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Ted Lasso

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Ted Lasso
GenreSports comedy drama
Based onFormat and characters from NBC Sports
Developed by
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes34
Production
Executive producers
  • Bill Lawrence
  • Jason Sudeikis
  • Brendan Hunt
  • Joe Kelly
  • Jeff Ingold
  • Bill Wrubel
Production locationLondon
Running time29–78 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkApple TV+
ReleaseAugust 14, 2020 (2020-08-14) –
present

Ted Lasso (/ˈlæs/ LASS-oh) is an American sports comedy-drama television series developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It is based on a character Sudeikis portrayed in a series of promotional media for NBC Sports's coverage of England's soccer Premier League. The show follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team whose owner secretly hopes his inexperience will lead it to failure; instead, Lasso's folksy, optimistic leadership proves unexpectedly successful. The first season of 10 episodes premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020, with the first three episodes releasing immediately. A second season of 12 episodes followed on July 23, 2021, with the third season released on March 15, 2023. It was announced in March 2025 that the series had been renewed for a fourth season.

The series has received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its performances (notably Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Nick Mohammed, and Juno Temple), humor, writing, themes, and uplifting tone. Among other accolades, its first season was nominated for 20 Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most nominated first-season comedy in Emmy history. Sudeikis, Waddingham, and Goldstein won for their performances, and the series won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Sudeikis also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. The series repeated all three of those awards the next year.

Premise

[edit]
President Joe Biden, holding an AFC Richmond jersey, and First Lady Jill Biden greet the cast of Ted Lasso in the Oval Office on March 20, 2023.

Ted Lasso, an American college football coach, is unexpectedly recruited to coach a fictional English Premier League soccer team, A.F.C. Richmond, despite having no experience coaching soccer. The team's owner, Rebecca Welton, gained ownership of the team in a divorce from her unfaithful ex-husband, Rupert. She has hired Lasso, secretly hoping he will cause the team's downfall and devastate Rupert, who cared more about AFC Richmond than anything else. Ted's charm, personality, and humor begin to win over Rebecca, the team, and those who had been skeptical about his appointment.

Cast and characters

[edit]

Main

[edit]
  • Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American college football coach from Wichita, Kansas, who is hired to coach AFC Richmond, an English soccer team. He is frequently ridiculed for his folksy optimism and inexperience with the sport, but gradually wins people over through his kind and compassionate approach to coaching.
  • Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, the new owner of AFC Richmond. She initially hires Lasso as a ploy to sabotage the team, but eventually comes to appreciate him and becomes a mentor and friend to Keeley Jones.
  • Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins, the timid but quirky Director of Football Operations. He has a large family with five sons.
  • Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt, a talented but egotistical young up-and-coming striker.
  • Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, a veteran box-to-box midfielder, captain and later assistant coach of AFC Richmond. Kent is primarily based on hot-headed Irish former footballer Roy Keane.[1]
  • Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard, Lasso's grounded, laconic longtime assistant coach and friend, from Peoria, Illinois. His first name is revealed to be Willis in the season three finale.
  • Nick Mohammed as Nathan "Nate" Shelley, AFC Richmond's former kit man turned assistant coach who became publicly known as "The Wonder Kid". He becomes the head coach at West Ham United until he quits mid-season and returns to Richmond as an assistant kitman/coach.
  • Juno Temple as Keeley Jones, a model who becomes the club's manager of marketing and public relations, before starting her own firm.
  • Sarah Niles as Dr. Sharon M. Fieldstone (season 2; recurring season 3), a no-nonsense sports psychologist.
  • Anthony Head as Rupert Mannion (season 3; recurring season 1; guest season 2), Rebecca's vindictive, philandering ex-husband, the former owner of AFC Richmond, and later the owner of West Ham United.[2]
  • Toheeb Jimoh as Samuel "Sam" Obisanya (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), a young Nigerian right back, later converted to a right winger.
  • Cristo Fernández as Dani Rojas (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), an enthusiastic young forward from Mexico who joins midway through the first season, after recovering from an injury.
  • Kola Bokinni as Isaac McAdoo (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), a center-back who is the vice-captain, later promoted to captain.
  • Billy Harris as Colin Hughes (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), a young Welsh left winger who is initially closeted.
  • James Lance as Trent Crimm (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), a pragmatic reporter formerly working for The Independent before being fired in the second season after revealing who was the anonymous source that leaked Ted's panic attack; in the third season, he is writing a book about the club, ultimately titled The Richmond Way.

Recurring

[edit]

AFC Richmond personnel

[edit]
  • Stephen Manas as Richard Montlaur, a young, womanizing French midfielder.
  • Moe Jeudy-Lamour as Thierry Zoreaux / "Van Damme", a French Canadian goalkeeper and a close friend of Isaac's. In the third season, Zoreaux changes his name to "Van Damme" after Jean-Claude Van Damme.
  • Charlie Hiscock as Will Kitman (seasons 2–3; guest season 1), the new equipment manager after Nate's promotion.
  • David Elsendoorn as Jan Maas (seasons 2–3), a Dutch center back known for his blunt personality, who transferred to Richmond from Ajax.
  • Moe Hashim as Moe Bumbercatch, a Swiss midfielder who is close friends with Richard.
  • Ash Bayliss as Arlo Dixon, Richmond's English right back. He is named after Arlo White and Lee Dixon.
  • Flaurese as Gareth Canterbury (seasons 1–2), Richmond's reserve left back, who is from Slough. His name and hometown are a reference to the British version of The Office, namely its characters Gareth Keenan and Tim Canterbury.
  • Maximilian Osinski as Zava (season 3), a talented but eccentric striker.[3] Zava is based on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović,[4][5] while Osinski says that he is a "mix between Ibrahimović and French forward Eric Cantona."[6]

Other characters

[edit]
  • Annette Badland as Mae Green, the local pub's landlady
  • Gus Turner as Henry Lasso, Ted's son
  • Adam Colborne, Bronson Webb and Kevin Garry as Baz, Jeremy and Paul, a trio of die-hard AFC Richmond fans and regulars at Mae's pub.
  • Mary Roscoe as Julie Higgins, Leslie's wife. Mary Roscoe is married to actor Jeremy Swift, who plays her husband on the show.
  • Keeley Hazell as Bex (season 1; guest seasons 2–3), Rupert's new girlfriend and eventual third wife.
  • Ellie Taylor as Flo "Sassy" Collins, Rebecca's best friend who becomes attracted to Ted.
  • Tom Cotcher as Mr. Mann, an elderly AFC Richmond supporter who frequently subjects Ted to well-meaning abuse.
  • Phoebe Walsh as Jane Payne (season 2; guest season 1, 3), Coach Beard's on-and-off girlfriend
  • Elodie Blomfield as Phoebe (seasons 2–3; guest season 1), Roy's niece.
  • Bill Fellows as George Cartrick (season 2; guest season 1, 3), the former Richmond coach whom Ted replaced; later a panelist on Soccer Saturday, and Nate's replacement after he quits West Ham United.
  • Ruth Bradley as Ms. Bowen (season 2; guest season 3), Phoebe's teacher.
  • Andrea Anders as Michelle (Keller) Lasso (season 3; guest season 1–2), Ted's ex-wife.
  • Edyta Budnik as Jade (season 3; guest season 2), a hostess at Nate's favorite restaurant, eventually Nate's girlfriend
  • Katy Wix as Barbara (season 3), CFO of KJPR, whose practical, no-nonsense personality often clashes with Keeley's sunny personality.
  • Ambreen Razia as Shandy Fine (season 3), a modelling friend of Keeley who joins KJPR
  • Jodi Balfour as Jack Danvers (season 3), a venture capitalist who wants to invest in Keeley's PR firm.[7]
  • Rosie Lou as Ms. Kakes (season 3), Rupert's assistant at West Ham
  • Spencer Jones as Deryck (season 3), the owner of Nate's favorite restaurant
  • Shannon Hayes as Shannon, the recurring "Soccer Girl" who occasionally bumps into Ted around Richmond
  • Precious Mustapha as Simi (season 3), chef at Sam's restaurant

Guests

[edit]
  • Kieran O'Brien as James Tartt, Jamie's abusive father
  • Jimmy Akingbola as Ollie (season 1), Ted's driver when he arrives in England, who also works at his family's Indian restaurant
  • Kiki May as Nora (season 2), Sassy's teenage daughter and Rebecca's goddaughter[8]
  • Harriet Walter as Deborah (seasons 2–3), Rebecca's mother
  • Sofia Barclay as Dr. O'Sullivan (seasons 2–3), an ER doctor and surgeon who treated Sharon after her bike accident, later confirmed to be Roy's sister and Phoebe's mother
  • Sam Richardson as Edwin Akufo (seasons 2–3), a petty Ghanaian billionaire who buys Raja Casablanca and tries to convince Sam to sign with the team
  • Edwin De La Renta as Francis, Edwin Akufo's assistant and handshake surrogate
  • Scott Van Pelt as himself, a SportsCenter anchor who breaks the news regarding Ted's hiring at AFC Richmond
  • Karen Johal as Nicole Shelley (season 3), Nate's sister
  • Sam Liu as Michael (season 3), Colin's boyfriend.[9]
  • Matteo van der Grijn as Matthijs, who lives on a house boat in Amsterdam and rescues Rebecca after she is knocked off a footbridge into a canal. His name is never spoken on screen but seen in the credits
  • Nonso Anozie as Ola Obisanya, Sam's father
  • Becky Ann Baker as Dottie Lasso, Ted's mother (season 3)[10]
  • Leanne Best as Georgie, Jamie's mother
  • Steve Edge as Simon, Jamie's stepfather

Notable cameos

[edit]

Many sports and television entertainment personalities appeared on the show, often appearing as themselves in cameo roles throughout the series:

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
110August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)
212July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23)October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08)
312March 15, 2023 (2023-03-15)May 31, 2023 (2023-05-31)

