Bear behaving badly

Seth MacFarlane brings his crude talking teddy to the small screen in a laugh-out-loud prequel

-  HANNAH DAVIES, RICHARD MCCLURE

NEW COMEDY

Ted

Friday, 9pm & 9.25pm, Sky Max & Sky Showcase (box set, Sky Box Sets & NOW) 

After the hugely successful feature films Ted and Ted 2, the foulmouthed CGI bear is back for a new prequel TV series on Sky this week, packed with adult humour and juvenile jokes.

The original 2012 movie starred Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett, whose childhood wish to bring his teddy bear to life caused mayhem in adulthood, thanks to Ted's uncouth and oafish antics.

Now, creator Seth MacFarlane is back to voice the stuffed toy bear in a seven-part comedy series set in Massachusetts in the mid 90s, which follows John (now played by Parenthood's Max Burkholder) as the 16-year-old navigates the ups and downs of adolescence.

Like the films, the central gag is the contrast between Ted's cuddly appearance and his crude personality, which hasn't been toned down for the small screen.

'For fans of the movie, we can promise that what you're going to see is tonally absolutely true to the first movie, says Family Guy creator MacFarlane, 50.

'Fans want Ted as Ted. They want to see the bear they saw in the original movie, and they want him to be just as outrageous. We've done our best to deliver, and we've not made it any less than it is.