Culture

Seth MacFarlane’s Ted scores big for Sky: Crude cuddly bear in huge comedy hit shock

Ted the foul-mouthed bear has lunch

It seems UK viewers can’t get enough of Seth MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed teddy bear. Ted, the spin-off TV show from the two hit movies, about a cussing cuddly toy brought magically to life, has given the broadcaster its biggest ever US comedy hit.

The seven-episode prequel series, which debuted on Sky Max earlier this year, has secured the biggest US comedy launch audience on Sky, since records began in 2002. 

The opening episode on Sky in the UK attracted just over 1.36 million views in the 28 days following transmission.

In this prequel series to the Ted films, it’s 1993, and Ted the bear’s (Seth MacFarlane) moment of fame has passed…

In this prequel series to the Ted films, it’s 1993, and Ted the bear’s (Seth MacFarlane) moment of fame has passed.  He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder), along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan (Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach) and cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham).  Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s a loyal pal who’s always willing to go out on a limb for friendship. 

“Each generation develops its own unique artistic style, its own way of seeing the world,” say creators Seth MacFarlane, Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh. “In the twenties, it was the subversive musical phrasings of jazz. In the fifties, it was the bold brushwork of the abstract expressionists. Our generation’s unique art is streaming content based on previously successful intellectual property. In that proud tradition, we humbly give you Ted.”

“Our series is a prequel to the Ted movies. It takes place in the nineties but is based on the timeless truth that being sixteen sucks. The only thing that makes it tolerable is going through it with a friend, even if that friend is a has-been magical teddy bear with a foul mouth and a proclivity for drug use.

“The three of us were teenagers in the nineties and grew up in and around Boston, where the show takes place, so many of these stories are personal for us. We were able to put the characters through some of the same indignities and milestones we experienced back then. Also, we made stuff up (it’s a lot of pages to fill and real life is mostly boring).”

The Luxe Review gives Ted two thumbs up. It’s well worth catching on Sky and Now. Be warned, it’s outrageous and rude, but it’s also full of heart. You’ll laugh out loud and often.

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About Steve May

Creator of Home Cinema Choice magazine, and Editor of The Luxe Review, Steve muses and reviews for Trusted Reviews, T3, Home Cinema Choice, Games Radar, Good Housekeeping, Louder Sounds, StereoNet and Boat International. He’s also the editor of professional home cinema website Inside CI. He's on Twitter/X, Tiktok and Instagram as @SteveMay_UK