Season 1 (2020)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Pilot"Tom MarshallStory by : Jason Sudeikis & Bill Lawrence & Brendan Hunt & Joe Kelly
Teleplay by : Jason Sudeikis & Bill Lawrence
August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
Rebecca Welton acquires the fictional AFC Richmond, a struggling club in the Premier League, as part of the settlement in her recent divorce. To get revenge on her ex-husband who cheated on her repeatedly and was never blamed for it, Rebecca resolves to ruin the club, as it was the only thing her ex ever loved. To this end she hires Ted Lasso, a college football coach from Wichita, Kansas, who recently coached an NCAA Division II football team to a title but knows nothing about soccer. Arriving in Richmond with his assistant, Coach Beard, he is met with hostility and resentment from his new team as well as a roomful of belligerent sports reporters, who find his sense of humor and folksy charm off-putting. In his apartment that night, he speaks to his son and wife on the phone and hints that he took the job because his wife felt she "needed space".
22"Biscuits"Zach BraffStory by : Brendan Hunt & Jason Sudeikis
Teleplay by : Joe Kelly
August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
On his first day at AFC Richmond, Ted brings Rebecca shortbread as a present; she rebuffs his attempt at friendliness but loves the biscuits, and orders her assistant Higgins to find out where Ted gets them. Ted observes that perpetually grumpy team captain Roy Kent is at odds with talented but egotistical striker Jamie Tartt. Learning that Sam Obisanya is homesick for Nigeria, Ted throws him a birthday party the next game day even though the team has just lost. To win over Jamie, Ted seeks advice from Jamie's girlfriend Keeley, a model. She advises 'positive reinforcement', which Ted uses in a short discussion with Jamie. In an attempt to cause more problems for the team, Rebecca has a tabloid photograph taken of Lasso and Keeley seemingly being publicly intimate. It is revealed that Ted himself bakes the biscuits he gives Rebecca.
33"Trent Crimm: The Independent"Tom MarshallJane BeckerAugust 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
Knowing that tabloid newspaper The Sun has photographs of them, Ted and Keeley go to Rebecca. She has their publication stopped, fearful they will be traced back to her, but in exchange, Ted has to spend the day with Trent Crimm, a cynical reporter for The Independent. Ted tells him openly that the team's new plays were conceived by Nate, the kit man. When Trent asks him about his decision to throw a party after the previous week's loss, Ted tells him he's not concerned with wins and losses. Trent goes with Ted and Roy to a local school event and sees them win over the children. Ted then invites Trent to dinner at a restaurant owned by the family of the driver who met him at the airport; unused to Indian food, Ted is surprised by how spicy it is but eats it all (including Trent's) to be polite. Trent's write-up about the "Lasso Way" is thoughtfully positive, which exasperates Rebecca.
44"For the Children"Tom MarshallJamie LeeAugust 21, 2020 (2020-08-21)
The team loses again, prompting Roy and Jamie nearly to come to blows. Rebecca, whilst preparing to host an annual charity ball and auction, learns that musician Robbie Williams has suddenly canceled on her, so she presses Higgins to find another musical act. Rupert Mannion, Rebecca's ex-husband, arrives at the event and takes over the auction. Ted deduces that Rupert, wanting to embarrass Rebecca, was responsible for Robbie Williams' last-minute cancellation. Rebecca warms to Keeley, and her remark about holding people accountable convinces Keeley to break up with Jamie. Thanks to Ted's intervention, Roy and Jamie begin to develop mutual respect for each other as footballers. Ted helps Higgins hire a neighborhood street performer to replace Williams, and he meets with a great reception. Rebecca, infuriated at Rupert's sudden appearance (and the fact that he donated one million pounds to the charity event to show her up) gets drunk with Keeley, and the two ride off in a rickshaw.
55"Tan Lines"Elliot HegartyBrett GoldsteinAugust 28, 2020 (2020-08-28)
Ted's wife, Michelle, and son, Henry, arrive for a visit, and they have fun together as a family until Ted finds his wife in tears. She confides in him that she doesn't love him anymore and has no idea why; she promises to keep trying. Keeley attends a promotion shoot she had set up for Jamie. Rebecca and Roy both seem concerned that Keeley is wasting her time with Jamie, but she assures them that the relationship is over. On the field, Jamie continues refusing to pass to his teammates, scoring goals alone; fans and commentators begin to believe that AFC Richmond relies solely on Jamie to score. Ted sees this is bad for team morale and benches Jamie right before half-time, which is met with harsh criticism from fans. Unfazed, Ted encourages his team to embrace change and believe in themselves. The team, working together, break the 2–2 tie to win the match. That evening, as Henry and Michelle prepare to leave, Ted tells Michelle that she does not need to try for his sake to make their marriage work.
66"Two Aces"Elliot HegartyBill WrubelSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Ted struggles emotionally with the end of his marriage but is buoyed by Richmond's first win. The press continues to treat Rebecca badly, calling her "Old Rebecca" when Bex, whose name is also Rebecca, begins dating Rupert. Jamie and Ted continue to clash over his role with the team, but Jamie sees his power weaken when Dani Rojas, an enthusiastic new player who is as good as he is, joins the team. But after Dani is injured by "something not there", Ted learns of ghosts that have haunted the team's treatment room since World War I. To lift the curse, Ted has everyone on the team bring in something special to them to offer as a sacrifice, and even Jamie joins in, after inspirational words from Keeley. The next morning, Ted discovers that Jamie has been returned to Manchester City, which had loaned Jamie to AFC Richmond for the season. Dani tries to cheer him up, but it doesn't help.
77"Make Rebecca Great Again"Declan LowneyStory by : Joe Kelly & Brendan Hunt
Teleplay by : Jason Sudeikis
September 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)
AFC Richmond travels to Liverpool for its game against rivals Everton, a team they have been unable to beat for sixty years. The game is being held on the weekend of Rebecca and Rupert's wedding anniversary, so Keeley tags along to cheer Rebecca up. Rebecca's old friend Flo "Sassy" Collins shows up and immediately takes a liking to Ted. That night, Ted, reluctant to sign his divorce papers, gets drunk and snaps at Nate. The next morning, Ted apologizes and asks Nate to share some of his ideas. Nate gives the team an eye-opening pre-game speech, and they win the game. That evening, the team goes out to celebrate at a karaoke bar, where Rebecca reveals her beautiful singing voice. Ted enjoys the evening until he suffers a panic attack and stumbles out of the building, where Rebecca finds and comforts him. Ted retreats to his hotel room and signs his divorce papers, then Sassy comes calling. Roy kisses Keeley, but leaves abruptly. Rebecca invites a hotel waiter to her room.
88"The Diamond Dogs"Declan LowneyLeann BowenSeptember 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)
Back at their home stadium at Nelson Road, Ted discusses his night with Sassy with Beard, Nate, and Higgins, and they nickname their group the "Diamond Dogs". Keeley asks Roy to go out for coffee but he declines. Later that night, Jamie visits Keeley, and she asks him to stay. The next day Keeley admits to Roy that she slept with Jamie, and Roy talks to Ted and the Diamond Dogs, who help Roy see another perspective. Ted thanks Rebecca for her help during his panic attack and offers to help her when she meets some minority-share owners later that day at Mae's pub. There Rebecca is blindsided by Rupert, who announces that he helped Bex – now his fiancee – to purchase the minority shares. In response, Ted makes a wager with Rupert over a game of darts, which Ted wins, much to Rebecca's delight. On their way to dinner, Keeley and Roy's kiss is caught on camera by a paparazzo, but Roy forcefully takes the camera's memory card. The next day, Higgins implores Rebecca to stop trying to ruin the team and quits when she refuses. Keeley storms in, having discovered the picture of her and Ted on the camera card, and then realized that publishing it was Rebecca's idea. She threatens to tell Ted if Rebecca does not do so herself.
99"All Apologies"MJ DelaneyPhoebe WalshSeptember 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)
Rebecca still has not told Ted about her attempts to sabotage the team. At Keeley's prompting, Rebecca tries to tell Ted but finds she cannot. Immediately afterward, Rupert comes to tell her that he and Bex are having a baby. Rebecca marches down to Ted's office and confesses, and to her surprise, he easily forgives her. Roy is showing his age on the pitch, and there are calls to bench him. Ted refuses to do it, alienating him from Beard and Nate. Later, Ted tries to talk to Roy, but feeling betrayed, Roy goes to Keeley, who reminds him he is more than just a footballer. Having been forgiven by Ted, Rebecca seeks out and apologizes to Higgins, who returns to the club. In the pub, Ted again states he is not concerned about wins. But Beard angrily tells Ted that these are professional athletes, not students, so winning is important to them and to him. Roy finds Ted outside the pub and the two talk. Roy admits his age, and they agree to claim Roy is injured. But the next day at practice, Roy surprises Ted by showing up and donning a second team pinny, accepting his new role while still leading the team as they approach their last match.
1010"The Hope That Kills You"MJ DelaneyStory by : Joe Kelly & Jason Sudeikis
Teleplay by : Brendan Hunt
October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)
Nate is promoted to assistant coach, and he shows a video interview with Jamie, but after Jamie insults Richmond, Isaac smashes the screen. Rebecca suggests that Ted can confuse the other team by running chaotic trick plays. Roy passes his captain's armband to Isaac. In the final match of the season, Manchester City leads 1–0 in the second half, but Roy injures his knee chasing and tackling Jamie; he receives a thunderous ovation as he leaves the field. Richmond runs the "Lasso special" trick play and scores to tie the match. However, in the final seconds, Jamie makes a pass to a teammate who scores, winning the game for Manchester City. Consequently, Richmond are relegated to the Championship. The heartbroken team, coaches, and friends gather in the locker room where Ted points out that being sad about the loss is bearable because they can all be sad together, instead of being alone and being sad. Meeting with Rebecca the next day, Ted attempts to resign, but she refuses; instead, they decide to win promotion next season and then to win the Premier League once they are back.

Season 2 (2021)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
111"Goodbye Earl"Declan LowneyBrendan HuntJuly 23, 2021 (2021-07-23)
The episode starts midseason, as Richmond has drawn their last seven games. Dani prepares to kick a game-winning penalty, but he accidentally kills Richmond's greyhound mascot Earl; his resulting remorse cripples his ability to play. To help Dani recover from his "yips", Richmond hires sports psychologist Sharon Fieldstone, whose direct, no-nonsense attitude contrasts with Ted. After meeting with Sharon, Dani regains his enthusiasm for football and converts a corner kick goal in practice. As a result, more players begin to request sessions with Sharon. Meanwhile, a newly retired Roy is coaching the Under-9 Girls Football team his niece, Phoebe, plays on, and dating Keeley. Jamie is shown to be a contestant on Lust Conquers All, a Love Island-style reality show.
122"Lavender"Declan LowneyLeann BowenJuly 30, 2021 (2021-07-30)
After Jamie is evicted from Lust Conquers All, he is surprised to learn that Manchester City have dropped him from the team. Higgins hires Sharon for the rest of the season. Jamie tells Ted that he would like to rejoin Richmond, and that he only left Man City for the show to annoy his abusive father. Ted politely declines Jamie's request to rejoin. When a photo of their conversation goes viral, Sam believes that Jamie, who repeatedly bullied him, is returning and angrily storms off during practice. Ted assures Sam that he refused. After Phoebe's team lose their championship game, Keeley convinces Roy to try out a pundit job at Sky Sports. Despite his habitual cursing, Roy's commentary is positively received by the public, and the network asks him to return. Wanting to give Jamie a second chance, Ted reconsiders adding him to the team and polls the Diamond Dogs on their opinions. Higgins votes for the addition, while Beard and Nate vote against it. Roy admits to Keeley that he enjoyed being on the TV show. Jamie rejoins Richmond, to the players' confusion.
133"Do the Right-est Thing"Ezra EdelmanAshley Nicole BlackAugust 6, 2021 (2021-08-06)
The team does not take kindly to Jamie's return, despite his apologies for his past behavior. On Keeley's advice, Jamie visits Sharon. Sassy's 13-year-old daughter Nora (also Rebecca's goddaughter) comes to visit and spends a day with Rebecca at work. Sam participates in a photo shoot for Dubai Air, the team's sponsor, but later learns from his father that Dubai Air is owned by an oil company polluting his home country of Nigeria. He withdraws from the ad campaign, prompting pressure on Rebecca from Dubai Air to fire Sam; but she holds firm at Nora's urging. Before Richmond's next game, Sam and fellow Nigerian players Isaac and Winchester use tape to cover their uniforms' Dubai Air logos in protest. Jamie leads the rest of the team to follow suit. Ted lets Sam speak about Dubai Air's malfeasance and the Nigerian government's corruption during the postgame press conference. Jamie toasts Sam for his courage, and the two reconcile.
144"Carol of the Bells"Declan LowneyJoe KellyAugust 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)
On Christmas Day, Ted unsuccessfully tries to spend time over the phone with Henry and Michelle; becoming dejected, he starts drinking and watching It's a Wonderful Life. Suspecting Ted would feel alone on his first post-divorce Christmas, Rebecca brings him along to give gifts to underprivileged children around the town. Roy and Keeley learn Phoebe's classmate is bullying her for "rancid" breath; they find a dentist at home who traces the problem to an antihistamine she takes for a cat allergy. They take Phoebe to confront her bully using handwritten posters. Higgins and his family host an open house for players who are unable to visit their families at home, and nearly the whole team shows up, bearing food. As the party ends, Ted and Rebecca – joined by a street band they gave money to earlier – sing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) to the team outside the Higgins' house.
155"Rainbow"Erica DuntonBill WrubelAugust 20, 2021 (2021-08-20)
Nate timidly tries and fails to book a prime table at his parents' favorite restaurant for their anniversary. After Rebecca and Keeley teach him to be more assertive and confident, he successfully obtains the window reservation. Rebecca becomes interested in her new match on Bantr, an anonymous dating app co-owned by Keeley and now Richmond's sponsor. Richmond continues to struggle, in part due to team captain Isaac's anxiety hampering his leadership. Roy takes him and Ted to a field near his childhood home and has Isaac play a pickup match with neighborhood footballers, reminding him to have fun while playing. While commentating on his Soccer Saturday show, Roy watches a newly enthusiastic Isaac on the pitch at Nelson Road and realizes how much he misses being involved with the game. He abruptly leaves the broadcast and makes his way to Richmond's stadium, where he joins Ted's coaching staff mid-game, to the applause of the Richmond supporters and the chagrin of Nate.
166"The Signal"Erica DuntonBrett GoldsteinAugust 27, 2021 (2021-08-27)
Rebecca's mother visits, having recently left her father. Rebecca tells Ted that her parents repeatedly separate and reconcile every few years. Beard and Jane get back together; Ted and Roy advise Higgins not to voice his misgivings. Richmond enjoys newfound success with Roy on the coaching staff, but Jamie is upset that Roy refuses to coach him. Roy eventually relents and tells Jamie he needs to play more aggressively "when appropriate" and that the coaches will give him a signal for when to do so. In a close game against Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, all four coaches give Jamie the signal – raising their middle fingers at him – leading to his scoring a goal to end the first half. As the second half becomes intense, Ted has a panic attack and leaves the pitch; with Richmond in disarray, the Spurs score, tying the game. Nate steps up and calls a triple substitution that leads to a game-winning score for Richmond. Sharon finds Ted in her office asking for help.
177"Headspace"Matt LipseyPhoebe WalshSeptember 3, 2021 (2021-09-03)
Ted's first two sessions with Sharon prove fruitless. He leaves the first almost immediately and storms out of the second after expressing skepticism and contempt towards psychotherapy because couples therapy failed to save his marriage. But during the third visit, Ted apologizes for his outburst and decides to commit to the therapy process. Nate sees himself going viral on Twitter and being dubbed the "Wonder Kid" in the media for the triple-substitution that resulted in Richmond's recent win, but his insecurity worsens when his stern father advises humility instead of praising his achievement. As a result, Nate begins behaving cruelly to others in the locker room – first to Colin, who used to bully him, and to Will, the new kit man. Roy begins spending every moment he can with Keeley, to the point where she feels smothered. A remark from Jamie helps Roy understand that Keeley needs space; he makes amends by running her a candlelit rose bath to enjoy on her own.
188"Man City"Matt LipseyJamie LeeSeptember 10, 2021 (2021-09-10)
Sharon suffers a concussion after being hit by a car while biking, and Ted brings her home from the hospital. Rebecca and Sam anonymously arrange a dinner date and find out they are each other's Bantr matches. Rebecca is initially apprehensive, but Sam convinces her to have dinner with him platonically, which they both enjoy. They kiss when they return to Rebecca's house but agree not to escalate the relationship further. Roy is called to Phoebe's school to take her home; she has been reprimanded for using bad language and he realizes that his swearing is a poor influence on her. Richmond plays Manchester City at Wembley Stadium for the first time but suffers a harsh loss. After the game, Jamie's father bullies him over the loss in the locker room in front of his teammates and coaches. Jamie finally snaps and punches his father, whom Beard throws out. Roy embraces Jamie, who breaks down crying in his arms. A shaken Ted calls Sharon and reveals that his father died by suicide when Ted was 16. Rebecca and Sam ultimately spend the night together.
199"Beard After Hours"Sam JonesBrett Goldstein & Joe KellySeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
After Richmond's loss against Manchester City, a dispirited Beard is joined at Mae's pub by avid Richmond supporters Baz, Jeremy and Paul. The four later sneak into an exclusive club, but Beard is thrown out after tearing his trousers. Mary, a woman he met at the club, offers to mend them if he comes to her apartment. She gives him another pair to wear but he is forced to flee when her hulking boyfriend Darren returns. Lost, Beard is cornered and beaten in an alley by Jamie's father and his friends, but Darren saves him, having followed him to return his wallet and phone, where Beard finds 72 angry texts from Jane. Baz, Jeremy and Paul take him home in a limo they acquired while gambling at the club, and in return Beard shows them a secret entrance to Nelson Road stadium. Unable to open his door after his key breaks, Beard stumbles into a secret nightclub beneath a church, where he finds Jane and they enjoy a night of dancing. The next morning, a sleep-deprived Beard returns to work as usual, with coffee for his fellow coaches, still wearing the sequined bell bottoms Mary gave him.
2010"No Weddings and a Funeral"MJ DelaneyJane BeckerSeptember 24, 2021 (2021-09-24)
Rebecca and Sam continue their relationship in secret for several weeks. One morning, Rebecca's mother informs her that her father has died. The entire Richmond team attends the funeral, but Ted has a panic attack at home and calls Sharon for a therapy session. Rupert and Bex come to the funeral uninvited with their newborn, angering Rebecca. Keeley and Sassy deduce that Rebecca is in a secret relationship, and Keeley correctly guesses it is with Sam. Rebecca tells her mother she does not want to eulogize her father, as she had seen him cheat on her mother as a child, but her mother says that she knew about the affairs, and loved him despite his flaws. At his apartment, Ted describes his father's death by suicide to Sharon for the first time, and arrives late for the funeral. Instead of giving a traditional eulogy, Rebecca leads the mourners in singing "Never Gonna Give You Up", a song that her parents liked and found meaningful. After the service, Jamie admits to Keeley that he loves her. Rupert tells Rebecca he will give her Bex's shares of Richmond and briefly converses with Nate. Rebecca ends her relationship with Sam, fearing heartbreak, but grows closer to her mother.
2111"Midnight Train to Royston"MJ DelaneySasha GarronOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)
Sam scores the first hat-trick of his career. Ghanaian billionaire Edwin Akufo visits Richmond and informs Rebecca that he wants to buy Sam's contract. Akufo elaborates to Sam that he wants to buy Raja Casablanca and sign an ensemble of Africa's most talented players; he gives Sam three days to consider the offer. Nate is frustrated because he believes he gets little credit for developing the team's tactics; while trying on new suits, he impulsively kisses Keeley. During Roy and Keeley's photoshoot for her magazine profile, Keeley admits Nate's kiss and Jamie's confession of love at the funeral, and Roy tells her he spent three hours helping Phoebe's teacher prepare for a school event, leaving both shaken. Ted learns that Sharon left a day earlier than expected, and he tracks her down to give her the team's parting gift. Later, Ted receives a text message from Trent Crimm tipping him off about a forthcoming article revealing Ted's match day panic attack, adding that Nate was his anonymous source.
2212"Inverting the Pyramid of Success"Declan LowneyJason Sudeikis & Joe KellyOctober 8, 2021 (2021-10-08)
Ted receives the club's full support after the news breaks of his panic attack. He focuses on the season's final match, which could determine Richmond's promotion back into the Premier League. At halftime, Nate tries to abandon his false 9 tactic, but the players elect to stick with it. Ted asks Nate why he is upset with him; Nate angrily responds that Ted has continuously neglected him since he joined the coaching staff. Jamie earns a penalty kick, but hands the ball to Dani, who scores an equalizing penalty to secure Richmond's promotion. The team and supporters celebrate, but Nate walks off the field and tears down Ted's "Believe" sign. To Akufo's fury, Sam decides to stay at Richmond, indirectly telling Rebecca it would be best for his own personal journey. Ted runs into Trent Crimm, who tells him he was fired for revealing his own anonymous source. Bantr's VC company offers to finance Keeley's own PR firm. She and Rebecca discover Rupert has bought West Ham United. Roy forgives Jamie and Nate for sharing their affections with Keeley but worries she will leave him. Two months later, Rupert greets the new head of his West Ham coaching staff: Nate.

