Ted franchise creator and star Seth MacFarlane responds to Mark Wahlberg’s absence in the new TV show, set 20 years before the first movie.

Mark Whalberg as John looking frustrated in Ted and Ted sitting on the couch between two women while looking surprised in the Ted prequel show

SUMMARY

 Mark Wahlberg’s absence from the Ted prequel series was due to scheduling conflicts, allowing newcomer Max Burkholder to shine as a younger John.
 The prequel series explores the core duo’s relationship and provides the origin of key elements seen in the films, making it a fresh and welcoming addition to the franchise.
 While a series featuring Wahlberg’s return could work, the decision to make it a prequel offers new settings and a ’90s time period, adding a new look to the series’ nostalgic and crude humor.

Ted creator and star Seth MacFarlane explains why Mark Wahlberg didn’t reprise his role as John Bennett in the latest streaming series.

Set in 1993, the show focuses on a young John and Ted attending high school, getting into a plethora of troublesome, hilarious situations. MacFarlane reprises his role as the CGI bear, bringing back all the raunchy humor that made the movies so popular.

Speaking with TheWrap, MacFarlane revealed why Wahlberg wasn’t part of the Ted prequel show cast. The creator explained it had to do with scheduling conflicts for the busy actor, but that his absence allowed newcomer Max Burkholder to shine as a younger John. Check out what both MacFarlane and Burkholder had to say below:
MacFarlane: The practical reason is Mark Wahlberg’s schedule. He’s got a million movies he’s working on at any given time, and so getting him to do a television series — his schedule just doesn’t permit that, let alone something that potentially goes for more than one season.

It’s just tough. It doesn’t take too long to get to the idea of a prequel once you’re looking at that reality.

Burkholder: [Mark Walhberg] did such an incredible job on both movies, and I’m coming in here as a fresh face playing this character. It was a little intimidating at first. But that went away pretty fast. It’s all there in the writing.

It’s all in the comedy and in the heart, and in the relationship with Ted and Blair and the rest of the family. It was very easy to fall into once we got going with it but the first few days, I was nervous as hell.

Why Mark Wahlberg’s Absence For The Ted Show Made Sense

Collage of Mark Wahlberg in the Ted movie, Ted in the TV show, and Max Burkholder in the Ted TV show

The newest entry in the franchise takes place in 1993, almost 20 years before the films, meaning it makes sense for a younger actor like Burkholder to portray John.

The series also explores the many elements of the core duo’s relationship, with the ending of the Ted TV series featuring the origin of key elements seen in the films. Because of how much the series explains, it makes it a fresh, welcoming addition to the franchise.

While a series featuring the return of Wahlberg as John could work, the decision to make it a prequel offers stories for new settings, such as high school and the suburbs of Framingham.

These new places and the ’90s time period offers a new look at the series’ humor rooted in nostalgic jokes laced with familiar crudeness. Although the only reprisal is from MacFarlane, the show’s uniqueness makes it a memorable installment.

Given how popular the series has become, Ted season 2 could be announced in the near future. If it is, then Wahlberg could reprise his role in a cameo appearance, showing audiences a lead-in for the original film duology.

Although he didn’t come back for the show, it’s still able to stand on its own, opening the door for future appearances from the actor later down the road.