Sky acquires Ted series
November 17, 2023
By Nik Roseveare
Following the success of the hit film franchise, Ted, Sky has revealed that the bear is coming to Sky Max in a 7-episode prequel series, available exclusively in the UK and Ireland early next year.
It’s 1993, and Ted’s (Seth MacFarlane) moment of fame has passed. He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder), along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan (Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach) and cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham). 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.
Show creators Seth MacFarlane, Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh said in a press statement: “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 sixteen 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.”
“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),” the trio added.
Katie Keenan, Group Director of Acquisitions, Sky UK, commented: “We’re honoured to welcome the foul-mouthed, larger-than-life character that is Ted to Sky next year. The Ted movies were a global smash hit, and we can’t wait to see what the TV prequel has in store, however given Seth is behind the project, we know it’s going to be riotous fun for Sky customers, from start to finish.”