Created by Seth Macfarlane of Family Guy fame,Tedis an upcoming comedy series that acts as the third installment in the popular franchise. Serving as a prequel to the films, the series includes a whole new cast, except Macfarlane, who will return to voice and do the facial animations for the titular stuffed bear.
Set in 1993, the series will focus on the early life of the sentient teddy bear toy named Ted, his life with John Bennett, and his familygrowing up in Massachusetts. In addition to John and Ted, the Bennett household includes John’s father, Matty, his mother, Susan, and his cousin, Blaire, who lives with themwhile attending a collegenearby. Blaire is a new inclusion into the series, while the remaining cast was featured in the previous films but under different names (which will be clarified below).
The eight-episode miniseries is set to premiere on June 24, 2025, on Peacock; we will take a closer look at the cast behind the upcoming comedy series.
Max Burkholder as John Bennett
The character of John Bennet has been played by Mark Wahlberg, Colton Shires, and Pretton Manley in the previous Ted films; for the TV series,Max Burkholderassumes the role. John Bennet is the childhood friend of Ted. The show chronicles their early struggles together through high school, including Ted offering his signature wit to help John navigate an awkward adolescence.
Max Burkholder is best known for his role inParenthood, where he gained accolades for his honest portrayal of Max Braverman through collaborating with medical experts and researchers to convey the experience of Autism.Starting his career at a young age, debuting in 2002’sDaddy Day Carewhen he was 5, Max would go on to other notable roles inThe PurgeandBabysitter.
The young and talented Max Burkholder has also had various voice acting roles, notably having a semi-recurring role inFamily Guy. This connection saw him working with MacFarlane on other projects, including a guest spot onThe Orville, The Cleveland Show,andAmerican Dad. This is the first time Burkholder will be in a starring role across from Seth Macfarlane.
Seth MacFarlane as Ted
The creator ofTed,Seth MacFarlane, reprises his role as the animated stuffed bear for the original Peacock series. A foul-mouthed bear who is one to give bad advice. While he causes trouble for John, the two remain inseparable.
There is no denying the popularity of Seth MacFarlane, withFamily Guybecoming an institution of animated comedy. As of November 2023, the show has had 415 episodes across 19 seasons. In addition to the iconic crude and crass comedy, MacFarlane has helped create and scriptThe Orville,The End is Nye,The Cleveland Show,American Dad, and the two originalTedmovies.
This is Seth MacFarlane’s first time working with Peacock, though he is also developing another series calledThe Shrouded Collegefor the platform, based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Charles Soule.
Scott Grimes as Matty Bennett
Originally named Steve and played by Ralph Garman inTed,Scott Grimesplays the role of Matty Bennett in the upcoming series. Matty Bennett is the father of John, as well as a sort of surrogate father for Ted. While we have yet to see what this younger iteration of John’s father is like in the series, we can assume he plays the same supportive role as in the movies.
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American actor and musician Scott Grimes is known for his roles inER,Party of Five,andBand of Brothers. However, his notoriety would come from working directly with Seth Macfarlane onAmerican Dad!,where he voiced Steve Smith and his role as Lt. Malloy inThe Orville. Scott Grimes has also released three albums under his name, crediting his ability as a voice actor, which led him to work directly with Macfarlane.
Alanna Ubach as Susan Bennett
Originally named Helen and played by Alex Borstein,Alanna Ubachplays Susan Bennet in the upcomingTedTV series. Susan Bennettis the house’s matriarch, and much like Matty Bennett, not much is known about how the show will approach the younger version of John’s mother.
Best known for her performances as Serena McGuire inLegally Blondeand Isabel Villalobos inMeet the Fockers, Alanna Ubach is an accomplished actor, singer, and stage performer. Appearing in over 150 theater, film, and television projects, Ubach has seen great success as a voice actor, with her role as Mama Imelda in the Pixar hitCoco, where her work was recognized by both the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and Behind the Voice Actor Awards.
Giorgia Whigham as Blaire
The only original character introduced to the Bennet family in the Ted TV series is John’s cousin Blaire, played byGiorgia Whigham, who stays at the family home to save on college expenses. While little is known about the character at this time, it is safe to assume that she will not be as thrilled as the other family members about dealing with the foul-mouthed bear, given her focus on studies.
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Best known for her roles as Kat in the inaugural season of 13 Reasons Why, Amy Bendix in the second season ofThe Punisher, and, most recently, Beth in the third season ofScream,Whigham has already established herself as a force in the industry at a young age. This is not surprising considering her family background in acting, as her father, Shea Whigham, is an established actor in the industry.
The show also includes a cast of young and upcoming actors who attend the same school as John. This includes Ara Hollyday as Andrew, Liz Richman as Polly, Jacob Zelonky as Derek, Dustin Wayne as Mike, Francesca Xuereb as Erin, and Erin Moore as Jessica.