Season 3 (2023)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
231"Smells Like Mean Spirit"MJ DelaneyLeann BowenMarch 15, 2023 (2023-03-15)
Richmond is projected to finish in last place for the new Premier League season, while West Ham is expected to be in the top four. The forecast demoralizes the team; to lift their spirits, Ted has them tour London's sewer system, using it as a metaphor for letting their difficulties and mistakes flow away, instead of dwelling on them. Photos of the team entering the sewer go viral. Nate mocks the team and Ted during a press conference, but Ted responds during his own press conference with self-deprecating jokes that charm the reporters. Roy and Keeley inform Phoebe that they are breaking up, as Roy's increased coaching responsibilities and Keeley's work establishing her new PR firm give them little time together, but Keeley suggests there are deeper problems in their relationship. Over the phone, Ted's son Henry shows him a toy that his mother's "friend" Jake bought him, unsettling Ted.
242"(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"MJ DelaneySasha GarronMarch 22, 2023 (2023-03-22)
Trent Crimm begins visiting Richmond to write a book about the club; but Roy, still bitter over a scathing article Trent wrote about his debut at age 17 for Chelsea, forbids the players to talk to him. Roy and Trent eventually reconcile at Ted's urging. Keeley, struggling to lead her PR firm, hires her inexperienced model friend Shandy, which frustrates her CFO Barbara. Meanwhile Zava, a brilliant, eccentric footballer, has quit Juventus FC. When Rebecca learns Rupert wants to sign him, she confronts Zava in the men's room during Richmond's Chelsea match and harshly tells him that joining a top club like West Ham would not be an opportunity to show his greatness. At the press conference that follows, which was supposed to feature his signing with Chelsea, Zava announces he will sign with Richmond. Roy reminisces to Ted and Trent about his career with Chelsea, realizing he had never allowed himself really to enjoy playing the sport as a youth.
253"4-5-1"Destiny EkaraghaBill WrubelMarch 29, 2023 (2023-03-29)
Richmond enjoys an unprecedented five-game winning streak with Zava on the team, culminating in a win away at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Sam takes the team to celebrate at his yet-to-open Nigerian restaurant, Ola's. Ted is disturbed to learn that his ex-wife Michelle is dating their former couples therapist, Dr. Jacob; both Sharon and Sassy validate his concern that it is an ethical violation. Jamie feels overshadowed by Zava's stardom; Roy offers to give him extra training sessions. Rebecca visits her mother's psychic Tish, who tells her, among other things, that she will become a mother. Rebecca angrily rebuffs Tish as a fraud, but is later stunned when odd things occur in line with two of Tish's premonitions. Colin introduces his boyfriend Michael to the team as just a friend, but Trent, while leaving the restaurant, spots them kissing in private.
264"Big Week"Destiny EkaraghaBrett GoldsteinApril 5, 2023 (2023-04-05)
After they spend the night together, Ted asks Sassy out on "an actual date," but she declines, telling him that he, like herself, is a "mess" and that they are better off remaining friends with benefits. Richmond prepares for their much-anticipated match against West Ham, with Ted and Nate not having seen each other since Nate's acrimonious departure from Richmond. Unbeknownst to Ted, Nate privately regrets the way he left, but Rupert tells him to quash his concerns. Keeley meets Jack, the woman running the VC company that invested in her PR firm. Trent uncovers camera footage of Nate tearing Ted's "Believe" sign in half, which Beard and Roy show the team at halftime to rile them up. Richmond's furiously aggressive play in the second half of the match results in three red card penalties and ultimately a heavy loss. Rebecca notices Rupert flirting with his assistant after the match and tells him to cut it out. Ted calls Michelle to voice his concerns about her relationship with Dr. Jacob.
275"Signs"Matt LipseyJamie LeeApril 12, 2023 (2023-04-12)
Richmond suffers a seven-game winless streak since their loss to West Ham. Rebecca visits her gynecologist after another of Tish's premonitions comes true but learns that she is no longer fertile. Ted learns his son got in trouble for bullying another student but is reassured when Henry shows remorse. Keeley fires Shandy after her antics lead to the firm losing a client. Keeley and Jack grow closer, get drunk and have sex in the office after hours. Nate takes a famous model on a date to A Taste of Athens, his favorite restaurant, but she disdains the restaurant and leaves. Nate later bonds with waitress Jade. Zava fails to show for the Manchester City game; the team play without him and ultimately lose. After the game they learn Zava has announced his retirement. Ted suggests to them that Zava's departure will encourage them to regain their belief in themselves.
286"Sunflowers"Matt LipseyStory by : Joe Kelly & Jason Sudeikis
Teleplay by : Brendan Hunt
April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19)
After losing a friendly against AFC Ajax in Amsterdam, Ted declares no team curfew in order to lift Richmond's spirits. Keeley and Jack fly to Norway to see the aurora borealis. Higgins and Will go to a jazz club in the red light district. Roy pushes Jamie into training; after tiring Roy out by leading him on a running tour of the city, Jamie teaches him to ride a bicycle. Rebecca is accidentally knocked off a bridge into a canal, but a man who lives on a houseboat rescues her, and she spends the night there. Colin heads out to a gay bar where Trent finds him and relates his own struggles with coming out. The rest of the team argue about where to go that night and end up staying at the hotel to have a pillow fight. Coach Beard prepares drugged tea for himself and Ted, and they head out separately. Ted tours the Van Gogh Museum, then has supper at an American restaurant where the movements of players in an old Chicago Bulls basketball game on the wall inspire him to create a new strategy inadvertently based on Total Football. The next morning they all leave Amsterdam weary but in high spirits.
297"The Strings That Bind Us"Matt LipseyPhoebe WalshApril 26, 2023 (2023-04-26)
Ted, Beard, and Roy begin to introduce Total Football to the team with a series of unusual training exercises. Attempting the strategy in a game against Arsenal F.C., they fall behind 3–0 in the first half, but after a pep talk from Jamie they come together to score an elegant goal in the second half, convincing Trent that Ted's supportive style of coaching will succeed. Nate works up the courage to ask Jade on a date, which she accepts. Rebecca expresses concern that Jack is love-bombing Keeley with extravagant gifts, and so Keeley tells Jack she wants their relationship to be on more equal terms. Just before his father is to visit, Sam criticizes a bigoted Cabinet minister on Twitter, and the next day he finds that his restaurant has been vandalized by the minister's supporters. When he brings his father to see the wreckage, he finds the whole team there, cleaning, painting, and repairing the restaurant.
308"We'll Never Have Paris"Erica DuntonKeeley Hazell & Dylan MarronMay 3, 2023 (2023-05-03)
Solid application of Total Football helps Richmond to four wins in a row. But when Michelle, Henry and Dr. Jacob visit Ted in London, he is unsettled to learn Michelle is going to Paris with Dr. Jacob, whom he suspects wants to propose to her. He asks Rebecca's help in investigating the matter, but Rebecca convinces him to let it go and enjoy the time he gets to spend with Henry. When Ted, Beard and Henry attend a West Ham game, Nate is privately pleased to see them. Keeley is horrified to discover that a sexually explicit video of her has leaked online. Jack, hoping to preserve her own reputation among her wealthy friend circle, has lawyers draft an apology for Keeley to read. Keeley refuses, prompting an argument with Jack and a potential breakup. Jamie then visits Keeley and apologizes for failing to delete the email containing her leaked video, which she sent him while they dated; the two share a hug. Isaac discovers Colin is gay when the team agrees to erase all explicit photos of ex-partners. Michelle returns from Paris, and Ted notices she is not wearing a ring.
319"La Locker Room Aux Folles"Erica DuntonChuck HaywardMay 10, 2023 (2023-05-10)
Isaac is left troubled after finding out Colin is gay, and it strains the friendship between the two men. After a poor showing by Richmond in the first half of a match against Brighton, a Richmond fan uses "the other F-word" to insult the team, causing Isaac to attack the fan and receive a red card as punishment, though the fan is also ejected. In the locker room Colin comes out to the rest of the team, and they agree to support him. Richmond wins the match, and Colin posts a season-best performance. Nate introduces Jade to Rupert, who invites him for a "guys' night out" after the West Ham game. But after he realizes that Rupert has asked two women to join them, Nate makes an excuse, leaves and shows up at Jade's. Isaac later visits Colin at his home and reveals that he was disappointed that Colin hadn't previously come out to him. Colin explains that he was scared of even the tiny chance Isaac might reject him, and Isaac admits that he would not have been able to keep it a secret anyway. Colin invites Isaac inside, and the two bond again as friends over some games of FIFA.
3210"International Break"Matt LipseyJane BeckerMay 17, 2023 (2023-05-17)
Nate abruptly quits West Ham and recuperates at his parents' house, where he mends his strained relationship with his father. Several Richmond players are selected to play for their World Cup national teams. Sam is disappointed not to be selected for Nigeria, only to learn Edwin Akufo bribed officials to keep him off the team out of spite. Rupert recruits Rebecca to join Akufo's exclusive Super League, but Rebecca berates Akufo and the other team owners for taking football away from working-class people out of greed. She sways them into rejecting Akufo's plan, after which he throws food all over the meeting room and storms out. An impressed Rupert tries to kiss Rebecca afterwards. She rejects him and realizes she has overcome her resentment towards him. Keeley learns that Jack's VC company has pulled funding for her firm, but Rebecca invests in the firm to keep it running. Roy apologizes to Keeley for ending their relationship, and they sleep together. The next morning, Richmond kitman Will finds the locker room in perfect order when he arrives, along with a note from Nate apologizing for his past behavior.
3311"Mom City"Declan LowneyStory by : Brendan Hunt & Jason Sudeikis
Teleplay by : Joe Kelly
May 24, 2023 (2023-05-24)
Ted's mother Dottie unexpectedly arrives in London, making Ted anxious. Nate begins working at A Taste of Athens. Will, Colin and Isaac ask him to return to Richmond, but he turns them down. The team plays against Manchester City once again. Jamie suffers crippling anxiety over returning to his hometown, expecting his father to be at the game; he brings Roy and Keeley to his mother's house where she comforts him. At the game, Ted suggests to Jamie that he forgive his father for his own sake, which helps Jamie regain the confidence to seal a victory for Richmond. Jamie's father watches the game from his rehab facility and cheers him on. Ted later convinces Beard, the only holdout against Nate's return, to reconsider. Beard visits Nate and reveals how Ted helped him when he was at his lowest point; he forgives Nate and asks him to come back to work at the club. Ted admits to Dottie he resented her for glossing over her grief after his father's death, and the two reconcile. She tells him his son misses him.
3412"So Long, Farewell"Declan LowneyBrendan Hunt & Joe Kelly & Jason SudeikisMay 31, 2023 (2023-05-31)
Richmond can take the league championship if they defeat West Ham, and Manchester City loses or draws their final game. News hits that Bex is divorcing Rupert over his infidelities, and he may lose his team because of sexual improprieties. Ted informs Rebecca that he and Coach Beard will be going home, and Rebecca considers selling the club. Nate becomes assistant kit man under Will and later apologizes to Ted. Trent gives Ted and Beard manuscript copies of his book to critique. West Ham takes a two-goal lead in the first half of the game. At half time the Richmond players reveal they all have pieces of the "Believe" sign that Ted tore up, and they put it back together before returning to the pitch. When Richmond ties the score with a penalty kick by Isaac, Rupert assaults the West Ham manager and is jeered by the crowd. Richmond uses one of the plays Nate developed, which allows Sam to score the winning goal. Manchester wins their final game, so Richmond finishes second in the league. Rebecca sells 49 percent of the team to the fans and goes to the airport to bid Ted farewell. As she leaves the airport, she helps a child who stumbled and fell in front of her. Rebecca recognizes the girl's father, a Dutch airline pilot, as the man from the Amsterdam houseboat. Beard stays in England and marries Jane. Roy becomes Richmond's head coach and starts sessions with Dr. Sharon, who is now on the team staff. Keeley's PR firm grows, and she gives Rebecca a proposal for an AFC Richmond Women's Team. Following Ted's request to change the title of his book from The Lasso Way – because it was never about him – Trent retitles it The Richmond Way. Beard, Roy and Nate put the "Believe" sign back up in the locker room. Ted returns home and coaches his son's soccer team.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Jason Sudeikis originally portrayed the title character in 2013 as part of a series of television commercials for NBC Sports promoting their coverage of the Premier League, in which Lasso is depicted as the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.[13][14]

