In a recent interview, Seth MacFarlane and the cast of Peacock's Ted season 2 discussed the use of AI to portray Bill Clinton, along with other humorous behind-the-scenes moments. The conversation highlighted challenges in visual effects and cast experiences on set. The prequel series continues to blend comedy with outrageous scenarios.
The cast of Ted season 2, including Seth MacFarlane, Scott Grimes, Alanna Ubach, Giorgia Whigham, and Max Burkholder, shared insights during a TVLine interview about the Peacock prequel's production. A key highlight was MacFarlane's portrayal of former President Bill Clinton using AI-assisted digital rendering, marking a departure from his voice role as "Bubba" on Family Guy.
MacFarlane explained the technical hurdles, noting that initial attempts with prosthetics and traditional CGI proved unsatisfactory. "Everything just looked terrifying," he said, adding that the effects were too noticeable. The goal was seamless integration: "We didn't want people focused on knowing they were looking at a visual effect. We just wanted them to think, 'This is Clinton.'" He compared the AI process to motion capture used for the teddy bear character Ted, emphasizing rapid advancements in technology that made the sequence feasible only now, not during season 1.
The interview also touched on lighter moments, such as Grimes' frequent on-screen exposure. Grimes joked about complying with MacFarlane's requests, saying, "Seth, because of Seth, my kids went to college." Ubach praised his physique as "gorgeous," while Grimes recalled similar scenes from ER, The Orville, and Ted season 1, often shared with co-star Scott Michael Campbell to ease discomfort.
Other topics included Whigham's experience kissing Ted and the cast's reflections on a Dungeons & Dragons-themed episode. Ubach humorously suggested Grimes had a "BBL," prompting an explanation. The discussion covered plot elements like Ted fleeing with a purple accessory and fallout from an affair subplot involving Mr. Robichek.