The Secret Appeal of Ted Lasso
/By Don Varyu
September 29, 2021
In the extremely unlikely circumstance that you haven’t heard about the TV series Ted Lasso, let me begin with just a couple facts. In its first year, the show set a record for a newcomer comedy with 20 Emmy nominations. The show won four, including best comedy series, best lead actor (co-creator Jason Sudeikis) and best supporting awards for both males and females. In addition, the show is reputed to be streaming “about 25 times more” than the “average” streamed program.
Among those who haven’t watched it, there are three commonly cited reasons:
Bad reason: It’s about soccer. Well, that's true as far as it goes. The show is set against the backdrop of a fictional English soccer club. This makes for some very funny comments and situations about the idiosyncrasies of the game (from an American viewpoint.) But in reality, soccer is not really relevant. This comedy could be set in the clubhouse of any other sport, or, for that matter, in millions of workplaces or factories. After all, Steve Carrell’s The Office was an English import.
Good reason: Profanity. This is most definitely not a show you would want your 8-year-old exposed to. But even as an adult you may cringe at the f-bombs thrown around on set in front of child actors. Buyer beware.
The best reason: Apple. You cannot watch this show without buying an Apple TV+ device. This will cost you (depending on your data appetite) from $70 to $200, plus $5 a month. What this means is even more revenue for Apple to avoid paying taxes on.
OK, beyond that, you’ll likely find Ted Lasso more than worthwhile. Most of the critical acclaim centers on its tone: “optimistic”, “refreshing”, “positive” and “life affirming”--these claims are almost ubiquitous. Many comment that in our era of political, racial, social and class polarization, this may be exactly what we’ve been yearning for.
It’s almost impossible not to come to that conclusion. Writing in The Ringer, Miles Surrey said,
“…no series I’ve watched…has been more rewarding, on an emotional level, than Ted Lasso. I mean this sincerely: the show has struck an optimistic chord in my increasingly cynical heart and made me want to be a better person.”
Going one step deeper, critics have pointed to the almost universal quality of human redemption among the characters. With one very minor exception, there are no “bad guys” in this scenario. Where some shows these days offer no heroes, this one gives you no villains. In Ted Lasso, you love everyone.
But let me add one more underlying explanation.
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Bill Lawrence is the showrunner for Ted Lasso. He says what you’d expect him to: “we’re really talking about…writing with heart and empathy.” Check—that jibe with everything the critics and fans are saying.
But talking to Vanity Fair, he opens another door:
“…the biggest influence on this, and it’s something I haven’t talked about a lot, is that Jason and I really connected over the idea of mentors. He made every writer that we met with answer who their mentor was, whether it was someone who got them into further education, or who convinced them they could be a writer. And I think that that was really the true spirit of this.
“The greatest versions of mentors were inherently optimistic. They told you that you could do anything, and it could work out. They didn’t grab you by the neck and white knight you and make you do something. They just pointed you down a different path, a different choice. I think the stuff that you’re responding to (in the show) is really an amalgamation of all of our mentor stories.”
It might be that Lawrence is just tripping on his own success. But it doesn’t seem like it. Maybe what he’s saying is something we could all take to heart.
How would we do that?
If you’re old (insert your own age definition here), is there someone younger who you think is “drifting”? Someone who would benefit from hearing about your own experiences? Someone who might take interest, or even inspiration, from what you see in them?
If you’re young (insert your own age definition here), is there someone older who you respect…who you’d really like to hear from? Are you brave enough to ask?
Characteristically, Ted Lasso incorporates this idea of self-realization and improvement throughout the show. In one scene, he’s asked if he believes in ghosts. He responds, "I do. But more importantly, I believe they need to believe in themselves."
I know to some this sounds only mildly interesting. After all, it’s just feel-good fiction--It’s pie in the sky. This is not how the real world works. So, I’ll finish with one Ted Lasso story from the real world.
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There’s an entertainment writer from the online site Uproxx named Mike Ryan. In the past, he had interviewed Jason Sudeikis enough to form a mild acquaintance—close enough to share stories about their Kansas City backgrounds. Back in 2018, Ryan interviewed Sudeikis about his film, Kodachrome. The story is about a son suddenly losing his father. During the interview, Ryan mentioned in passing that the story really hit home with him. No explanation why.
He went home that night and checked his email. There was one from Sudeikis. Somehow, the actor had found our Ryan was grieving over his own father’s death.
Here, in part, is what Sudeikis wrote:
“Just wanted to shoot ya a quick note and let ya know that I’m so sorry for your loss. And I thank you for feeling comfortable enough with me to share.
It’s important and f**ing necessary for us human beings to do that. To connect. To share. And to not concern ourselves too much with the outcome of such bravery.
Especially the men of the world. Our generation is the first to “understand” that notion, but darn it, I’d love to try and be the first generation of fellas to “live” the notion as well. So, let’s both continue to attempt to be on that “side of history,” shall we?
You see deeply into things for a living. Allow yourself the experience of doing that to yourself--for yourself.
Okay man. Be well. Always good to see and speak with you.
yours,
Jason
Yep, that is exactly what we’re yearning for…
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