In about 2015, Sudeikis's then-girlfriend Olivia Wilde suggested that he revisit the character, perhaps in a story in which Lasso found his career direction change. Whereas the original Lasso was more broadly comic and, as Sudeikis described him, "belligerent", he decided to make Lasso more sympathetic for the television series, explaining his reason for doing so in a May 2023 interview with The Guardian:[15][16]

It was the culture we were living in. I'm not terribly active online and it even affected me. Then you have Donald Trump coming down the escalator. I was like, "OK, this is silly," and then what he unlocked in people ... I hated how people weren't listening to one another. Things became very binary and I don't think that's the way the world works. And, as a new parent – we had our son Otis in 2014 – it was like, "Boy, I don't want to add to this." Yeah, I just didn't want to portray it.

The series was commissioned in October 2019 by Apple TV+, with Sudeikis reprising the role.[13] Television producer and Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence was brought in to work on a television series based around the character in 2017.[17] The series is co-owned by Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence's production company Doozer is based, and which controls linear distribution rights to the series, and NBC subsidiary Universal Television, which is a "passive partner".[18]

On August 19, 2020, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a 10-episode second season.[19] It was later confirmed that the second season had been expanded to 12 episodes.[20] On October 28, 2020, the series was renewed for a third season.[21] On an episode of the Scrubs rewatch podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach + Donald, Lawrence indicated that Ted Lasso would likely be a "three-season show" due to Sudeikis's limited availability beyond the third season, and that the story had a planned resolution within those three seasons.[22] In June 2022, Brett Goldstein also commented that the series would end after three seasons—"We are writing it like that."[23] In March 2023, Sudeikis said that the third season "is the end of this story that we wanted to tell", and that there are possibilities for spin-offs.[24] In an interview published in August 2023, Declan Lowney, who directed multiple episodes of the series, reiterated that the third season was "the end for now" and that it would be "two or three years [from filming the season] before anything happens — if anything happens".[25]

In October 2021, Apple TV+ reached a licensing deal with the Premier League worth as much as £500,000 (around $682,000) for the series to feature the league's logos, kits, and trophy starting from the third season.[26] On March 6, 2022, a day before filming for season 3 began, Nike, Inc. posted on its official Twitter account a photo of its trademark Swoosh logo incorporated onto an AFC Richmond kit, implying that the show's production had reached a deal with the company to act as the fictional club's "official" kit manufacturer on future episodes.[27]

Some sources have noted the many similarities between the character of Ted Lasso and Terry Smith, an American football head coach who became the first American to be the manager/head coach of a professional English soccer club.[28][29][30][31] AppleMagazine.com (which is not affiliated with Apple Inc.) writes that the series "was actually inspired by the story of Terry Smith, an American gridiron football coach who took over the English association football team Chester City and subsequently installed himself as the first-team coach".[32]

In June 2024, Warner Bros. Television CEO Channing Dungey talked about the possibility of Ted Lasso returning for a fourth season.[33] In August 2024, cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift signed contracts for a possible fourth season.[34] In March 2025, the series was officially greenlit for a fourth season and that it was in the early stages of production.[35][36] Juno Temple and Brendan Hunt were later confirmed to be returning as well.[37]

Writing

[edit]

Actors in the series Brett Goldstein and Brendan Hunt also joined the writing team along with Sudeikis as the second and third members of the main cast to do so.[38] While Hunt and Sudeikis were part of both the cast and writing team from the start, Goldstein was initially a writer and story editor. It was only after a video audition of some Roy Kent scenes was sent to the showrunner, Bill Lawrence, that Goldstein was added to the cast.[39]

The episodes "Carol of the Bells" and "Beard After Hours" were the two episodes developed when the second season was expanded by two episodes, fitting in to the continuity of the second season without affecting storylines of the written episodes.[40][41]

In March 2025, Sudeikis said that scripts for a fourth season were being written and that "Ted’s coaching a women’s team."[35][42]

Casting

[edit]

Theo Park is the series's casting director.[43] Nick Mohammed, who portrays Nate Shelley, originally auditioned for the role of Leslie Higgins, which in the end went to Jeremy Swift.[43] Park pushed for Phil Dunster to play the role of Jamie Tartt, even though the character was originally supposed to be from Latin America and portrayed by Cristo Fernández.[43] The character of Sam Obisanya was originally going to have been of Ghanaian heritage, but the character was changed after Toheeb Jimoh's casting.[44] In March 2021, Sarah Niles was cast as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, a sports psychologist for AFC Richmond in a main capacity for the second season.[45] About Niles' casting, Park said that "It was really important with that role that [Niles] had a real sense of security and almost completely unflappable."[43] Kiki May portrayed Nora, Sassy's teenaged daughter, in a recurring capacity during the second season.[8] Casting for season three was set to begin near the end of 2021.[43] Jodi Balfour was cast as Jack, a venture capitalist, in a recurring capacity for the third season in April 2022.[7]

New cast members for the fourth season include Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern and Grant Feely, who will play Ted's son, Henry, taking over the role from Gus Turner.[46]

Filming

[edit]
Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace's stadium Selhurst Park was used as AFC Richmond's Nelson Road.

Production began on the second season in January 2021.[47] In March 2021, Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham were spotted filming outside a pub in London.[48] Filming wrapped for the second season on June 4, 2021.[49] Filming for the third season was set to take place between January and June 2022.[43] Most of the pub and street scenes have been shot in the actual London Borough of Richmond. AFC Richmond's training field and complex in which Rebecca's office is based is filmed at the SkyEX Community Stadium which is the home ground of Hayes & Yeading United F.C. who are a semi-professional club playing in England's seventh level of competitive football, whereas Nelson Road, the home stadium of Richmond, is actually Selhurst Park, a real-life Premier League stadium used by London club Crystal Palace F.C. Exterior shots of Craven Cottage, the home stadium of Fulham F.C. were used in season 1 to pass off as fellow Premier League ground Goodison Park when AFC Richmond played away at Everton. Wembley Stadium was used in season 2 to portray the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City.[50]

The show incorporates many real-life members of the British football and television entertainment community. This also includes using a number of genuine television shows which feature the actual presenters, sets and theme songs, including the Sky Sports programme Soccer Saturday. The daytime ITV show This Morning also features in season 2.[51]

For the second season, assistant director Sophie Worger hired former professional player Kasali Casal to manage the football choreography. Casal enlisted a team of former professional players to play for the opposition teams facing AFC Richmond during game scenes, these included former Premier League and England internationals Lee Hendrie and Jay Bothroyd, as well as former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant and Wolverhampton Wanderers defender George Elokobi.[12]

Filming for the third season began on March 7, 2022.[52] The series filmed on location in Amsterdam for the third season.[53] With the emergence of Nate becoming West Ham United's head coach during season 3, the club's London Stadium was used for filming.[54] Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea, was used for filming in the third season episode "4–5–1". The appearance sparked controversy amongst Chelsea supporters after the show's editing team modified a memorial banner for the late Chelsea player Ray Wilkins that was paid for by the club's supporters. The banner which reads "They don't make them like Ray anymore" was changed to read "Roy" to tie in with the storyline of Richmond coach Roy Kent returning to his old club. Owner Todd Boehly released a statement apologizing to fans and to Wilkins' family, claiming the deal with Apple was agreed before he had purchased the club.[55]

During the third season, further Premier League stadiums including Manchester United's Old Trafford and Burnley's Turf Moor were briefly filmed for on-field action, while Dutch Eredivisie side AFC Ajax's Johan Cruyff Arena was used for on and off the field scenes at the beginning of the episode "Sunflowers".[56][57] Later episodes in Season 3 also filmed at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Manchester City's City of Manchester Stadium.[58]

Production on season four began in July 2025, with some filming locations being scouted in Blue Springs, Missouri and other locations in the Kansas City metropolitan area.[59] Filming began on July 21, with a photo of the main cast seated at Gates, a Kansas City barbecue restaurant.[60] Other locations included scenes filmed at CPKC Stadium during a Kansas City Current match, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and Country Club Plaza.[61] Filming will then shift back to London later in summer 2025.[62]

Merchandising

[edit]

In March 2021, Bill Lawrence revealed that official Ted Lasso merchandise would be for sale ahead of the season two premiere.[63] The merchandise, including football jerseys, became available in June 2021.[64]

In 2023, to coincide with the release of season 3, Nike released a full range of AFC Richmond merchandise including jerseys, hoodies, tracksuits, and practice shirts.[65]

Release

[edit]

The first season of 10 episodes premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020. The first three episodes were released at once, followed by weekly installments of the remaining seven.[66] A second season of 12 episodes premiered July 23, 2021.[19][20][67]

In October 2020, it was renewed for a third season of 12 episodes,[21] which premiered March 15, 2023.[68][69]

In March 2025, it was announced that the series was renewed for a fourth season.[35][36]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]
Critical response of Ted Lasso
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
192% (74 reviews)[70]71 (21 reviews)[71]
298% (126 reviews)[72]85 (35 reviews)[73]
381% (207 reviews)[74]73 (31 reviews)[75]

Season 1

[edit]
Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis' performance as Ted Lasso has been widely praised by critics.

