Ted Lasso: Apple TV+ Comedy That Deserves All The Praise
By now you’ve heard the hype surrounding breakout comedy Ted Lasso for Apple TV+. The feel-good sports comedy couldn’t have come at a better time when we could all use a little bit more comedy and a lot more feel-good moments. The hit show was up for 20 Emmy Nominations, taking home wins in seven categories
Notable Wins
Best Comedy
Best Actor In a Comedy Series – Jason Sudekis (as Ted Lasso)
Supporting Actor In A Comedy – Brett Goldstein (as Roy Kent)
Supporting Actress In A Comedy – Hannah Waddingham
What makes Ted Lasso so appealing isn’t its simple nature. At its core, it’s a formula we’ve seen for years with a Bad News Bears style plot where a band of misfit underdogs goes on to do great things. But it’s the heart of the show that keeps you hooked with family-friendly comedy and great storytelling/character development.
The characters are the highlight of the show and you can’t help but root for them. These characters at first are very relatable and fun, but it’s the deep dive into their backstories that makes them all the more relatable.
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Take the title character, Ted Lasso, for instance. On the surface, he’s a happy-go-lucky guy whose infinite optimism is not only contagious but you can’t help but want him to win. As you watch the show it starts to unfold that there’s a lot more going on with him off the pitch that relates to a wider range of people. Are his struggles what makes him that people-pleaser with his heart on his sleeve to cover up his own pains.
Then, in another breath take Roy Kent. He’s the seasoned veteran who’s the young players look up to. His “everyone at arms distance” while “telling it like it is” makes audiences love him despite his rough edges. His attitude around the team differs from how he builds connections. Roy is someone whose personality has been hardened by the ways of the world, but deep down you can tell he’s the attack dog if you mess with the people he cares about.
And those are just two of the standout performances. Ted Lasso isn’t one of these generic comedies rolled out every year. Despite its familiar formula, each character on the show has multiple layers of relatability to the viewers. You might not see it right away while laughing at the well-timed jokes but as their stories unfold, each character becomes more likable and relatable.
It’s the heart and comedy that makes Ted Lasso so deserving of the awards its won so far and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Hopefully, this show has many more seasons to come.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
