Very few people saw Ted Lasso coming. The original Apple TV+ sitcom (though that term sells the show short) has become one of the most successful word-of-mouth hits in recent memory, with almost everyone giving it a chance because they’ve heard raves immediately finding themselves on the bandwagon, and eagerly anticipating future seasons. Jason Sudeikis’ endlessly optimistic coach character has charmed his way into the hearts of millions, but now we are picking up some harsh news that Ted Lasso fans won’t want to hear. Basically, don’t get too attached to Ted, because he’s only sticking around for three seasons, and then leaving the pitch, so to speak.
Ted Lasso co-creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence recently joined his former Scrubs collaborators Zach Braff and Donald Faison on their podcast “Fake Doctors, Real Friends,” and opened up about his current smash hit (which would be much bigger if mainstream audiences knew how to find it). But during their conversation, Lawrence dropped this bomb on folks, stating that Ted Lasso has a predetermined finish line that’s probably sooner than most fans thought. He said:
After the third season, I will desperately try to get Mr. Sudeikis to do a ... The only way I think a fourth season of Ted Lasso exists would be if Ted Lasso went and coached a soccer team that played about a block from Jason’s house in real life, you know what I mean? [Jason]’s got young kids.
Kids. They ruin everything. I’m kidding! (Sorry, boys, if you are reading this.) But yes, it appears as if the responsibilities of parenting are going to prevent Jason Sudeikis from staying in the lead role of U.S. football coach turned inspirational UK soccer coach Ted Lasso for longer than two more seasons. And that also means that Sudeikis only has one more season to film, because production on season two of the program wrapped in the UK earlier this year.
Did you know that the Lasso character originated in a series of NBC Sports commercials for the English Premier League? I had no idea, but if you want to see Jason Sudeikis figuring the character out, start here:
Maybe this is smart. There’s nothing more painful than watching a beloved television show -- particularly a comedy -- last beyond the point where it stops working. If we’re being honest, that happened to Bill Lawrence’s Scrubs, which was incredibly inventive and endearing in its earlier episodes but got bogged down in maturing relationships. Ted Lasso has the ability to dive into the various relationships it has established (or explore Ted’s relationship with his ex-wife, which recently has fallen apart). But if the show can properly handle its traumas on a truncated schedule, it might be as efficient as it is entertaining.
We’ll be able to see where Ted Lasso is taking its stories when season two of the winning program drops on Friday, July 23. Make sure that you are using our Summer TV Premiere Schedule to stay up to date on when all of your favorite television programs are coming back with new episodes.