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 92% based on 74 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Warm and winsome, if not particularly hilarious, Ted Lasso fleshes out its promo premise with unrelenting optimism and a charming turn from Jason Sudeikis."[70] Metacritic gave the first season a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 21 reviews.[71]

Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series an A− and wrote, "There's nothing groundbreaking about the way Ted Lasso's story beats play out, but the show—a mix of workplace antics, sentimental sports inspo, and soapy romance—is undeniably winning."[76] Reviewing the series for Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall described the series as "extremely likable throughout, but it's more a hypothetical comedy than an actual one. There are long stretches where Juno Temple is the only actor even trying to sell what few jokes are in the scripts." and gave a rating of three out of five.[77] Writing for The Guardian, Benjamin Lee gave it two out of five, describing it as "a show that isn't unwatchably bad but isn't really much of anything", and suggesting that some of its humor was "rooted in some questionable and uneasy stereotypes".[78]

As the season went on, critical appreciation increased. After the eighth episode, Caroline Framke of Variety published a review with the headline "For Your Reconsideration: Ted Lasso". She went on to say, "Above all odds, Ted Lasso chipped away at my skepticism until there was none left—just like the character himself does to everyone he meets", adding, "At a time when just about everything feels catastrophic, there's something undeniably satisfying about spending some time with good people who are just trying to be the best they can, on and off the field."[79] Keri Lumm of Paste said, after the airing of the penultimate episode, "Ted Lasso is the wholesome American hero we need", going on to say "... the landscape of television has felt kind of gloomy, so imagine my surprise when I turned on the TV to Ted Lasso and felt a swelling of a now unfamiliar emotion—hope".[80] And after the finale aired, Lea Palmieri from Decider said: "Every step of the way, Ted Lasso proves to be comforting and entertaining and somehow both a distraction and a reminder that kindness is out there, not just on this fictional show, not just across the pond, but deep in the heart of America too."[81]

Season 2

[edit]

The second season was met with critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 98% based on 126 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "As comforting as a buttery biscuit from a friend, Ted Lasso's sophomore season is a feel-good triumph that plays into the show's strengths while giving its supporting team more time on the pitch."[72] Metacritic gave the second season a weighted average score of 85 out of 100 based on 35 reviews.[73]

Season 3

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 81% based on 207 reviews, with an average rating of 7.45/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Ted Lasso's third and possibly final season takes time to find its footing, but patient viewers who believe will find that they appreciate Coach as much as ever."[74] Metacritic gave the third season a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 based on 31 reviews.[75]

Reception for the third season became progressively more mixed as it went on, with reviewers criticizing the extended episode runtimes, pacing, and characterization. A joint review published in Vulture described the third season as "bumbling", "tedious" and "discombobulated" compared to the first two, noting "a last-gap [sic] quality to these episodes and a hastiness to the storytelling that makes the show's internal world feel inexplicably small." The reviewers noted a decline across the season's various character arcs, which were said to "range from merely muddled to downright inexplicable", with particular criticism directed at Keeley and Nate's subplots.[82] David Sims of The Atlantic felt the series had "devolv[ed] into ham-fisted, novelistic nonsense" in its pivot from its sitcom roots to a "prestige drama" in the third season. Sims lamented the hourlong episode runtimes, which he described as "a pure example of the excesses that can flourish on streaming television", and characterized the season overall as unfocused and lacking in conflict.[83] Like Sims, Linda Holmes of NPR identified the season's separation of the cast as its primary weakness, suggesting that the series should "refocus on relationships" rather than give each character their own storyline.[84] Jack King of GQ conversely felt the series had "markedly improved" in the third season, but found Sudeikis's "saccharine" lead character to be the "least interesting" part of the series.[85]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

The first season received 20 nominations at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most nominated freshman comedy in Emmy Award history at that time.[86] It won 7 awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and acting awards for Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham; while Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed, Jeremy Swift and Juno Temple received nominations.[87] Sudeikis also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for 2020 and 2021.[88][89][90][91]

The series won in the categories for Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Program of the Year at the 37th TCA Awards and also won for best Comedy Series and New Series at the 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards.[92][93]

The second season received 20 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.[94] It won four awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, acting awards for Sudeikis and Goldstein, and a directing award for MJ Delaney. Several actors received nominations, including Toheeb Jimoh, Mohammed, Temple, Waddingham, Sarah Niles, James Lance, Sam Richardson and Harriet Walter.[95]

The third season received 21 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. It was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, Sudeikis for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Phil Dunster and Goldstein for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Temple and Waddingham for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Becky Ann Baker, Sarah Niles and Harriet Walter for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and the finale episode was nominated for both outstanding writing and directing.[96] At the 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Sam Richardson won for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.[97]

Following the debut of the third season, the cast of Ted Lasso were invited by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to the White House to promote mental health and well-being, a theme that was featured in storylines during the second and third seasons of the show.[98]

Audience viewership

[edit]

Ted Lasso became the most watched television series on Apple TV+.[99] The first-season premiere episode became Apple TV+'s most watched premiere[100] and it ranked 89th overall among other television series or shows measured across streaming platforms from November 1, 2019, to July 18, 2021.[99] According to TV analytics provider TVision, Ted Lasso has been viewed by panel members 8.4 times as much as the average Apple TV+ original series or shows TVision has measured since Apple TV+ launched in November 2019.[100]

Over the second-season premiere weekend, Apple TV+ expanded its number of new viewers by 50% week over week.[99] Apple also announced the second season of Ted Lasso "increased its viewership by six times over season one".[99] In 2021, the final episode of the second season ranked ninth place among all SVOD programs and fifth place in the SVOD originals category with 507 million minutes (MM) viewed.[101]

Other media

[edit]

In December 2021, Apple TV+ released Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache, a four-minute claymation special.[102]

In September 2022, it was announced that AFC Richmond and Nelson Road would appear in the video game FIFA 23. The team would be available in multiple online and offline modes, with players also able to select Ted Lasso to manage any team in the game, as well as have someone else manage the team.[103][104]

Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way, a box-set containing seasons 1–3, was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 30, 2024.[105]

See also

[edit]
  • L'allenatore nel pallone, 1984 Italian comedy film about Oronzo Canà, a down-on-his-luck manager with a far from stellar résumé, who is surprisingly hired as the coach of a small football team in northern Italy that was recently promoted to Serie A.
  • The First Team, British sitcom featuring an American player who joins a Premier League club.
  • Home Team, 2022 film about a suspended NFL coach coaching his son's high-school American football team.
  • Hot Stove League, Korean drama series about a general manager with no experience in baseball hired to lead a struggling baseball team.
  • Major League, 1989 film featuring misfit baseball players and a meddling new team owner.
  • Mike Bassett: England Manager, 2001 British mockumentary comedy film about a coach who is hired from the lower leagues to manage the England team at the World Cup.
  • Mike Bassett: Manager, 2005 British comedy series, a follow-up to the film which sees an unsuccessful coach on a bad run of form taking over as the new manager of his deceased father's former team.
  • Dream Team, British TV series featuring the on and off the field affairs of fictional Premier League club Harchester United.
  • Welcome to Wrexham, 2022 American documentary series chronicling the purchase and stewardship of Wrexham AFC, one of professional football's oldest clubs, by two Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
  • Club de Cuervos, a Mexican comedy drama series about two siblings that fight over the ownership and direction of their family's treasured football squad, Cuervos F.C.
  • Tackle!, a British novel about soccer that has been compared to both Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham.[106]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Ted Lasso is an American comedy television series created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020. The series stars Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American college football coach hired to manage AFC Richmond, a fictional English Premier League soccer club owned by Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), who intends for him to fail due to his lack of soccer expertise. Despite initial skepticism from the team, Lasso's optimistic coaching style and emphasis on kindness and personal growth influence the club and its players, including captain Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), striker Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), and publicist Keeley Jones (Juno Temple). The series originated from 2013 promotional sketches for NBC Sports and consists of three seasons totaling 34 episodes. It explores themes of vulnerability, mental health, forgiveness, and community, and was renewed for a fourth season in March 2025. Ted Lasso has received positive critical reception and numerous awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series for its first two seasons.

Premise and setting

Core premise

Ted Lasso is a comedy-drama television series centered on Ted Lasso, an American college football coach from Kansas, who is hired to manage AFC Richmond, a fictional English Premier League soccer club. The character originated from a series of viral promotional videos created by NBC Sports in 2013 to advertise their coverage of the Premier League, where Lasso's enthusiastic and motivational demeanor as an American coach in England captured widespread attention. In the series, Lasso is recruited by Rebecca Welton, the club's new owner, based on the popularity of these videos, despite his complete lack of experience in soccer.[1][2][3] The core conflict arises from Lasso's profound ignorance of soccer tactics and rules, juxtaposed against his unrelentingly optimistic and empathetic coaching style, encapsulated in the mantra "Believe." This philosophy emphasizes positivity, team unity, and personal growth over technical expertise, challenging the cynical and high-pressure culture of professional English soccer. Hired unwittingly as part of a sabotage plot by Welton to undermine the club owned by her ex-husband, Lasso's approach gradually transforms the team's dynamics and his own role within it.[3][4] Over its three completed seasons, the series explores Lasso's personal development amid cultural clashes in London, evolving team relationships, and broader themes of redemption and resilience, shifting from an underdog revival story to deeper explorations of mental health and forgiveness. The narrative continues in a fourth season premiering in summer 2026, where Ted Lasso returns to coach a women's soccer team in England's second division, likely the AFC Richmond women's side, building on Season 3 hints and presenting new challenges in women's football. Production commenced in July 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri (Ted's hometown), with additional filming in London, and has progressed toward completion by early 2026.

Setting and world-building

The series is primarily set in the fictional Richmond upon Thames area of London, England, where American coach Ted Lasso arrives to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling professional football club in a fictional version of the Premier League.[5] The club's home stadium, Nelson Road, draws inspiration from real venues such as Selhurst Park to capture the historic, gritty feel of English football grounds.[6] The show portrays key elements of English football culture, including American-style ownership by a U.S. media mogul, intense media scrutiny in press conferences, and passionate fan support through rowdy supporters' groups and local pub gatherings.[7][8] Cultural contrasts between American optimism and British reserve are highlighted through everyday London settings, such as the Crown & Anchor pub (exteriors filmed at the Prince's Head in Richmond), Ted's flat on Paved Court, and the Thames riverside, grounding the story in the borough's charm while parodying the Premier League's mix of glamour, rivalry, and tradition.[9][10][11] In Season 4, the setting expands to women's football, with Ted returning to coach a second-division women's team affiliated with AFC Richmond, exploring resource challenges and emerging fan engagement in lower-tier English women's leagues.[12][13]

Cast and characters

Main characters

Ted Lasso, the titular character, is an optimistic and kind-hearted American college football coach from Wichita, Kansas, who is unexpectedly hired to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League soccer club. Portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, Ted arrives as a naive outsider with no soccer experience but brings relentless positivity, folksy wisdom, and quirky habits—including exclaiming "barbecue sauce" as an exclamation for perfection, drawn from his love of Kansas City barbecue and symbolizing home and comfort—and unconventional motivational tactics to unite the team and staff. Throughout the series, he grapples with personal challenges, including his recent divorce from Michelle and limited time with his young son Henry, which contribute to his anxiety and panic attacks, yet he evolves into a resilient leader fostering belief and growth in those around him. The character originated from a 2013 NBC Sports promotional series depicting Lasso as a fish-out-of-water coach for a Premier League team, emphasizing themes of cultural misunderstanding and unyielding optimism.[14][15][16] Rebecca Welton serves as the owner of AFC Richmond, acquiring the club through her divorce settlement from the philandering Rupert Mannion, who sells it to her partly out of spite. Played by Hannah Waddingham, Rebecca initially plots to sabotage the team to undermine Rupert's legacy, hiring Ted under false pretenses, but her arc shifts dramatically as she develops genuine affection for the club, its players, and Ted's uplifting influence, leading to personal redemption and empowerment. Waddingham, known for her role as Septa Unella in Game of Thrones, brings a mix of elegance, vulnerability, and sharp wit to Rebecca, highlighting her transition from vengeful socialite to a supportive ally embracing emotional openness.[17][15][18] Roy Kent is the team's aging star midfielder, a gruff, profanity-laced veteran renowned for his aggressive playstyle and leadership on the pitch, but plagued by injuries and a prickly demeanor off it. Brett Goldstein portrays Roy as a tough exterior masking deeper insecurities and loyalty, evolving from a reluctant mentor to a compassionate coach after retiring, particularly through his romance with Keeley and guidance of younger players like Nate and Jamie. Goldstein, who also co-wrote episodes, drew from his stand-up comedy background to infuse Roy with authentic emotional layers, transforming the character from antagonist to heart-of-the-team figure.[19][15][20] Keeley Jones functions as the club's public relations manager, starting as a bubbly, glamorous model and girlfriend to player Jamie Tartt, but proving her savvy in handling media and team morale. Juno Temple embodies Keeley with infectious enthusiasm and empathy, depicting her growth from romantic sidekick to an independent entrepreneur launching her own PR agency, navigating complex relationships with Roy and Rebecca while championing female empowerment. Temple's casting emphasized her chemistry with the ensemble, building on her film roles in The Dark Knight Rises and Maleficent to create a character who balances levity with substantive personal development.[21][15][22] Jamie Tartt emerges as a talented yet arrogant young forward and star striker for AFC Richmond, the son of a domineering TV pundit, exhibiting selfish bravado and bullying tendencies that clash with team dynamics, later loaned to rival Manchester City before returning. Phil Dunster plays Jamie with a cocky charm that softens over time, maturing through rivalries—especially with Roy—therapy sessions, and reflections on his abusive upbringing, ultimately becoming a collaborative leader and father figure in season 3. Dunster, a rising British actor from stage work like The Boys in the Band, highlights Jamie's redemption as a core example of the show's emphasis on vulnerability and change, selected for his ability to convey layered emotional shifts alongside the cast.[20][23][15]

Recurring and supporting characters

Coach Beard, portrayed by Brendan Hunt (who co-created the series), serves as Ted Lasso's assistant coach and close confidant.[24][25] Leslie Higgins, played by Jeremy Swift, is AFC Richmond's Director of Football Operations. Initially loyal to former owner Rupert Mannion, Higgins later supports team unity and participates in the Diamond Dogs support group.[26][27] Nathan "Nate" Shelley, portrayed by Nick Mohammed, starts as the kit man and is promoted to assistant coach. In season 2, he leaves to become head coach at rival West Ham United. In season 3, he begins reconciliation with AFC Richmond.[28][29][30] Ted Lasso's son Henry (Gus Turner) visits from Kansas, reflecting co-parenting challenges with ex-wife Michelle (Becky Ann Baker). Rebecca Welton's greyhound Jefferson appears in early episodes. Ahead of the planned 2026 premiere of season 4, Apple TV+ confirmed returns for Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton), and Jeremy Swift (Higgins). Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) was spotted on set in September 2025, suggesting his return. Nick Mohammed (Nate Shelley) indicated participation as of November 2025. Henry's role was recast with Grant Feely replacing Gus Turner.[31][32][33][34][35]

