What's Seth MacFarlane's Role in the 'Ted' Prequel Series?

Ted prequel series

Peacock is taking fans of the Ted franchise "on a hilarious R-rated nostalgic journey" back to the '90s with its upcoming event series. The new Ted show serves as a prequel to the 2012 and 2015 movies, which starred Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane, the latter of whom lent his voice to the foul-mouthed teddy bear, Ted.

"One thing that people are clamoring for right now is anything that they’ve seen before. Nobody wants anything new," MacFarlane joked on The View in November of 2023. "Let’s rehash the same stuff. And boy, did we step up to the plate with that."

"It’s surprisingly funny. It’s surprisingly very, very funny. You never know! A prequel, you don’t know," MacFarlane added. "I go into everything like, 'This is it. This is where I’m gonna screw it up. And everything is going to be terrible.' And it wasn’t. It turned out great. So I think people are gonna like it."

From the fresh cast to the release date, here is everything to know about the Ted prequel series.

What is the Ted prequel series release date?

The comedic prequel premieres Jan. 11, 2024. The show will debut with a "supersized premiere" followed by six 30-minute episodes.

How to watch the Ted prequel series

The Peacock original series will be available on NBCUniversal's streaming service.

How many episodes will there be of the Ted prequel series?

Fans of the Ted franchise can look forward to seven episodes.

Will the Ted prequel episodes drop all at once?

Get ready to binge! All seven episodes will drop on Jan. 11.

Is Seth MacFarlane involved in the Ted prequel series?

Yes! Seth MacFarlane returned to voice the titular character for the Peacock series. MacFarlane also served as an executive producer, writer, director and co-showrunner.

Related: Mark Wahlberg Gets Up at 3:30 a.m. to Stay Disciplined

Who is in the cast of the Ted prequel series?

In addition to Seth voicing the raunchy teddy bear, the series regulars include Max Burkholder as the 16-year-old version of Mark Wahlberg's character John Bennett from the Ted films, along with Alanna Ubach and Scott Grimes as John's parents Susan and Matty, and Giorgia Whigham as cousin Blaire.

Max Burkholder as John Bennett

Alanna Ubach and Scott Grimes as Susan and Matty

Giorgia Whigham as Blaire

What is the Ted prequel series about?

The prequel series tells the story of pals John and Ted's "early days" in the '90s. Set in 1993, the prequel sees Ted living with his best friend John Bennett, as well as John's parents, Matty and Susan, and cousin Blaire, in Framingham, Massachusetts.

In a previous note, MacFarlane and fellow co-showrunners Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh said: "Each generation develops its own unique artistic style, its own way of seeing the world. 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 16 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," they added. "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)."

Is Mark Wahlberg in the Ted prequel series?

Unless he makes a surprise, unannounced appearance, Wahlberg does not feature in the Ted series. (It wouldn't make a ton of sense if he did, given that the show is a prequel starring a younger version of Wahlberg's character in the movies.)

Is there a trailer for the Ted prequel series?

Peacock released the official trailer for the series on Nov. 29 showing John and Ted going to school together and getting high for the first time. As the streamer notes, "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."

Watch the trailer for Ted below:

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