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Why You Need to Watch “Ted Lasso”

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter.

Cult-favorite show “Ted Lasso” returns for season three on March 15, and now is the perfect time to hop on board. Everything about the character and show is so nice, refreshing and fun to watch.

The first season of the show premiered in Aug. 2020, when everyone needed a serotonin boost during quarantine. It’s won 34 awards since, including 11 Emmys.

“Ted Lasso” was born from an NBC Sports commercial in the 2010s. Back in 2012, NBC spend $250 million on the rights to broadcast the English Premier League. But, there were doubts about how it would do over in the States, and it turned to its SNL star Jason Sudeikis.

Ted Lasso was born as an American football coach struggling to understand the Premier League after being mistakenly hired as the coach of Tottenham Hotspur.

Apple TV snatched up the rights for the return after Sudeikis and his friends worked on the idea for years. It finally came to fruition in 2020.

In the show, Ted Lasso is an American Football College Coach who just won a championship and gets hired to coach the fictional Premier League side AFC Richmond. His hiring was planned by his boss, Rebecca, to sabotage her ex-husband’s prized club that she won in the divorce.

Obviously, the hiring of a random American coach with no European football knowledge does not sit well with the public, but Lasso and his assistant Coach Beard can overcome anything with their optimism and southern hospitality.

The show’s half-hour 10-episode format makes it such a quick watch to get addicted to. It’s a comedy series that doesn’t shy away from anything.

And, “Ted Lasso” has an iconic female friendship between Rebecca and Keeley. Two women who seem like opposites and could easily be pitted against each other, but instead support each other.

My favorite thing about “Ted Lasso” is how each character is real and has their own story. There are no true throwaway characters without purpose.

While Ted is the epitome of optimism, he also struggles with his public role and the viewers get to see his struggles. He even deals with family issues and his son being across the ocean.

The way that Lasso breaks down his grumpy and arrogant players with his kindness is hilarious as he truly “kills them with kindness.” Viewers get to see the characters become closer and grow together through their wins and defeats. Knowledge of the Premier League isn’t even needed as you can be as confused as Lasso and learn along with him.

“Ted Lasso” propelled Apple TV to fame and was able to be successful because of its release during the pandemic. In a time of the unknown, Lasso provided a bright look and wanted distraction. In the show, Lasso was asked if he believed in ghosts and said, “I do. But more importantly I think they need to believe in themselves.”

Belief is the cornerstone of the show.

Lasso hangs a sign in the locker room, often crooked, that simply says “Believe.” Such a simple thing, but something that is needed in everyday life. All you need to do is believe in yourself.

Ashley is a freshman at Penn State University majoring in broadcast journalism. In her free time, she loves reading, watching premier league football, obsessing over Harry Styles, and proclaiming her love for Saquon Barkley.