“Ted Lasso,” the Apple TV+ comedy series, has grown to accept many compliments.
Many people will say that they didn’t think they would enjoy the first season. They might also say that they were shocked at how Jason Sudeikis’ show turned out. They hear the word “shocked” a lot.
“We laugh in the writers’ area about how many times we hear the phrase, “This show has no right not to be this great.” We are always like, “Really? “I mean, we tried really difficult,” said Brett Goldstein who was Emmy-nominated for his portrayal of tough guy Roy Kent. He also co-produces the show and co-writes it.
There’s no reason to be shocked on the eve for the second season of the show. “Ted Lasso,” a comedian and actor, swept out Tuesday’s Emmy nominations process with 20 nominations. These included best comedy, best comedy writing, and seven acting nominations.
“Ted Lasso,” which begins its second season July 23, is no longer considered an underdog. However, all the accolades and honors don’t make it a diva: Season two was planned before season one.
The story centers around an American football coach who manages a top-ranked British soccer team in England, despite not knowing much about the sport. It follows the owners, players, coaches, and owners.
Season one established the characters and the tone. Season two is about exploring and deepening what creators have created. Many secondary characters find their voice. You’ll see a lot less soccer.
“I’m kinda excited, slightly nervous, but in a kinda excited way,” Nick Mohammed said. He was nominated Tuesday for his role as Nate, a kit man-turned-assistant coach.
The second season starts with Lasso’s London team being relegated to the elite division. Goldstein, the team’s old champion, is now retired. Phil Dunster is the team’s arrogant hotshot. The journeys of the two teams are followed by Sarah Niles, a sports psychologist with a knack for revealing the truth.
Niles didn’t know much about the show before she was asked to submit a video of herself during the pandemic. After the pandemic, Niles waited to binge-watch the first season. She fell in love with the sweetness and decided to wait until then. She said that Ted was like an underdog in Britain.
Sudeikis, along with executive producer Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs”) and “Spin City”, have created a three-dimensional Lasso based on the original character that was first created by NBC Sports for American viewers to watch coverage of English Premier League soccer. The second season was not a carbon copy of the previous.
It would be easy to say, “Oh, well, there’s a winning formula here.” Let’s do the same thing. But Ted Lasso’s creative team is not like that. They want to challenge the viewer. Mohammed said that they want it to feel real.”
Sudeikis’ Lasso is a fish out water. But he is a constant optimist and kind. He has homespun wisdom that he uses in the face hostility. “Fairy tales don’t end in the dark forest. The son-of-a gun always appears in the middle of a story. He assures his team that everything will work out in the second season.
“Ted Lasso” is a comedy about an ignorant guy who doesn’t know much about football. He’s not arrogant or he’s not yelling at people,” Goldstein said. He is open, honest, and empathic.
Brendan Hunt, an executive producer, plays Coach Beard. He likens Lasso as a Jimmy Stewart character. He is humble, kind, polite, respectful, and a man you can trust to stand for the right way forward.
“There is a specific American goodness there. He said that we haven’t been exposed to much American goodness over the past few years. It’s part of our DNA. It’s something we have done. It’s been our daily routine. We stopped. That’s what I believe resonates with people at home.
Goldstein says that the British have also come to embrace it. “I’m surprised how well it has performed over here because British people inherently are far more cynical.”
Hunt mentions two men, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager, and Gary Lineker (player-turned-TV-commentator). “That’s an excellent cross-section. Hunt stated that Hunt believed they are on to something.
However, this doesn’t make the show a soccer series. Although there are some moments of kicking a soccer ball on grass, viewers quickly learn that this is not the most important thing.
Mohammed said that football is a background for the characters in this world. “But I mean that it’s number five, six or seven in the pecking list of what this show focuses on.”
