My interest inApple TV+first piqued overThe Morning Show. It bubbled up even more when I caught wind of shows likeLittle AmericaandDickinson. But it wasn’t solidified until a recent Friday night in quarantine when my husband was desperate to find a non-depressing 30-minute show we could both enjoy together. EnterTed Lassointo my life.
A quick synopsis of the show to get you up to speed: Jason Sudeikis stars as Ted, an overly-enthusiastic American college football coach who—fresh off a Division II championship win at Wichita State in Kansas—gets plucked to lead AFC Richmond, a mostly mediocre Premier League soccer team in the U.K. Ted is earnest. And folksy. And absurd. He’s also the least likely candidate for the job. (No spoilers here, but let’s just say the team’s owner—played bySex EducationalumHannah Waddingham—is in the middle of a bitter divorce and may have devious reasons for putting Ted in charge. Dun dun dun.)
So, why do I love thisshould-be-just-another-formulaic-sports-comedythat, btw, has already beenrenewed for season two? There are three major reasons:
1.Jason Sudeikis is a total delight.For background, this isn’t the first time Sudeikis has stepped into the shoes of Coach Lasso. He first played him in aseries of promotional videosfor NBC Sports back in 2013, during hisSaturday Night Livedays. (#TBT) But unlike the OG Ted, who was defined by his proud ignorance and general idiocy, 2020’s version of Ted is eager to learn. To be better. To grow. He also delivers one-liner after one-liner that are so cleverly hilarious, you’ll actually want to rewind back 10 seconds just so you can hear them twice.