Guest stars and cameos

Throughout its run, Ted Lasso featured several high-profile guest appearances, particularly from figures in the British soccer broadcasting and playing world, which enhanced the show's satirical take on football culture. These cameos often integrated seamlessly into the narrative, poking fun at punditry, refereeing, and managerial tropes while providing authentic flavor to AFC Richmond's storylines.[36] In Season 1, guest stars were more subdued, focusing on supporting roles that advanced character arcs without overshadowing the core ensemble. One early highlight was the appearance of comedian and podcaster Lloyd Griffith as a recurring press conference reporter, whose quick-witted jabs at Ted Lasso underscored the media scrutiny faced by the team.[37] American soccer commentators Arlo White and Chris Powell also appeared as themselves, lending credibility to match broadcasts and bridging the show's American-British cultural divide.[38] Season 2 introduced more celebrity flair, blending British TV personalities into plot-specific moments for comedic effect. In episode 2, "Biscuits," presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield made surprise cameos during a TV segment, reacting to Richmond's poor form in a parody of light entertainment shows covering sports. Sky Sports pundits Jeff Stelling and Chris "Kammy" Kamara also debuted here as studio analysts, their banter with Roy Kent highlighting the punditry world's mix of analysis and entertainment. These appearances tied into the season's exploration of media pressure, amplifying the parody of how soccer news permeates British pop culture. Sarah Niles joined as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, the team's sports psychologist, in a role that began as a guest but evolved into a key therapeutic presence for Ted's mental health struggles, though she became a series regular thereafter.[39] Season 3 escalated the cameos with prominent soccer icons, emphasizing the show's affectionate spoof of the Premier League ecosystem. Pundits Gary Lineker and Ian Wright appeared in broadcast scenes, delivering exaggerated commentary on Richmond's matches that mocked the overly dramatic tone of match analysis. Thierry Henry joined as a pundit in the finale, offering cocky insights ahead of the season's climactic game, while Pep Guardiola made a memorable turn as Manchester City's manager in the penultimate episode, playfully interacting with Jamie Tartt and advising Ted Lasso in a nod to real-life rivalries and sportsmanship. Referee Mike Dean officiated the final match, infamously awarding a controversial penalty that influenced the outcome, satirizing officiating controversies in English football. These integrations, like Guardiola's magnanimous defeat, heightened the parody by blending celebrity authenticity with the show's whimsical underdog narrative.[36][38] As of late 2025, Season 4 has no confirmed guest stars or cameos announced, though the shift to a women's team storyline suggests potential for appearances by female soccer figures to maintain the series' tradition of soccer-world nods.[40]

Episodes

Season 1 (2020)

The first season of Ted Lasso premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020, with the first three episodes released at once and the remaining seven airing weekly, for a total of 10 episodes.[4] The series follows Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), an American college football coach with no experience in association football, who is hired as head coach of AFC Richmond, a struggling Premier League club. Unbeknownst to Ted, owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) arranges his appointment as revenge against her ex-husband Rupert Mannion (Anthony Head), the former owner, anticipating that Ted's inexperience will lead to relegation and humiliate Rupert.[4] Ted's persistent optimism contrasts with the team's cynicism, gradually fostering unity despite on-field losses and off-field conflicts. The season depicts Ted's adjustment to English football culture, the revelation of Rebecca's sabotage, and the team's efforts to avoid relegation. Ted faces skepticism from players and staff, while Rebecca's attempts to undermine him backfire as she recognizes his genuine commitment, leading to her confession in the penultimate episode. The season concludes with AFC Richmond winning their final league match but still relegated based on the overall standings. Subplots explore mental health, including Ted's panic attacks triggered by divorce and homesickness, first shown during a high-pressure match in episode 7.[41] The episodes blend humor, emotion, and football action:
EpisodeTitleAir DateSynopsis
1PilotAugust 14, 2020American football coach Ted Lasso is hired to coach AFC Richmond despite no soccer experience, arriving with enthusiasm amid fan hostility.[4]
2BiscuitsAugust 14, 2020On his first training day, Ted shares biscuits to build rapport, but the team loses its opening match while he navigates cultural clashes.[4]
3Trent Crimm: The IndependentAugust 14, 2020Journalist Trent Crimm profiles Ted as the team prepares for a game, exposing doubts about his leadership.[4]
4For the ChildrenAugust 21, 2020Ted organizes a press event for a children's hospital to boost morale, while Rebecca deals with Rupert's interference.[4]
5Tan LinesAugust 28, 2020Amid a summer training camp, romantic tensions arise, including between PR manager Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) and Jamie.[4]
6Two AcesSeptember 4, 2020Ted deals with his impending divorce while trying to motivate a reluctant Jamie Tartt; the team grapples with a curse causing injuries, leading to the debut of new signing Dani Rojas.[4]
7Make Rebecca Great AgainSeptember 11, 2020Rebecca confronts her past during a match against Rupert's team, while Ted experiences his first panic attack.[4]
8The Diamond DogsSeptember 18, 2020The coaching staff forms an impromptu support group after a scandal, strengthening their camaraderie.[4]
9All ApologiesSeptember 25, 2020Rebecca confesses her sabotage to Ted, who forgives her, as the team mends internal rifts.[4][41]
10The Hope That Kills YouOctober 2, 2020In the finale, Ted rallies the team for their decisive final league match to avoid relegation, securing a win but ultimately relegated based on the standings, inspiring renewed hope.[4]
The season establishes optimism as a counter to cynicism, with Ted's "Believe" mantra challenging the Premier League's competitive culture and encouraging vulnerability in characters like Rebecca. It addresses mental health through Ted's anxiety and subplots involving self-doubt, emphasizing empathy and support.[42][43] Principal photography for the season began in 2019, with the original 10-episode order largely filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schedules. Post-production faced only minor delays, enabling the season's release during the pandemic's early stages.[44][45]

Season 2 (2021)

The second season of Ted Lasso premiered on July 23, 2021, and concluded on October 8, 2021, consisting of 12 episodes released weekly on Apple TV+, each approximately 30–50 minutes long. It follows coach Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond as they pursue promotion from the EFL Championship to the Premier League while confronting personal struggles, mental health challenges, and shifting team dynamics.[46] The season traces the team's on-field progress and off-field drama, with key episodes including the mid-season match against Manchester City in "Man City" (episode 8) and the finale "Inverting the Pyramid of Success" (episode 12), where loyalties are tested during a decisive promotion match. The following table lists all episodes with their titles and original air dates:
EpisodeTitleAir Date
1Goodbye EarlJuly 23, 2021
2LavenderJuly 30, 2021
3Do the Right-est ThingAugust 6, 2021
4Carol of the BellsAugust 13, 2021
5RainbowAugust 20, 2021
6The SignalAugust 27, 2021
7HeadspaceSeptember 3, 2021
8Man CitySeptember 10, 2021
9Beard After HoursSeptember 17, 2021
10No Weddings and a FuneralSeptember 24, 2021
11Midnight Train to RoystonOctober 1, 2021
12Inverting the Pyramid of SuccessOctober 8, 2021
[47][48] The season focuses on AFC Richmond's promotion campaign, featuring early draws, heightened rivalries, and a pivotal match against Manchester City that exposes tactical flaws. Assistant coach Nate Shelley, promoted from kit man in season 1, enjoys early success but grows resentful, defecting to rival West Ham United as head coach and betraying Ted by anonymously leaking details of Ted's panic attacks to the press. Ted addresses his anxiety through therapy sessions with Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, rooted in personal trauma including his father's suicide, and applies these lessons to support his players.[49][50] The season broadens its mental health exploration beyond Ted, showing its impact on characters like the insecure Nate and incorporating team therapy dynamics. It also examines toxic masculinity through veteran captain Roy Kent's mentorship of young forward Jamie Tartt, helping Jamie channel aggression constructively, reject his father's abusive influence, and develop leadership qualities. These storylines highlight forgiveness, vulnerability, and emotional openness. The premiere "Goodbye Earl" achieved record viewership for an Apple TV+ original, with a 200% increase over the previous weekend and 50% growth in new viewers week-over-week. Subsequent episodes maintained strong engagement and drew praise for the show's sensitive handling of mental health and related themes.[51][52]

Season 3 (2023)

Season 3 of Ted Lasso premiered on Apple TV+ on March 15, 2023, and concluded on May 31, 2023, with 12 episodes aired weekly.[53] The season centers on AFC Richmond's campaign in the Premier League following their promotion, as the team navigates intense competition, internal conflicts, and the consequences of Nate Shelley's departure to West Ham United the previous season.
EpisodeTitleAir Date
1Smells Like Mean SpiritMarch 15, 2023
2(I Don't Want to Go to) ChelseaMarch 22, 2023
34-5-1March 29, 2023
4Big WeekApril 5, 2023
5SignsApril 12, 2023
6SunflowersApril 19, 2023
7The Strings That Bind UsApril 26, 2023
8International BreakMay 3, 2023
9The 24-HoursMay 10, 2023
10Mom CityMay 17, 2023
11Romance ArmorMay 24, 2023
12So Long, FarewellMay 31, 2023
Major storylines include AFC Richmond's pursuit of the Premier League title, which ends unsuccessfully despite competitive performances mid-season. Nate Shelley's arc involves his exit from West Ham, return to his family's restaurant, reconciliation with Ted and the team, and eventual return to Richmond. Ted Lasso's storyline focuses on his growing homesickness, family separation anxiety, and decision to resign and return to Kansas in the finale.[54] Supporting arcs reach resolution as Roy Kent and Keeley Jones manage their breakup while remaining supportive, and Rebecca Welton achieves personal growth. The finale suggests the club's ongoing legacy by introducing the possibility of a women's AFC Richmond team.

Season 4 (2026)

In March 2025, Apple TV+ officially renewed Ted Lasso for a fourth season, confirming Jason Sudeikis's return as the titular character and executive producer.[55] Production began in summer 2025, with filming taking place in Kansas City, Missouri, to reflect Ted's return to the United States at the end of Season 3, as well as in London for scenes involving AFC Richmond.[56][57] The season is anticipated to consist of 10 to 12 episodes, consistent with the structure of prior seasons. On January 28, 2026, Apple TV+ officially announced that Season 4 will premiere globally in summer 2026, accompanied by first-look photos featuring Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham.[58] In February 2026, star Hannah Waddingham indicated a likely August 2026 release during a BAFTA-related event, though she noted it might not be fully official.[59] The plot will center on Ted Lasso returning to AFC Richmond to coach a newly formed women's football team competing in the second division, exploring themes of challenges in women's soccer and building on hints from Season 3 about expanding the club's focus beyond the men's team. As of late March 2026, no precise premiere date, official trailer, full episode list, or detailed synopses have been released. Returning cast members include Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins, and Juno Temple as Keeley Jones, with several new actors joining to portray members of the women's team, including Tanya Reynolds and Abbie Hern.[60] The status of Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt and Nick Mohammed as Nathan Shelley remains uncertain, as the narrative shifts emphasis toward fresh characters and dynamics within the women's program.[61][62]

Production

Development and conception

Ted Lasso originated in a series of NBC Sports promotional sketches in 2013, created by Jason Sudeikis to promote the network's English Premier League coverage. Sudeikis conceived the character—an inept American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team—alongside Brendan Hunt during their time in a Chicago comedy troupe. He reprised the role in multiple advertisements, including one showing Lasso arriving at Tottenham Hotspur and another depicting his return to the U.S. after being fired.[63][64] In 2019, Sudeikis expanded the concept into a full television series, collaborating with Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly for Apple TV+. Apple greenlit a straight-to-series order that October, envisioning a feel-good sports comedy that emphasized optimism and kindness amid widespread cynicism. Sudeikis stars as Lasso, serves as executive producer, and co-wrote the pilot, which focuses on themes of personal growth and community through an underdog American coach leading the fictional Premier League club AFC Richmond.[65][66] The series was initially designed as a three-season narrative arc, allowing Sudeikis to complete Lasso's story of adaptation, mentorship, and redemption without overstretching the premise. Despite this plan, Apple TV+ renewed the show for a fourth season on March 14, 2025, following the Season 3 finale, driven by sustained fan enthusiasm and Sudeikis' interest in further possibilities. This renewal shifts focus to AFC Richmond's newly formed women's team, enabling expansion beyond the original men's league storyline.[67][68][69]

Writing and creative process

The series was co-created by Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, who drafted the pilot and early episodes based on Sudeikis's character from NBC Sports promotional videos.[70] Bill Lawrence, known for Scrubs, joined as executive producer to refine the structure, subverting sports movie tropes to develop emotional depth in the ensemble cast.[70] The collaborative writers' room shifted to Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic, incorporating input from cast members like Brett Goldstein to shape characters such as Roy Kent.[71] A diverse team, including female writers Jane Becker and Leann Bowen, brought authentic perspectives to relationships and vulnerabilities, earning recognition for diversity behind the camera.[72][73] Improvisation was central to script development, drawing from the creators' experience with comedy troupes like Second City and Boom Chicago, which enabled actors to add spontaneous energy.[74] To portray English football authentically, the team consulted soccer coaches and experts, avoiding American stereotypes. Inspirations from coach John Wooden and the Dutch concept of "gezellig" (coziness and belonging) informed themes of empathy and community, while leaving space for organic character interactions.[71] The writing evolved across seasons to balance humor and emotional depth. Season 1 emphasized optimistic comedy through Ted's enthusiasm and team-building efforts.[75] Season 2 introduced more drama, including Ted's panic attacks and conflicts, while retaining uplift. Season 3 shifted to a bittersweet tone, concluding major arcs with a mix of triumph and closure.[76] The anticipated Season 4 emphasizes empowering female characters in male-dominated spaces.[77] Key challenges involved balancing comedy and drama while integrating vulnerabilities like divorce and mental health without losing the hopeful tone.[75] Ted's divorce storyline was planned early and stemmed from character development rather than Sudeikis's personal experiences.[78] Pandemic restrictions limited in-person collaboration and audience feedback, yet the team adapted by focusing on themes of kindness and forgiveness.

