Seth MacFarlane Signs New Deal with UCP as ‘Ted’ Season 2 Premiere Date on Peacock Is Announced Alongside New Images

Season 2 of Ted to Premiere on Peacock March 5

The highly anticipated second season of Ted, the prequel series created by Seth MacFarlane, is set to premiere on Peacock on March 5, more than two years after the first season debuted in January 2024. Following the successful binge-release format of the inaugural season, the new eight-episode series is expected to attract a significant viewership.

MacFarlane, who concluded a lengthy tenure at 20th Television in late 2019, transitioned to Universal Content Productions (UCP) with a substantial overall deal. This move coincided with the tail end of a pre-pandemic era characterized by significant financial commitments from studios.

As industry dynamics have shifted, many of the substantial overall agreements have given way to first-look deals, allowing studios to reduce financial risks while providing creators with flexibility. While working under his UCP contract, MacFarlane continues to oversee new seasons of Family Guy and American Dad!, both long-standing animated series.

In addition to the Ted prequel, MacFarlane is developing Ted: The Animated Series, which aims to continue the storyline from the original films. The voice cast will feature returning actors, including MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Jessica Barth. Both Ted series are produced by UCP and MRC, the production company behind the films.

Fuzzy Door, MacFarlane’s production company, is also working on another upcoming show for Peacock titled The ‘Burbs, featuring Keke Palmer, which is based on the 1989 film. Additionally, the company has plans to adapt the graphic novel series The Shrouded College and Matt Dinniman’s book series Dungeon Crawler Carl.

MacFarlane serves as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner for the Ted prequel alongside Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh. In a recent message to fans, the trio addressed the challenges of filming and the complex post-production process, highlighting the visual effects necessary to bring the CGI, motion-capture character of Ted to life.

The note humorously alluded to the importance of completion rates in streaming services’ renewal decisions, encouraging fans to watch all episodes to support the show’s success.

The Ted series, which achieved record viewership on Peacock and Sky during its first season, is set in the 1990s, focusing on a more subdued Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) living in Framingham, Massachusetts, with his best friend, 17-year-old John Bennett, and John’s family.

Season 2 takes place in 1994, as Ted navigates his senior year alongside John, who is characterized as likable yet awkward. The dynamic in the Bennett household is complicated by the clash between John’s blue-collar father, Matty, and his politically vocal cousin, Blaire.

MacFarlane not only directs but also serves as an executive producer, alongside Huggins, Alana Kleiman, Jason Clark, and Aimee Carlson from Fuzzy Door. The company is also involved in producing a remake of The Naked Gun featuring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, which has garnered a Critics Choice Award nomination, as well as a documentary about renowned astronomer Carl Sagan for Nat Geo.

Here are more images from Season 2 of Ted:

‘Ted’ S2 — Pictured: (l-r) Max Burkholder as John, Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted

‘Ted’ S2 — Pictured: Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted

‘Ted’ S2 Pictured: (l-r) Giorgia Whigham as Blaire, Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted, Max Burkholder as John

‘Ted’ S2 — Pictured: (l-r) Alanna Ubach as Susan, Scott Grimes as Matty, Giorgia Whigham as Blaire, Max Burkholder as John, Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted