Ted Lasso
Manufacturers – Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence
Cast – Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, Nick Mohammed, Phil Dunster
Like the character himself, Ted Lasso, the show, transcends his humble beginnings to become a symbol, more meaningful than anyone could have ever imagined.
Lasso, the character, a bumbling American football coach who lands a plum gig in the UK, was created several years ago for a series of advertisements of the English Premier League in the US. But the show, out on Apple TV +, is not just a goofy sitcom about a clueless man who finds himself from his depths, in a foreign land, overwhelmed by a sports culture of which he has no knowledge. Ted Lasso is an ambassador, on a mission to present America and Americans – at a time when public opinion of both is disappearing – as a misunderstood nation and people, deserves a second chance.
Watch the Ted Lasso trailer here
Ted, played by Jason Sudeikis, demands no respect. He understands this in England, where he has been hired to run a fictional EPL site called AFC Richmond, hy is the outsider. And he has the humility to accept this. And it is this dimness that also sucks in the show, which, without a shadow of a doubt, is my favorite of 2020 – heartwarming, hilarious and very inspiring. It is, to use a sentence that you often hear football commentators use, exactly what the doctor ordered.
In the first few episodes – three will be available on launch day, followed by a new one each week – Ted Lasso, the character, comes across as almost as necessary as Michael Scott from The Office. He even loves Fettuccini Alfredo, a reference that devoted fans of The Office will surely understand. You can feel in him, just moments after his arrival in the UK, a desire to be fun.
These early episodes relied heavily on fish-out-of-water humor – Ted takes a sip of tea and, with a look of disgust on his face, dismisses it as ‘hot brown water’. During his debut match, he hears the word ‘wanker’ for the first time, and moments later he learns that it is not a term of contempt. In England, he jokingly informs his son, “Fries are called chips, chips are called crisps, and bangers are not great songs, but they make you feel like you are dancing.”
Jason Sudeikis in a still from Ted Lasso. (Apple)
But Ted is not one to bask in blissful ignorance. He’s as curious as he is nice. And Ted Lasso, as we learn in later episodes, is a very nice man. At first, his endless enthusiasm is met with suspicion; Indeed, die-hard audiences would also view the show with similar cynicism.
Ted’s players are shocked when he suggests that AFC Richmond, who, crucially, are neither very good nor very bad – they are the exact midfield team – could beat the champions, Manchester City. At the local pub, Ted is given an important lesson in cultural differences: In America, they ask, “Do you believe in miracles?” But in the UK, they say, “It’s hope you kill.”
But hope is all that Ted’s sells. He does not worry about the business of running a football club on the fly, but is more concerned about making friendships and giving his team valuable lessons about life.
Ted Lasso is a workplace comedy in the same way that the recent Netflix series Space Force was a workplace comedy. Just like that Steve Carrell show, which spent more time in the mission control room than on Mars, Ted Lasso barely has a football action to talk about. It focuses more on the relationships that are built into the wardrobe.
Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham in a Still from Ted Lasso (Apple)
A big reason for the success is how without it performing not only Ted, who has a wonderful emotional bow, but also the supporting players. There’s Rebecca, the icy owner of the club who inherited it as part of her divorce settlement; there is Roy Kent, the team captain, who is well past his glory days; There’s Nate, the unassuming kit-man who, almost like some sort of Will Hunting, has a hidden talent for tactical plays; and then there’s Keeley, a WAG with bigger ambitions.
Each of these characters is written with patience and empathy – some of them are not as fun as others, but all of them, even a gaggle of hooligan fans, are redeemable. What a wonderful idea.
Also read: Never Have I Ever review: Mindy Kaling’s Netflix show takes desi drama worldwide
As thankful as I am for this show, part of me worries about whether or not it will potentially reach out to Apple TV +, a streaming service that, ironically, has not reached its own. Along with the recent animated musical Central Park, Ted Lasso is worth buying a subscription. Many of you with new Apple devices can literally tune in for free. You will not regret it.
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The author tweets @RohanNaahar
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