Casting

Jason Sudeikis originated the role of Ted Lasso in a 2013 NBC Sports promotional series for the English Premier League and stars as the lead while co-creating the Apple TV+ series launched in 2020. Hannah Waddingham was cast as Rebecca Welton after impressing in her audition tape; Sudeikis immediately recognized her suitability, citing her commanding presence and West End experience in productions such as Into the Woods and A Little Night Music.[79] Brett Goldstein and Juno Temple secured their roles as Roy Kent and Keeley Jones through chemistry reads, with casting director Theo Park stressing the value of testing interpersonal dynamics for ensemble cohesion.[80] Brendan Hunt, an improv veteran and co-creator with Sudeikis, has played Coach Beard since the project's inception, contributing to both writing and performance. Nick Mohammed initially auditioned for a minor role as kit man Buster Huggins but was cast as the more complex Nathan Shelley after a low-preparation audition that demonstrated his natural fit.[81] The production emphasized diverse casting to reflect AFC Richmond's international roster. Casting director Theo Park adjusted character nationalities to match actors' authentic backgrounds and soccer experience, selecting performers from various countries for the global team.[82] Auditions also required football skills demonstrations to ensure authenticity in ensemble scenes.[83] In August 2024, Warner Bros. Television exercised contract options for returning cast members including Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, and Jeremy Swift ahead of Season 4 production.[32] Filming began in July 2025 with confirmed returns by Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift. New additions for the season's focus on a women's team include Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, and Abbie Hern, announced that month to expand the ensemble.[84]

Filming and technical aspects

Principal photography for ''Ted Lasso'' primarily used locations in Richmond upon Thames, southwest London, for exterior shots of the fictional AFC Richmond's surroundings, including the team's pub and residential areas. Interiors, such as locker rooms and offices, were constructed and filmed at West London Film Studios in Hayes for controlled replication of the club's facilities. For Season 4, production relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, to capture Ted Lasso's origins. Filming began in July 2025 at sites including the Country Club Plaza, Gates Bar-B-Q, and Union Station, and wrapped in late 2025 before entering post-production in November 2025.[85][86][87][88] Cinematographer David Rom employed handheld techniques to create intimacy in character interactions, using single-camera setups for ensemble scenes along with Steadicam and DJI Ronin gimbals for dynamic movement. Soccer match sequences achieved realism through stunt coordination and visual effects by Barnstorm VFX, which used CGI crowds and plate extras to simulate authentic Premier League stadium atmospheres.[89][90][91] Production faced challenges from COVID-19 protocols during Seasons 1 and 2, including delays and set adjustments for social distancing, as noted by showrunner Bill Lawrence. London's frequent rain complicated outdoor shoots in Richmond, requiring contingency plans for wet conditions. The Season 4 shift to Kansas City provided authentic Midwestern backdrops.[45][92] Costume designer Jacky Levy crafted wardrobes to reflect social dynamics: Keeley's outfits blended high-end fashion with streetwear to highlight her working-class roots, contrasting with Rebecca Welton's evolution from severe power suits to softer silhouettes signaling vulnerability. Production designer Paul Cripps incorporated subtle American elements into Ted's office—such as Kansas-inspired memorabilia amid the club's British aesthetic—to reinforce the cultural fish-out-of-water theme.[93][92]

Merchandising and post-production

Post-production for Ted Lasso involved collaborative editing led by Melissa McCoy and A.J. Catoline, who balanced comedic timing and emotional pacing. Creators Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly reviewed director's cuts to refine narrative flow and maintain the series' optimistic tone. Their hands-on approach ensured consistency in character-driven storytelling during remote workflows.[94][90][95] The original score was composed by Marcus Mumford and Tom Howe. It featured upbeat folk-inspired tones and a banjo-driven theme song introduced in season 1. The music underscored themes of resilience and community while enhancing scenes of team motivation and match-day energy.[96][97] Sound design prioritized authenticity in soccer sequences. Supervising sound editors Brent Findley and Bernard Weiser crafted immersive crowd noises and stadium atmospheres. Custom commentary was provided by British broadcasters, including Jeff Stelling appearing as himself, to evoke genuine Premier League atmosphere. Licensed music, such as Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", was integrated into key episodes to capture communal sing-alongs typical of English football crowds.[98][99][100] Official merchandising from Warner Bros. includes AFC Richmond soccer kits in home and away designs, available for personalization with names. "Believe" apparel, featuring the sign from the series, includes t-shirts, hoodies, and hats.[101] The franchise expanded into other media, including official podcasts hosted by cast members that discuss episodes and themes. Immersive viewing experiences were developed for Apple Vision Pro, enhancing stadium scenes for viewers.[102][103]

Release

Premiere and distribution

Ted Lasso premiered exclusively on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020. Season 1 consisted of 10 episodes, released in a hybrid format: the first three dropped simultaneously, followed by one new episode each Friday.[104][105] The series is rated TV-MA, primarily for moderate to severe profanity, mild sexual content, and minimal violence.[106] As an Apple Original, it is distributed solely through the Apple TV app on compatible devices worldwide from day one, with immediate support for subtitles, dubbed audio tracks in multiple languages, and English closed captions.[4] Season 2, comprising 12 episodes, debuted on July 23, 2021, with weekly releases on Fridays.[107] Season 3, also 12 episodes, premiered on March 15, 2023, with weekly releases on Wednesdays.[108] The series has remained exclusive to Apple TV+ across all seasons, with no syndication to linear TV networks.[109] Access requires an Apple TV+ subscription, initially priced at $4.99 per month (later increased to $9.99 and then $12.99), with a standard seven-day free trial. Apple has periodically extended trials around season premieres to boost viewership.[110][111] Season 4 is slated for release in 2026 on Apple TV+, expected to follow the weekly streaming format, though no exact premiere date has been announced.[112]

Marketing and home media

Apple TV+ launched extensive marketing campaigns for Ted Lasso to build anticipation across seasons, leveraging high-profile advertisements and interactive social media initiatives. For Season 2, actress Hannah Waddingham appeared in a Rakuten Super Bowl commercial in 2022, promoting the retailer's cash-back service while tying into the show's themes of optimism and community.[113] Subsequent seasons featured cast members in additional Super Bowl spots, including Jason Sudeikis alongside Lionel Messi and Dan Marino for Michelob Ultra in 2024, and Juno Temple lifting NFL player Myles Garrett in an Oikos yogurt ad in 2025, which highlighted the series' blend of humor and sports culture.[114][115] Social media efforts centered on the iconic "Believe" mantra, with official challenges encouraging fans to create and share personalized signs inspired by Ted Lasso's locker room motivational tool, amplifying user-generated content during promotional periods.[116] In July 2025, Apple TV+ released a first-look image for Season 4 via Variety, confirming production had begun in Kansas City with returning cast members including Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, Hannah Waddingham, and Brendan Hunt, generating early buzz ahead of the 2026 premiere.[40] Trailers for Ted Lasso emphasized the series' signature humor and character-driven arcs, starting with the Season 1 teaser in July 2020 that introduced Ted's fish-out-of-water charm in English football.[117] Full trailers, such as the Season 2 release in June 2021 and Season 3 in March 2023, revealed key plot developments while preserving emotional surprises, often culminating in uplifting montages of team unity.[118][119] Viral clips, particularly the Season 3 teaser's sequence of AFC Richmond players crafting customized "Believe" signs—like Roy Kent's profane variation—circulated widely on social platforms, embodying the show's whimsical positivity and inspiring fan recreations.[116] Home media releases for Ted Lasso prioritize digital availability, with all three seasons offered for purchase or download on iTunes and accessible via Apple TV+ subscriptions, allowing viewers to own episodes without ongoing streaming commitments.[4] Physical formats arrived later through Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, including a complete series DVD and Blu-ray box set titled Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way released in July 2024, featuring all 34 episodes with a bonus "Believe" poster.[120] An upgraded 4K Ultra HD edition followed in November 2025, enhanced with Dolby Vision for improved visuals of the series' vibrant sets and matches.[121] Promotional tie-ins extended to real-world football partnerships and fan experiences, such as collaborations with NFL events where Ted Lasso characters appeared at the 2025 London International Series game between the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, bridging American and English soccer fandom.[122] In London, official fan tours in Richmond-upon-Thames—home to the fictional AFC Richmond—offer guided walks of filming locations like The Prince's Head pub, drawing thousands of visitors annually to immerse in the show's world.[123]

Reception

Critical reception

Ted Lasso has received widespread critical acclaim. It holds an average Tomatometer score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes across its first three seasons, with individual scores of 92%, 98%, and 81% respectively.[124] On Metacritic, the series scores range from 71 for Season 1 to 85 for Season 2 and 73 for Season 3.[125] Critics have praised its effective blend of heartfelt storytelling and sharp humor, subverting sports clichés to serve as a refreshing counter to cynicism in television.[126] Jason Sudeikis's performance as the titular coach is central to the acclaim, described as charismatic and layered in its portrayal of optimism and vulnerability.[127] The ensemble cast's chemistry, with notable contributions from Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein, supports authentic emotional dynamics.[128] The series has also been commended for its nuanced depiction of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and therapy, promoting empathy through characters facing these challenges.[129] Expanding from a viral promotional series, Ted Lasso became an Emmy favorite for its innovative mix of comedy and sincerity.[130] As Season 4 enters production with a focus on a women's team, anticipation surrounds its exploration of empowerment and inclusivity in sports.[131] The show is generally celebrated as an uplifting presence in television, though some critics point to occasional excessive sentimentality.[132]

Season 1

The first season of Ted Lasso received widespread critical acclaim for its optimistic tone and fish-out-of-water premise, earning a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 74 reviews. The consensus described it as "warm and winsome," crediting Jason Sudeikis's "charming turn" as the titular coach. Critics praised the show's wit, charm, and ability to deliver feel-good moments without sentimentality, particularly in contrasting Ted's affable American demeanor with the cynicism of English football culture.[126][14] Some reviewers critiqued its reliance on familiar underdog tropes and predictable plot elements common to the sports comedy genre. Variety described the show as a "deflated soccer comedy" hindered by clichés, though it acknowledged Sudeikis's earnest performance as a redeeming factor.[133] Despite these reservations, the season marked a breakout success, positioning Ted Lasso as Apple TV+'s flagship series and generating substantial buzz. At the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021, it secured a record-breaking 20 nominations for a first-season comedy, winning Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Sudeikis.[134][135]

Season 2

The second season of Ted Lasso marked a notable evolution in the series, shifting toward greater emotional depth while expanding the ensemble cast's roles, and it received widespread critical acclaim with a 98% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 126 reviews.[136] The critical consensus praised it as "a feel-good triumph that plays into the show's strengths while giving its supporting team more time on the pitch," highlighting its balance of humor and heartfelt storytelling.[136] Building on the optimistic foundation of the first season, Season 2 delved into more mature themes, earning recognition for its sophisticated handling of vulnerability amid comedic elements.[137] Central to the season's acclaim were its mental health storylines, particularly Ted Lasso's reluctant therapy sessions with Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, which provided a catalyst for personal growth while preserving the show's tender spirit.[138] Nate Shelley's arc emerged as a standout, portraying his painful navigation of assertiveness versus aggression as he rises within the team, adding layers to the ensemble dynamics.[138] Reviewers in The Guardian celebrated the season's core as "the tale of a good man doing good things," emphasizing its profound kindness and joyous optimism in an increasingly gritty narrative.[138] While some critics pointed to occasional preachiness in the early episodes' moral-driven plots around mental health and social responsibility, this was often viewed as a minor flaw outweighed by the season's strengths. Many outlets deemed it stronger than the debut season, citing bolder creative risks, deeper character explorations—like Rebecca's redemption and supporting players' growth—and a more ambitious blend of comedy and drama that enhanced relatability.[137] This reception solidified Ted Lasso's elevation to prestige television, transforming it from a lighthearted comedy into a culturally resonant series acclaimed for its emotional sophistication and human-centered narratives.[137]

Season 3

The third season of Ted Lasso, which premiered on March 15, 2023, and concluded on May 31, 2023, received mixed critical reception, earning an 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 207 reviews, alongside an audience Popcornmeter score of 78% from over 1,000 ratings.[53] Critics praised the season's emotional depth and heartfelt resolutions, particularly in its exploration of personal growth and farewells, with the consensus noting that while it "takes time to find its footing," patient viewers would appreciate the enduring optimism of its central coach. However, the season proved divisive, with notable criticisms including an overstuffed narrative featuring numerous subplots that scattered the core ensemble across disconnected storylines (e.g., Keeley's PR firm, Nate's arc at West Ham, and various romantic threads), leading to perceptions of diffusion and lack of focus compared to the tighter storytelling of prior seasons. Episodes often extended to 40-70 minutes, which some felt caused dragging and aimless pacing, with major events occurring off-screen and resolved via dialogue rather than action. Humor was seen as less consistent, shifting toward forced gags or earnest messaging on themes like mental health, diversity, and relationships, which some viewers labeled as preachy or "woke" checkboxes. Fan discussions, particularly on Reddit, highlighted a civil war between defenders appreciating the deeper character studies and mental health exploration (e.g., Ted's depression) and detractors feeling the show lost its charm, momentum, and team-centric underdog spirit. In 2024, star Jason Sudeikis responded to backlash in an oral history book, stating that critics "don’t have imaginations and they’re not open to the experience," urging curiosity over judgment. The finale, "So Long, Farewell," delivered a bittersweet ending emphasizing closure and new beginnings, with Ted returning to Kansas for his son Henry amid emotional farewells from AFC Richmond.

