clearly steals the limelight – occasionally – is Blaire (GIORGIA WHIGHAM), who is thrown into scenarios of helping all four other family members out with problems, while at the same time dealing with her very own life-problems.
For me, TED The Series has become a comedy charm that I am sure will become iconic in many ways besides being remembered as the series that broke down the walls of a “Too Serious” society, or the show that came to be hated by half the WOKE world because of the sensitive issues that it deals with. But, hey, if the world in this day and age can’t find any given moment to let loose their laughter and get that adrenaline flowing to be a “Feel Good” experience, then you are doing it all wrong. Ted certainly does have its moments, both good and, of course, questionable, though these are just gags and jokes extended into a labyrinth of comedy art.
HQ RATING: 9.4/10 (Recommended)
EPISODE RUNDOWN:
EP 1: JUST SAY YES
EP 2: MY TWO DADS
EP 3: EJECTILE DYSFUNCTION
EP 4: SUBWAYS, BICYCLES AND AUTOMOBILES
EP5: DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN
EP 6: LOUD NIGHT
EP 7: HE’S GOTTA HAVE IT
ADDITIONAL INFO:
GENRE: COMEDY
CERTIFICATE: TV-MA
PARENTS GUIDE: CRUDE HUMOR AND ADULT SEXUAL REFERENCES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 17
RELEASE DATE: 11 JAN 2024
CHANNEL/NETWORK: PEACOCK
CREATOR: SETH MACFARLANE
