The movie Ted, released in 2012, was written and directed by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy. It followed the wild adventures of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) and Ted, a talking teddy bear brought to life by MacFarlane’s voice. The TV prequel series takes us back to John’s high school years (played by Max Burkholder) and shows him dealing with teenage life alongside his mischievous, foul-mouthed friend. The series also features John’s family: his father, Matty (Scott Grimes); his mother, Susan (Alanna Ubach); and his college-aged cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham), who lives with them.
The popular show Ted returns for its second season this week, just as John starts his final year of school, promising more hilarious moments. The cast recently chatted with ComicBook about the show’s humor, particularly the silly jokes, how they manage to stay serious while filming, and the creative talent of Seth MacFarlane, as well as his other show, The Orville.
When you join a show like ‘Ted Lasso,’ how crucial is it to put aside your pride and be open to whatever the creators throw at you?
Now in my 50s, I really enjoy acting, and that’s what matters most to me. I watch a lot of TV, and I can easily spot when an actor is more focused on being famous than on the work itself. For me, it’s always been about the project. This show has been some of the most enjoyable work I’ve ever done – it’s a strange feeling, actually. I’ve been in serious dramas, but I’ve felt more like a true actor on this show than anywhere else, and that’s because everyone came to set with a great attitude. We all just wanted to be silly, do good work, have fun, and enjoy ourselves.
Alanna Ubach emphasizes the importance of letting go of self-doubt. She says you absolutely have to check your ego and avoid judging yourself while you’re working – the moment you start to, you’ll likely make a mistake. It really comes down to being as humble as you can.
The season kicks off with Matty experiencing some rough physical comedy – he falls down the stairs, suffers a painful injury, and is even carried around by his brother with no clothes on! It sounds like filming involves both hilarious dialogue and demanding physical stunts. How do you enjoy balancing those two aspects?
I really enjoy physical comedy, but I’ve reached the age where I leave the big stunts – like falling down stairs – to the professionals. That stuntman did a fantastic job making me look good! Alanna Ubach is brilliant at more subtle physical comedy – she’s just naturally coordinated and funny. I appreciate that kind of humor, but I’ll let the younger performers handle the really risky stuff. And just to be clear, that was my rear end you saw on screen – no body double there!
Ubach asked if, when his friend carried him on their shoulder, he’d felt a connection to something else.
I was suspended on a wire for the shoot, which was physically demanding – even a strong guy like Scottie Campbell couldn’t handle being lifted like that all day. It felt like doing a stunt, but I was completely naked while they hoisted me up, almost like Peter Pan before they started filming. I had to lean onto a crew member’s shoulder, and Seth, the director, would often adjust my position – sometimes by physically moving my rear end. It was incredibly embarrassing, but thankfully I’d worked with the crew for years and felt safe with them.
Alanna, what do you find appealing about physical comedy? While that was a really obvious example, it can also be very subtle and refined.
Definitely. I think there’s a lot of potential, particularly when working with someone like Susan, who generally plays it safe. I really enjoy surprising the audience with physical comedy – it’s like a magic trick. The best feeling is when a joke lands unexpectedly and people are genuinely surprised. That’s when you know you’ve done a good job.
How do you not crack up during filming?
I definitely do! The writing is hilarious to begin with. But what really gets me, personally, is how Alanna doesn’t deliver the same line the same way twice. It’s not about making it bigger or smaller, she just finds different nuances each time. And that’s actually the hardest part – you get used to her saying this funny line, and then she’ll find an even funnier way to say it, or take it in a new direction. It sounds great, but honestly, it annoys me because I just end up laughing. I’m a total fan!
We definitely do! It’s actually not hard when we’re acting opposite the Ted stand-in because there’s nothing physically there – we just pretend the bear is there. It gets much harder when we’re working with Scott, Alanna, or you. It can be really difficult to keep a straight face.
Giorgia Whigham says Scott and Alanna are definitely the funniest cast members. She explains that they often make each other laugh on set, not necessarily because of the script itself, but because of how they deliver their lines or add their own improvisations.
Ubach: Whacka whacka.
Apparently, once she realizes she’s making me laugh, she improves her performance because she wants to keep me entertained. It’s like her natural instinct is to bring happiness to others.
Ubach: I love tickling Scott.
Grimes: She loves it. So, it’s not easy at all. Eventually, you have to be a professional.
Was there a take this season that you couldn’t keep it together?
It’s tough to choose just one, because those moments happen quite often. There are a few scenes where I’m in a car with Scott, just the two of us and the actor playing the creature in the back seat. It’s always difficult having to look at him and listen to him speak. During the dinner table and car scenes, he always sits to my left, and honestly, that guy is really loud! I swear, I leave the set every day with a ringing in my left ear. I’m not exaggerating.
How does having Seth MacFarlane direct the episodes enhance or inform your performances?
Giorgia Whigham believes the actor connects with the role naturally and has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, though he wouldn’t openly admit it.
Max Burkholder emphasizes that their work relies on trust and a clear understanding of the client’s needs. They’re committed to delivering high-quality results and won’t stop until they achieve them. They don’t consider a day complete until they’ve met the client’s expectations and produced something worthwhile.
Whigham: The proof is in what he’s producing in the world of comedy.
Having J.P. Burkholder involved is incredibly helpful, not just with the overall creative direction, but especially because he performs the voice of Ted. It makes a huge difference – absolutely.
Scott, we haven’t seen the sci-fi TV series The Orville since 2022. Do you have any updates?
Interestingly, yes, there’s an update. I was just talking to Seth a few minutes ago, and when he said something, I asked him why. He told me they’re allowed to say it, meaning the scripts are finished. That’s all I can share right now. While that doesn’t guarantee anything, everyone involved still wants to make it happen, and the scripts are ready. We’re all excited, but that’s the news for now. I can assure everyone this show isn’t cancelled or over. If it were announced today, I’d be on set immediately!
You played Amy Bendix in the Punisher series, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her story ended with her starting a new life. Do you think there are still stories to be told about her character?
I was really struck by Amy’s strength and resourcefulness. She definitely had the spirit of a superhero, though it’s hard to say exactly where she’d fit in that world. There was a scene they ended up cutting where my character wanted to become a deep-sea diver – I was supposed to be diving for a gold bar at a swimming pool! It showed a side of me wanting to leave everything behind and just dive into a new life. I’m not sure why they cut it, maybe I looked ridiculous pretending to hold my breath underwater.
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2026-03-08 01:11