Season 4

Apple TV+ renewed Ted Lasso for a fourth season in March 2025, following Ted's return to Kansas at the end of Season 3 in 2023. The season introduces Ted coaching a second-division women's football team, a change praised for its potential to explore representation, empowerment, and inclusivity in sports.[139][40] ScreenRant expressed excitement over the projected mid-2026 release, which may coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and enable humor tied to Ted's American background. First-look images released in July 2025 show cast members including Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Jeremy Swift in a Kansas City diner, praised for their fresh energy from the U.S.-based filming and new ensemble dynamics. Variety noted the logline's focus on empowerment and Ted's growth through leading the team.[112][40] Despite this anticipation, concerns have arisen over major cast changes. Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) and Nick Mohammed (Nathan Shelley) depart regular roles, while Ted's son Henry is recast with Grant Feely. Some critics and fans question whether the series can maintain its quality after a two-year hiatus since Season 3.[140][141][142] As of November 2025, production continues in Kansas City with planned shoots in London. No full episodes have screened, preventing comprehensive reviews. The season is expected to premiere in the second quarter of 2026 or later.[84][112]

Viewership and audience response

Ted Lasso achieved strong viewership on Apple TV+, serving as the platform's most prominent original series until surpassed by Severance in 2025. According to Nielsen, the series accumulated 16.9 billion minutes viewed in the United States in 2023 across its 24 episodes, making it the top-watched streaming original that year. Overall domestic viewership has exceeded 25 billion minutes since the 2020 premiere, with a weekly high of 1.24 billion minutes during the Season 3 finale debut week. Season 2 saw viewership increase sixfold over Season 1, fueled by a 50% week-over-week surge in new viewers during its premiere weekend.[143][144][145][52] The series attracted a broad audience, including families and sports fans, particularly in the 18–49 age group, where roughly one-third are aged 35–49. Season 1 demographics showed 57.5% white, 12.2% Hispanic, and 8.1% Black viewers, with a profile of higher education and income levels comparable to audiences for Succession. It resonated strongly with soccer enthusiasts through its focus on team dynamics and personal growth, extending beyond typical sports programming. The show is available with multilingual options, including dubs, in 39 international markets, though it remains more popular in the United States than in the United Kingdom.[145][146][147][148] Fan engagement has been significant, driven by viral memes highlighting the show's optimistic tone and active online communities such as the r/TedLasso subreddit, which exceeded 300,000 members by 2025. Following the 2023 Season 3 finale, fans initiated petitions calling for continuation, including a notable Change.org campaign that emphasized the series' role in providing joy amid difficult times.[149][150] Season 4 was confirmed in March 2025, with Apple announcing a summer 2026 release window on January 28, 2026.[151]

Awards and nominations

Ted Lasso received 61 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 13 wins between 2021 and 2023.[152]

Primetime Emmy Awards

For its debut season in 2020, Ted Lasso received 20 nominations at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021, setting a record for the most nominations for a first-year comedy series, and secured seven wins.[135] These included Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, and technical awards such as Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (two episodes), Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing, and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "Nothing in the World."[135] The second season, released in 2021, earned another 20 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, resulting in four victories.[153] Wins encompassed Outstanding Comedy Series (achieving back-to-back honors), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing.[153] Season 3 garnered 21 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2023, the highest for any comedy that year, but yielded only two wins: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Sam Richardson as Edwin Akufo and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "A Beautiful Game."[154][152] Nominations for the season included Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actor for Sudeikis, Supporting Actor for Goldstein and Phil Dunster, Supporting Actress for Juno Temple and Waddingham, as well as directing, writing, and various technical categories.[152] As of November 2025, Season 4 has not yet received Emmy recognition, with eligibility pending future cycles around 2027.[152]

Golden Globe Awards

Ted Lasso won three Golden Globe Awards for its first two seasons. At the 78th Golden Globe Awards in 2021, the series won Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Jason Sudeikis won Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, while Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein received nominations. At the 79th Golden Globe Awards in 2022, Sudeikis won Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy again, with nominations for the series, Waddingham, and Goldstein. For Season 3, the series and Sudeikis received nominations in the same categories at the 81st Golden Globe Awards in 2024 but did not win.[155]

Screen Actors Guild Awards

The series Ted Lasso was honored by the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2021, Jason Sudeikis won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.[156] At the 2022 SAG Awards, Ted Lasso won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, and Sudeikis won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.[157] The 2024 SAG Awards (30th annual) featured four nominations for Season 3—Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein, and Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for Hannah Waddingham—but no wins.[158]

Critics' Choice Television Awards

Ted Lasso won seven Critics' Choice Television Awards across its first two seasons, winning all nominated categories through 2022. At the 27th Critics' Choice Television Awards in 2022, it won Best Comedy Series, Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis, Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Brett Goldstein, and Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Hannah Waddingham.[159] It previously won three awards at the 2021 ceremony for Season 1: Best Comedy Series, Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis, and Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Hannah Waddingham.[160] For Season 3, it received nominations at the 29th awards in 2024, including Best Comedy Series and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Phil Dunster, but won none.[161]

Themes and analysis

Central themes

One of the central themes in Ted Lasso is unwavering positivity, embodied in Ted's mantra "Believe," which motivates the AFC Richmond team and counters cynicism in sports and life. Ted promotes this through empathetic leadership and simple advice like "Be a goldfish" to move past mistakes, redefining success as personal growth and kindness rather than mere victory. This optimism fosters resilience amid adversity without denying pain, as applied to coaching and relationships.[162][163] However, some critics and observers have characterized this relentless positivity as "toxic positivity," arguing it may oversimplify emotional complexities by prioritizing cheerfulness over deeper processing of negative feelings.[162] Mental health is another core theme, portrayed through realistic depictions of anxiety, trauma, and therapy's value, challenging stigmas in male-dominated professional sports. Ted's panic attacks manifest with clinical accuracy—such as physical symptoms including shaking and sweating—and his eventual embrace of therapy with Dr. Sharon Fieldstone frames vulnerability as strength, encouraging the team's openness about emotional struggles. The series critiques toxic masculinity while promoting healthier manhood through introspection, support, and proactive coping, including mindfulness to address family-induced trauma like Ted's grief over his father's suicide.[164][165] Redemption arcs form a key narrative thread, illustrating transformation through forgiveness, accountability, and community. Rebecca Welton shifts from sabotaging the team out of resentment toward her ex-husband to becoming its passionate advocate. Jamie Tartt evolves from a self-centered antagonist to a collaborative teammate, confronting his abusive upbringing and embracing vulnerability. Nate's journey from betrayal to contrition and reconciliation underscores humility and amends, often guided by Ted's nonjudgmental approach.[166][167] The upcoming fourth season, announced by Apple TV+ on January 28, 2026, and scheduled to premiere in summer 2026, extends these themes to empowerment in women's sports. Ted returns to coach a second-division women's football team at AFC Richmond, applying his philosophy of belief and redemption to explore gender dynamics, trust, and bold new beginnings in a traditionally male-dominated sphere.[58]

Cultural and social impact

One of Ted Lasso's distinctive habits is exclaiming "barbecue sauce" (often spelled "barbeque sauce" in fan discussions) during moments of success or when something feels perfectly executed, akin to saying "bullseye" or "nailed it." This catchphrase stems from his deep fondness for Arthur Bryant's Original Barbecue Sauce, a Kansas City staple he receives in a care package from his son Henry in Season 1, Episode 2 ("Biscuits"). Ted describes it as "some of the best barbecue sauce in Kansas City, which makes it some of the best barbecue sauce in the world," noting that it "teleports" him home and evokes warm, fuzzy feelings of comfort and nostalgia. The phrase recurs in pivotal scenes, most iconically in Season 1, Episode 8 ("The Diamond Dogs"), when Ted utters "barbecue sauce" to himself before throwing the winning dart against Rupert Mannion, hitting a perfect shot. It reappears in later seasons during triumphant soccer moments, such as game-winning goals, reinforcing themes of optimism, mental reset, and Ted's unshakeable American identity amid his English surroundings. Fans have embraced it as a meme-able expression of positivity and achievement. Ted Lasso has influenced discussions on mental health by portraying vulnerability in high-pressure professional sports environments. The series has inspired real-world coaching programs that emphasize emotional openness, drawn from its depictions of therapy sessions and characters grappling with anxiety and panic attacks. Jason Sudeikis has stressed the importance of vulnerability in interviews, connecting Ted's struggles to societal needs for greater mental health awareness, particularly among men in athletics. This advocacy included a March 2023 White House event where Sudeikis and cast members discussed mental health strategies with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, aiding efforts to destigmatize seeking help.[168][169][170][171] The series heightened U.S. interest in soccer, especially the English Premier League, through humorous yet authentic portrayals that coincided with expanded streaming coverage of matches. Surveys link part of the growth in American soccer fandom during the show's 2020–2023 run to Ted Lasso providing an accessible entry point for newcomers. Its themes of team dynamics and underdog stories paralleled real-world developments, including 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup conversations on equity in women's soccer, while season 4 is set to feature a women's team storyline.[172][173][174][151] Ted Lasso initially faced criticism for its limited LGBTQ+ representation in seasons 1 and 2, where the show was described as notably lacking in queer characters despite its progressive themes on inclusion and mental health. This absence was highlighted by critics as conspicuous in an otherwise welcoming and optimistic series set in modern London. In response, season 3 introduced several explicit queer storylines. Colin Hughes' arc as a closeted gay footballer was praised for its sensitive portrayal of the pressures in professional sports, including his eventual coming out to teammates and public affirmation, though some critiques noted it focused more on team acceptance than Colin's internal journey. Journalist Trent Crimm was revealed as gay, providing mentorship to Colin and adding depth to themes of hidden identities. Keeley Jones' bisexuality was confirmed through a relationship with venture capitalist Jack Danvers, though this storyline drew criticism for feeling abrupt, sensationalized, or underdeveloped compared to Colin's more nuanced treatment. Overall, while these additions addressed prior gaps and advanced representation—drawing inspiration from real-world closeted athletes—the execution sparked debate, with some viewing the queer arcs as tragic or overly focused on trauma, and others appreciating the show's optimistic take on acceptance in a macho environment. These elements contributed to broader discussions on inclusion in media and sports. The show's cultural impact includes the viral "Believe" sign, a symbol of optimism and mutual trust that has appeared at sports events and in motivational contexts worldwide. Following its 2025 renewal, season 4's shift to Ted coaching a women's team has spotlighted gender equity in sports, aligning with discussions on equal investment in female athletics and barriers women face in coaching and leadership roles.[175][151][176]

Other media and legacy

Tie-in media

Ted Lasso has generated several official tie-in media extensions, including a book, an animated short, and digital content from Apple TV+. The 2024 book Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts by New York Times editor Jeremy Egner is an oral history based on interviews with the show's creators Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, as well as cast members. It covers the series' origins in NBC Sports promotions and its development into an Apple TV+ series.[177] The pilot episode script has been made publicly available by Warner Bros. Television.[178] Apple TV+ released the official animated holiday short Ted Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache in 2021, reuniting voice cast including Jason Sudeikis as Ted in a story connected to the series.[179] Digital extras on Apple TV+ include behind-the-scenes featurettes such as "The Making of Ted Lasso," while the official Apple TV YouTube channel hosts promotional clips and highlight reels. Following the March 2025 renewal, Apple TV+ has released promotional materials for Season 4, including first-look images. The season is scheduled to premiere in summer 2026 and features Ted returning to Richmond to coach a second division women's football team.[13][68][180]

Potential spin-offs and expansions

Following the Season 3 finale's tease of an AFC Richmond women's team proposed by Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) to Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), speculation arose about a potential spin-off centered on female empowerment and club dynamics.[181] This idea was incorporated into the confirmed Season 4, where Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) returns to coach a second-division women's football team in Richmond, marking a narrative shift described by co-creator Bill Lawrence as "almost a self-reboot" with a "different story" that refreshes the format while retaining core characters and themes.[139][182][183] Apple announced on January 28, 2026, that Season 4 will premiere globally in summer 2026 on Apple TV+, accompanied by first-look photos depicting Ted with returning cast members, his son Henry, and new assistant coach elements. Production began in July 2025 in Kansas City and continued in London. Returning cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift.[183][180] Director Declan Lowney suggested in 2023 that spin-offs might not emerge until at least 2025 to allow organic story development.[184] Creators and Apple executives have expressed openness to universe expansion, but no standalone projects beyond Season 4 have been greenlit. Jason Sudeikis has voiced enthusiasm for growing the "Ted Lasso universe" in fresh directions, though any ventures depend on his involvement.[185][186] Rumored concepts include a Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) series pitched by the actor in 2024, featuring him as a mentor to his niece Phoebe, and potential Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed) explorations, though both remain speculative.[187][184] Challenges for further expansions include cast scheduling conflicts, with Juno Temple ruling out an imminent spin-off in February 2025, and the need to maintain the show's optimistic tone without over-relying on Sudeikis.[188][182]

References

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