Ted Season 1

Season 2 of Ted is coming this March, and it made me realize I never got around to sharing how much I loved the first season when it first came out in 2024. Better late than never, right? So here I am, finally sharing my thoughts on Season 1—long overdue!

Okay, I did not expect to be saying this, but… we need to talk about Ted. And honestly, I should’ve done this a year ago.

The series premiered in 2024, I watched it, loved it… and then somehow never wrote about it. No excuse. This is me correcting that mistake.

When I first heard Peacock was making a prequel about Seth MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed teddy bear, I rolled my eyes. Hadn’t that joke already been run into the ground? And who on earth was supposed to play a young Mark Wahlberg?

Then I watched all seven episodes in about two days.

And yeah… I was wrong.

This show is genuinely funny. Like, laugh-out-loud, rewind-that-scene funny.

We’re dropped into Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1993. The novelty of fame has worn off, and Ted is now just… existing. He lives with 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder) and his family, spending most of his time getting high and watching The Price Is Right.

John’s parents, Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alanna Ubach), decide that’s no longer acceptable and announce that Ted has to go to high school.

Yes. A teddy bear. In public school.

What follows is basically a coming-of-age story filled with bad decisions, bullying, hormones, questionable substances, and one stuffed animal who absolutely refuses to behave like a responsible life form.

Imagine The Wonder Years, but with Kevin Arnold’s best friend being a bit more wild, unpredictable, and a little more mischievous. It’s a fun twist that adds a lively and humorous touch to the story!

The casting is shockingly good. Max Burkholder somehow captures “young Wahlberg energy” without doing an impression, which is harder than it sounds. But the real scene-stealer is Giorgia Whigham as Blaire, John’s college-aged cousin who lives with the family and spends most of her time calling out the men for being walking red flags. She’s fantastic.

And here’s the sneaky part: this is basically a family sitcom in disguise.

Yes, the jokes are filthy. But underneath all of that is a weird little household trying (and mostly failing) to function. Scott Grimes plays John’s dad as a permanently stressed conspiracy theorist, and Alanna Ubach’s Susan is so aggressively sweet it somehow makes every situation funnier.

The ’90s setting actually matters, too. No phones. Bad fashion. Casual chaos. It feels lived-in instead of gimmicky.

Now, if Seth MacFarlane’s humor has never worked for you, this probably won’t change your mind. There are cutaway jokes, long rants, and a few gags that go on a beat too long. The premiere is also a bit oversized.

But honestly? Minor issues.

Ted has no business being this good. It’s messy, offensive, ridiculous… and somehow also weirdly sweet. It’s the kind of show you put on “just to try” and suddenly realize you’re four episodes deep. Perfect comfort TV if you grew up in the ’90s, or if you just enjoy watching a teddy bear verbally destroy a high school bully.

So now I have to ask: Have you seen Ted, and are you a fan of the first season? What was your favorite ’90s reference? And more importantly… is Matty Bennett already in the running for Funniest TV Dad? Let me know in the comments.

You can catch Ted on Peacock, with Season 2 premiering on March 5.