| Ted Lasso | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Sportscomedy drama |
| Based on | Format and characters fromNBC Sports |
| Developed by | |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 34 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production location | London |
| Running time | 29–78 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14) – present |
Ted Lasso (/ˈlæsoʊ/LASS-oh) is an Americansportscomedy-drama television series developed byJason Sudeikis,Bill Lawrence,Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly. It is based on a character Sudeikis portrayed in a series of promotional media forNBC Sports'coverage of England's soccerPremier League. The show follows Ted Lasso, an Americancollege football coach who is hired to coach anEnglish 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 onApple 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, andJuno Temple), humor, writing, themes, and uplifting tone. Amongother accolades, its first season was nominated for 20Primetime 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 2021Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Sudeikis also won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and theScreen 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.
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Ted Lasso, an Americancollege football coach, is unexpectedly recruited to coach a fictional EnglishPremier League soccer team,A.F.C. Richmond, despite having no experience coachingsoccer. 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. However, Ted's charm, personality, and humor begin to win over Rebecca, the team, and those who had been skeptical about his appointment.
Many sports and television entertainment personalities appeared on the show, often appearing as themselves in cameo roles throughout the series:
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 10 | August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14) | October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02) | |
| 2 | 12 | July 23, 2021 (2021-07-23) | October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08) | |
| 3 | 12 | March 15, 2023 (2023-03-15) | May 31, 2023 (2023-05-31) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Tom Marshall | Story 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 thePremier 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, an American collegecollege football coach fromWichita, Kansas, who recently coached an NCAA Division II football team to a title but knows nothing aboutsoccer. Arriving inRichmond 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". | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Biscuits" | Zach Braff | Story by : Brendan Hunt & Jason Sudeikis Teleplay by : Joe Kelly | August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14) | |
On his first day at AFC Richmond, Ted brings Rebeccashortbread 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. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Trent Crimm: The Independent" | Tom Marshall | Jane Becker | August 14, 2020 (2020-08-14) | |
Knowing that tabloid newspaperThe 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 forThe 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. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "For the Children" | Tom Marshall | Jamie Lee | August 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 musicianRobbie 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. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Tan Lines" | Elliot Hegarty | Brett Goldstein | August 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. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Two Aces" | Elliot Hegarty | Bill Wrubel | September 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 toManchester City, which had loaned Jamie to AFC Richmond for the season. Dani tries to cheer him up, but it doesn't help. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Make Rebecca Great Again" | Declan Lowney | Story by : Joe Kelly & Brendan Hunt Teleplay by : Jason Sudeikis | September 11, 2020 (2020-09-11) | |
AFC Richmond travels toLiverpool for its game against rivalsEverton, 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. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Diamond Dogs" | Declan Lowney | Leann Bowen | September 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 apaparazzo, 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. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "All Apologies" | MJ Delaney | Phoebe Walsh | September 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 asecond team pinny, accepting his new role while still leading the team as they approach their last match. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Hope That Kills You" | MJ Delaney | Story 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 theChampionship. 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. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Goodbye Earl" | Declan Lowney | Brendan Hunt | July 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'sgreyhound 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 onLust Conquers All, aLove Island-style reality show. | ||||||
| 12 | 2 | "Lavender" | Declan Lowney | Leann Bowen | July 30, 2021 (2021-07-30) | |
After Jamie is evicted fromLust 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 atSky 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. | ||||||
| 13 | 3 | "Do the Right-est Thing" | Ezra Edelman | Ashley Nicole Black | August 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. | ||||||
| 14 | 4 | "Carol of the Bells" | Declan Lowney | Joe Kelly | August 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 watchingIt'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 anantihistamine 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. | ||||||
| 15 | 5 | "Rainbow" | Erica Dunton | Bill Wrubel | August 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 hisSoccer 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. | ||||||
| 16 | 6 | "The Signal" | Erica Dunton | Brett Goldstein | August 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 againstTottenham Hotspur in the quarter-final of theFA 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. | ||||||
| 17 | 7 | "Headspace" | Matt Lipsey | Phoebe Walsh | September 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 becausecouples 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. | ||||||
