The second season of Peacock’s Ted dropped on March 5th, and the new episodes are a welcome return to the hilarious (and surprisingly heartfelt) world created by Seth MacFarlane. The series serves as a prequel to the Ted films, which starred Mark Wahlberg as John Bennett and MacFarlane as Ted, John’s best friend and a vulgar teddy bear who came to life in the ’80s.

The prequel series is set in the ’90s, and follows the BFFs as they attempt to survive their Massachusetts high school. They live at home with John’s (Max Burkholder) parents, Matty (Scott Grimes) and Susan (Alann Ubach), along with his cousin, Blaire (Giorgia Whigham). There’s a lot to love about the Ted series, which is far superior to the films, but Ubach’s performance is the highlight.

Why We Love Susan

Peacock

Ted has been a pleasant surprise ever since it debuted in 2024. Thanks to some incredibly sharp writing, the show successfully holds on to the depravity of the movies while delivering a progressive point of view. Similar to All in the Family, Ted maintains an impressive balance that allows audiences to laugh at sensitive subjects without belittling them. Matty feels like a modern-day Archie Bunker with Blaire serving as his Meathead, always pushing back on his outdated views. That would make Susan the Edith, a sweet-as-pie yet naive woman who reveres her work as a housewife and mother above all else.

Susan is constantly underappreciated by her family, and a role like that in less talented hands would be excruciating to watch. Seeing the husband she loves unconditionally treat her like crap shouldn’t be funny, but Ubach’s performance makes it impossible not to laugh. As much as Blaire wants to see Susan break free of her life, it’s obvious at every turn that Susan is genuinely happy. Even during her darker moments, like when the neglect leads to her drinking in “The Mom’s Bombed Rom-Com,” Ubach portrays Susan with such lovable charm.

Ubach also manages to make every single line unique, leaning into the Massachusetts accent in the most unhinged, creative way imaginable. Not since Moira Rose (Catherine O’Hara) in Schitt’s Creek has an actor pronounced words with such idiosyncratic brilliance. Susan is the heart of Ted, but she’s also the funniest thing about it.

Nominate Ubach, You Cowards

Peacock

Ubach is giving one of the most hysterical performances on television right now, and it shouldn’t go unnoticed. After Season One of Ted, the Astra TV Awards were the only ones to recognize Ubach with a Best Supporting Actress nomination. For Season Two, we are imploring the Television Academy to step up and nominate her for an Emmy. The comedy categories have become overrun with dramedies in recent years, which has left some strictly comedic performances by the wayside. Ubach shouldn’t be dismissed just because Ted isn’t elevated with more serious plotlines.

Unfortunately, this is likely the last season of Ted. MacFarlane recently told The Wrap that the show is “really expensive to produce,” and due to the CGI required for Ted, “there’s no way to do it at a lower cost.” That means this could be Ubach’s final chance to get the recognition she deserves for Ted.

Ubach has been proving her talents since the ’90s, showcasing her skills in favorites such as The Brady Bunch Movie, Clockwatchers, Legally Blonde, Coco, Euphoria, and much more. She has always lit up the screen and captivated us with her powerhouse facial expressions, and now it’s time for Hollywood to give her her flowers.

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