Seth MacFarlane's new series, Ted, has become a sensation among fans, drawing praise for its NSFW humor and absurdity - 11 years after the original movie's premiere in 2012.
Ted, a seven-episode prequel series set in the 1990s, has garnered acclaim from both critics and audiences for its unconventional humor and honest portrayal of everyday life in Framingham, a Boston suburb in Massachusetts.
Audiences on Rotten Tomatoes have currently given the show a very decent 87% approval rating, and fans on IMDb have awarded the show an 8/10 just days after its debut on Peacock.
Nick Schager, an entertainment critic with the Daily Beast, described the series as "scattershot as they come," with Ted and John making politically incorrect jokes throughout. "The foul-mouthed, bigoted, horny talking teddy bear that first shocked audiences into laughter in 2012 is back in a new series that, even in this climate, manages to somehow work," Schager wrote.
Check out the trailer for the show below:The story revolves around the childhood of John Bennett, portrayed by Max Burkholder, who was played by Mark Wahlberg in the 2012 film.
Schager noted that the series "earns quite a few more chuckles than its big-screen counterparts" and that Ted and John's humor covers a wide range of topics.
Social media users also expressed their enthusiasm for the show, with many calling it "the funniest thing ever." Some praised the show's portrayal of family dynamics and 90s nostalgia, while others highlighted the strong chemistry among the cast.
One X (formerly Twitter) user exclaimed: "The new #Ted series is the funniest thing I’ve watched in a LONG time," and added, "Capturing the shenanigans from the movies, filtering them into a teenage lens...The family dynamic is perfect, each weird in their own way, with solid 90s nostalgia."
After one scene was circulated on X, social media users couldn't help but erupt in hysterics at the show's very NSFW and un-PC humor. This particular scene has been going viral on social media:
Another viewer simply stated: "I expected the Ted TV show to be funny. I did not expect it to be this f**king funny."
"#TED the prequel series now streaming on PEACOCK, is a laugh out loud belly hurting series. If you enjoy the movies then you will enjoy this show. It's straight to the point with the vulgar and does not hold back on topics that might offend some people," a third wrote.
A fourth proclaimed the series to be the funniest of the year, tweeting: "Seth MacFarlane and the entire Ted team arriving to give us the best comedy series of 2024 (I don't care that the year has just started, this series is f***ing hilarious)."
"You have gotta see this show it’s such a surprise how amazing it is my god lmao," added a fifth.
Peacock, the NBCUniversal-backed streaming service, announced plans to produce the prequel in 2021. Susan Rovner, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment Content, noted Seth MacFarlane's talent for creating beloved characters, making Ted a shining example of his ability to build devoted fan bases.
When the original film premiered in 2012, Ted became the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy not based on existing intellectual property or a sequel - solidifying its place in comedy history.
Fans of the foul-mouthed, bigoted, and hilarious talking teddy bear are now delighted to see the character return in this prequel series.
Ted is available to stream on Peacock now.