| 18 | 8 | "Man City" | Matt Lipsey | Jamie Lee | September 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 atWembley 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. | ||||||
| 19 | 9 | "Beard After Hours" | Sam Jones | Brett Goldstein & Joe Kelly | September 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. | ||||||
| 20 | 10 | "No Weddings and a Funeral" | MJ Delaney | Jane Becker | September 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 toeulogize 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. | ||||||
| 21 | 11 | "Midnight Train to Royston" | MJ Delaney | Sasha Garron | October 1, 2021 (2021-10-01) | |
Sam scores the firsthat-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 buyRaja 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. | ||||||
| 22 | 12 | "Inverting the Pyramid of Success" | Declan Lowney | Jason Sudeikis & Joe Kelly | October 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 hisfalse 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'sVC company offers to finance Keeley's own PR firm. She and Rebecca discover Rupert has boughtWest 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. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Smells Like Mean Spirit" | MJ Delaney | Leann Bowen | March 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. | ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" | MJ Delaney | Sasha Garron | March 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 forChelsea, 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 quitJuventus 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. | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "4-5-1" | Destiny Ekaragha | Bill Wrubel | March 29, 2023 (2023-03-29) | |
Richmond enjoys an unprecedented five-game winning streak with Zava on the team, culminating in a win away atOld Trafford againstManchester 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. | ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "Big Week" | Destiny Ekaragha | Brett Goldstein | April 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. | ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Signs" | Matt Lipsey | Jamie Lee | April 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. | ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Sunflowers" | Matt Lipsey | Story by : Joe Kelly &Jason Sudeikis Teleplay by :Brendan Hunt | April 19, 2023 (2023-04-19) | |
After losing afriendly againstAFC 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 theVan Gogh Museum, then has supper at an American restaurant where the movements of players in an oldChicago Bulls basketball game on the wall inspire him to create a new strategy inadvertently based onTotal Football. The next morning they all leave Amsterdam weary but in high spirits. | ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "The Strings That Bind Us" | Matt Lipsey | Phoebe Walsh | April 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 againstArsenal 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 islove-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. | ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "We'll Never Have Paris" | Erica Dunton | Keeley Hazell &Dylan Marron | May 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 which ends their relationship. 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. | ||||||
| 31 | 9 | "La Locker Room Aux Folles" | Erica Dunton | Chuck Hayward | May 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 againstBrighton, 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 ofFIFA. | ||||||
| 32 | 10 | "International Break" | Matt Lipsey | Jane Becker | May 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 exclusiveSuper 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. | ||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Mom City" | Declan Lowney | Story 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 againstManchester 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. | ||||||
| 34 | 12 | "So Long, Farewell" | Declan Lowney | Brendan Hunt & Joe Kelly & Jason Sudeikis | May 31, 2023 (2023-05-31) | |
Richmond can win the Premier League 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 fromThe Lasso Way – because it was never about him – Trent retitles itThe 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. | ||||||
Jason Sudeikis originally portrayed thetitle character in 2013 as part of a series of television commercials forNBC Sports promoting their coverage of thePremier League, in which Lasso is depicted as the new head coach ofTottenham Hotspur F.C.[13][14]
In about 2015, Sudeikis's then-girlfriendOlivia 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 withThe Guardian:[15][16]
It was the culture we were living in. I'm not terribly active online and it even affected me. Then you haveDonald Trumpcoming 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 byApple TV+, with Sudeikis reprising the role.[13] Television producer andScrubs creatorBill Lawrence was brought in to work on a television series based around the character in 2017.[17] The series is co-owned byWarner Bros. Television, where Lawrence's production companyDoozer is based, and which controls linear distribution rights to the series, and NBC subsidiaryUniversal 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 theScrubs rewatch podcastFake Doctors, Real Friends withZach +Donald, Lawrence indicated thatTed 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 endfor 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, andtrophy starting from the third season.[26] On March 6, 2022, a day before filming for season 3 began,Nike, Inc. posted on its officialTwitter account a photo ofits 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 andTerry 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 withApple 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 teamChester City and subsequently installed himself as the first-team coach".[32]
In June 2024, Warner Bros. Television CEOChanning Dungey talked about the possibility ofTed 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]
Actors in the seriesBrett Goldstein andBrendan 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]
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 toJeremy Swift.[43] Park pushed forPhil Dunster to play the role of Jamie Tartt, even though the character was originally supposed to be fromLatin America and portrayed byCristo Fernández.[43] The character of Sam Obisanya was originally going to have been ofGhanaian heritage, but the character was changed afterToheeb 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 includeTanya 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]
