Loved ‘ted’ Season 2? Stream these 4 raunchy comedies next
Loved ‘ted’ Season 2? Stream these 4 raunchy comedies next
From shameless sitcoms to wild college comedies, these picks capture the same messy humor as ‘ted’.
Your favorite foul-mouthed teddy bear is back with the second season of “ted.” This was one of my favorite shows of 2024 (it dropped in January, so it seems like a really, really long time ago) because it captured the same magic as the movies. You’ve got John navigating high school in the early ’90s, and right there beside him is Ted… a foul-mouthed, weed-loving teddy bear who absolutely refuses to behave like a stuffed animal.
Season 2 has been just as funny as the first season, and honestly, it proves the whole idea works great as a TV show. The only downside is that once you burn through the new episodes, it might really be the end. There’s been chatter that Season 3 isn’t in the plans, partly because the show is so expensive to animate. Nothing’s confirmed, but it’s still a little depressing. The good news is that if you want more raunchy humor, ridiculous friendships, and that very specific “refusing to grow up” energy, there are some other comedy TV shows that nail that vibe. Here’s what to watch next if you loved Season 2 of “ted.”
ted
It’s 1993 and Ted the bear’s moment of fame has passed, leaving him living with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, who lives in a working-class Boston home with his parents and cousin. Ted may not be the best influence on John, but when it comes right down to it, he’s willing to go out on a limb to help his friend and his family.
Loved ‘ted’? Watch ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’
If your favorite thing about “ted” is how completely shameless the humor gets, then “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is the obvious next move. This is one of my favorite shows of all time. It follows a group of friends running a dive bar in Philly, and calling them irresponsible is putting it mildly. Every episode turns into some terrible idea that spirals completely out of control. It’s rude, chaotic, and often wildly inappropriate… which is exactly why it’s so funny.
The big difference is that “Always Sunny” goes even darker. Ted and John might be idiots, but there’s still a genuine friendship there. The Gang in Sunny? They will happily ruin each other’s lives if it benefits them for five seconds. But if you laughed at Ted pushing boundaries and saying the stuff nobody else will say out loud, this show absolutely lives in that same lane. It’s basically made stars of everyone who’s on it (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, and Kaitlin Olson… Danny DeVito was already a star), and it’s the longest-running live-action sitcom in TV history at 17 seasons. If you somehow missed it, watch it.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Four egocentric friends run a neighborhood Irish pub in Philadelphia and try to find their way through the adult world of work and relationships. Unfortunately, their warped views and precarious judgments often lead them to trouble, creating a myriad of uncomfortable situations that usually only get worse before they get better.
Check out: ‘Eastbound & Down’
One of the funniest things about “ted” is that Ted himself is basically a walking bad influence. He’s loud, selfish, and constantly dragging John into terrible decisions. That same energy powers “Eastbound & Down.” Danny McBride plays Kenny Powers, a washed-up baseball star whose ego is about 10 times bigger than his talent.
The humor here is just as raunchy, and Kenny is every bit the disaster that Ted is. The difference is that the story actually follows Kenny trying, and usually failing, to rebuild his life. So you still get the outrageous jokes and bad behavior, but there’s also a long-running redemption arc under all the chaos. If you enjoy watching a lovable idiot make terrible decisions for several seasons straight, this one delivers.
Eastbound & Down
Years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach phys ed at his old middle school.
Watch next: ‘Blue Mountain State’
If the part of “ted” you enjoy most is the “never grow up” vibe, then “Blue Mountain State” basically takes that idea and throws it onto a college football campus. The show follows a group of players at a powerhouse football program where winning games sometimes feels like the least important thing happening. The real focus is partying, pranks, and wildly bad decisions.
The tone is very similar to Ted’s brand of chaos. It’s loud, ridiculous, and not even a little bit subtle about the jokes. The difference is that instead of two friends causing trouble, you’ve got an entire team of idiots pushing things way too far. If Ted’s parties and dumb ideas were your favorite parts of the show, “Blue Mountain State” is like that energy turned up to 11.
Blue Mountain State
Three incoming freshman in a big-time, Midwestern college football program have to juggle football, girls, class and nonstop hazing.
Wildcard pick: ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Okay, this one feels different at first, but stick with me because this is my second favorite show of all time (behind “Seinfeld”). “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is Larry David playing a fictionalized version of himself, and the entire show revolves around him accidentally (and sometimes on purpose) offending people in the most awkward ways possible. It’s not full of gross-out jokes the way “ted” is, but the comedy still comes from somebody having absolutely zero filter.
That’s where the connection really clicks. Ted says whatever pops into his head, no matter how inappropriate it is. Larry David basically does the same thing, just in normal everyday situations that spiral into total disasters. The humor is more cringe than chaos, but if you like comedy built around people refusing to behave the way society expects them to, this one may be the greatest of all time.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The off-kilter, unscripted comic vision of Larry David, who plays himself in a parallel universe in which he can’t seem to do anything right, and, by his standards, neither can anyone else.
More to watch after finishing ‘ted’:
‘The League’ | Hulu
The League
The League is an American sitcom and semi-improvised comedy about a about a fantasy football league and its members and their everyday lives.
‘Archer’ | Hulu
Archer
Smart-mouthed superspy Sterling Archer and his dysfunctional team of secret agents turn dangerous missions into messy misadventures around the globe.
‘The Righteous Gemstones’ | HBO Max
The Righteous Gemstones
The story of a world-famous televangelist family with a history of deviance, greed and, yes, charitable work, all in the name of Jesus.
‘Letterkenny’ | Hulu
Letterkenny
Letterkenny follows Wayne, a good-ol’ country boy in Letterkenny, Ontario trying to protect his homegrown way of life on the farm, against a world that is constantly evolving around him. The residents of Letterkenny belong to one of three groups: Hicks, Skids, and Hockey Players. The three groups are constantly feuding with each other over seemingly trivial matters; often ending with someone getting their ass kicked.
‘BoJack Horseman’ | Netflix
BoJack Horseman
Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the ’90s , 20 years later. He’s a curmudgeon with a heart of…not quite gold…but something like gold. Copper?