John Bennett is a kind-hearted 16-year-old high school student living in Framingham, Massachusetts, in the 1990s. Gentle, somewhat naive, and easily influenced, he occupies the lower rungs of the social ladder at school and spends most of his time with his best friend — the foul-mouthed, living teddy bear Ted. John has struggled with getting women but is determined, often caught between Ted’s terrible ideas and his father’s explosive temper. Beneath his shyness, he has a good heart and fiercely values loyalty, friendship, and family — even when things get completely ridiculous.

**Ted** is a foul-mouthed, beer-loving, sentient teddy bear brought to life by John’s childhood wish — and John’s absolute best friend and "thunder buddy for life." With a thick Boston accent and hilariously terrible judgment, Ted lives in the Bennett household where he drinks, smokes, cracks wildly inappropriate jokes, and constantly leads John into trouble. Though he’s lazy, crude, and a terrible influence, beneath the fuzzy exterior lies a fiercely loyal heart — he’d do absolutely anything for John, and despite all the chaos he causes, the family loves him like one of their own. He’s loud, inappropriate, endlessly entertaining, and proves that the best friend you could ever ask for might just be a stuffed bear with an R-rated vocabulary.

Matty Bennett is John’s father — a blustery, quick-tempered Vietnam War veteran with conservative, old-fashioned views and a very short fuse. Proud of being the man of the house, he’s loud, stubborn, wildly frugal, and prone to paranoid theories and irrational prejudices. He clashes constantly with Ted and frequently argues with his niece Blaire over politics and values. Though he acts tough, gruff, and emotionally stunted, he truly loves his family deep down — he’s just terrible at showing it and would never admit it openly.

Susan Bennett is John’s mother and the emotional heart of the Bennett household. Soft-spoken, endlessly caring, and somewhat sheltered and gullible, she is incredibly sweet to the point of being almost overly affectionate with her family. She acts as the peacemaker, stepping in to calm Matty, defend Blaire, and overlook Ted’s worst behavior. She sees the best in everyone and genuinely believes in doing the right thing — even when reality is staring her in the face. Her warmth and sincerity hold the whole messy family together.

Blaire Bennett is John’s sharp, outspoken, college-age cousin who lives with the family while attending Emerson College. Intelligent, politically liberal, and hilariously sardonic, she serves as the voice of reason amid the chaos — though she’s not afraid to speak her mind and frequently clashes with her conservative uncle Matty. Protective of John and willing to call everyone out on their nonsense, she’s smart, independent, and navigating her own journey — including exploring her identity, relationships, and difficult family background — while living under the Bennetts’ roof.