Production began on the second season in January 2021.[47] In March 2021, Jason Sudeikis andHannah Waddingham were spotted filming outside a pub inLondon.[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 actualLondon 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 ofHayes & 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 actuallySelhurst Park, a real-lifePremier League stadium used by London clubCrystal Palace F.C. Exterior shots ofCraven Cottage, the home stadium ofFulham F.C. were used in season 1 to pass off as fellow Premier League groundGoodison Park when AFC Richmond played away atEverton.Wembley Stadium was used in season 2 to portray theFA Cup semi-final withManchester City.[50]
The show incorporates manyreal-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 theSky Sports programmeSoccer Saturday. The daytimeITV showThis Morning also features in season 2.[51]
For the second season, assistant director Sophie Worger hired former professional playerKasali 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 formerPremier League andEngland internationalsLee Hendrie andJay Bothroyd, as well as formerLiverpool playerJermaine Pennant andWolverhampton Wanderers defenderGeorge Elokobi.[12]
Filming for the third season began on March 7, 2022.[52] The series filmed on location inAmsterdam for the third season.[53] With the emergence of Nate becomingWest Ham United's head coach during season 3, the club'sLondon Stadium was used for filming.[54]Stamford Bridge, the home ofChelsea, 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 playerRay 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. OwnerTodd 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 includingManchester United'sOld Trafford andBurnley'sTurf Moor were briefly filmed for on-field action, while DutchEredivisie sideAFC Ajax'sJohan 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 atArsenal'sEmirates Stadium andManchester City'sCity of Manchester Stadium.[58]
Production on season four began in July 2025, with some filming locations being scouted inBlue Springs, Missouri and other locations in theKansas City metropolitan area.[59] Filming began on July 21, with a photo of the main cast seated atGates, aKansas City barbecue restaurant.[60] Other locations included scenes filmed atCPKC Stadium during aKansas City Current match, theNegro Leagues Baseball Museum, andCountry Club Plaza.[61] Filming will then shift back to London later in summer 2025.[62]
In March 2021,Bill Lawrence revealed that officialTed 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]
The first season of 10 episodes premiered onApple 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]
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92% (74 reviews)[70] | 71 (21 reviews)[71] |
| 2 | 98% (126 reviews)[72] | 85 (35 reviews)[73] |
| 3 | 81% (207 reviews)[74] | 73 (31 reviews)[75] |
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Review aggregatorRotten 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 ofEntertainment Weekly gave the series an A− and wrote, "There's nothing groundbreaking about the wayTed 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 forRolling 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 forThe 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 ofVariety 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 ofPaste 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 toTed Lasso and felt a swelling of a now unfamiliar emotion—hope".[80] And after the finale aired, Lea Palmieri fromDecider 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]
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]
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 inVulture 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 ofThe Atlantic felt the series had "devolv[ed] into ham-fisted, novelistic nonsense" in its pivot from itssitcom 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 ofNPR 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 ofGQ 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]
The first season received 20 nominations at the73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most nominated freshman comedy in Emmy Award history at that time.[86] It won 7 awards, includingOutstanding Comedy Series and acting awards forJason Sudeikis,Brett Goldstein andHannah Waddingham; whileBrendan Hunt,Nick Mohammed,Jeremy Swift andJuno Temple received nominations.[87] Sudeikis also won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and theScreen 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 forOutstanding New Program,Outstanding Achievement in Comedy andProgram of the Year at the37th TCA Awards and also won for bestComedy Series andNew Series at the73rd Writers Guild of America Awards.[92][93]
The second season received 20 nominations at the74th Primetime Emmy Awards.[94] It won four awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, acting awards for Sudeikis and Goldstein, and a directing award forMJ Delaney. Several actors received nominations, includingToheeb Jimoh, Mohammed, Temple, Waddingham,Sarah Niles,James Lance,Sam Richardson andHarriet Walter.[95]
The third season received 21 nominations at the75th 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 andHarriet Walter for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and the finale episode was nominated for both outstanding writing and directing.[96] At the75th 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 ofTed Lasso were invited by US PresidentJoe Biden and First LadyJill 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]
Ted Lasso became the most watched television series onApple 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 ofTed Lasso "increased its viewership by six times over season one".[99] In 2021, the final episode of the second season ranked ninth place among allSVOD programs and fifth place in the SVOD originals category with 507 million minutes (MM) viewed.[101]
In December 2021, Apple TV+ releasedTed Lasso: The Missing Christmas Mustache, a four-minuteclaymation special.[102]
In September 2022, it was announced that AFC Richmond and Nelson Road would appear in the video gameFIFA 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 onBlu-ray andDVD on July 30, 2024.[105]
Linear rights toTed Lasso — which Warners retained as part of its initial deal with Apple forTed Lasso[...] the series that [Warners] co-own with passive partner Universal TV.
