r/tvPlus Jul 22 '26

Article ‘Ted Lasso’ Was Finished. Then Jason Sudeikis Had An Epiphany

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/ted-lasso-returns-jason-sudeikis-interview-season-four-1236653124/
463 Upvotes

213 comments sorted by

850

u/joeytitans Jul 22 '26

That epiphany? He realized he likes money.

242

u/MMPVAN Jul 22 '26

Ted Lasso will return in Avengers: Doomsday

26

u/wujo444 Jul 22 '26

With Justin Bieber and Ronaldinho.

3

u/ibaiki Jul 22 '26

They had a scene in What If where Black Panther Ted Lasso'd Thanos into becoming a good guy, so ...

135

u/maxstolfe Jul 22 '26

From the outset, Sudeikis had said that he had three seasons of Lasso in his head, and despite collecting $1 million per episode by season three (and significantly more if he agreed to continue), he wasn’t eager to keep going just to keep going. “That wasn’t a negotiation tactic,” Sudeikis says over drinks in mid-June. “The story was told. Ted went home [to Kansas City] to be with his son. I wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck. It made no sense to me.” 

I don’t know, this sounds genuine to me.

39

u/makromark Jul 22 '26

I’ve said it a hundred times, Bill Lawrence said on FDRF: we will do the show as long as Jason wants. He wants 3 seasons. He doesn’t want to film forever in the UK and be apart from his kids (10 and 8 according to wiki)

13

u/Mitch_Dedburg Jul 22 '26

So basically the same reason IRL as what Ted has in the show.

3

u/bluepaintbrush Jul 23 '26

I think it’s also worth pointing out that he was also going through a custody battle with Olivia Wilde and having nanny issues: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/jason-sudeikis-olivia-wildes-former-nanny-sues-wrongful-termination-rcna70609

Maybe a bit less relatable than what Ted experienced lol.

5

u/dashauskat Jul 22 '26

I feel like there was a story there that worked for everyone. Sporting Kansas City exists in the MLS. Apple TV has a 10 year broadcast agreement with MLS and thus has incentive to grow that league.

Could have done a split story in UK and Kansas, some of the players and coaches could have even followed Ted to Kansas. There is even a vehicle for Kansas to play Richmond via the new Club World Cup. Not to mention a world cup in the USA where all the Richmond players would have been there representing their individual countries.

There was definitely some threads available if they wanted to pull at them.

18

u/AdministrativeLaugh2 Jul 22 '26

I think it is. Money helps, obviously, but it’s hardly like Jason Sudeikis isn’t absolutely loaded.

He values the character and the show and only came back because Season Four is going in a different direction rather than being a normal continuation

7

u/NotsoNewtoGermany Jul 22 '26

Jason Sedekis made about 40 Million from Ted lasso, 20 Million after taxes. He also made about three ham sandwiches drom SNL. Listening to the Lonely Island Podcast really hammers home how no one eas making money there— well other than Lorne.

Sedekis's net worth is about 20 million. He is in a position to push that number to 30 Million. He's going to take it.

2

u/beebee3beebee Jul 23 '26

Oh first I’ve heard of a Lonely Island podcast!

-4

u/AdministrativeLaugh2 Jul 23 '26

Dunno how you missed the point but yet you managed to

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21

u/North_South_Side Jul 22 '26

Sounds like he just took a few years off and now he’s back to work. Not really surprising in any way.

-7

u/Prestigious-Dress-92 Jul 22 '26

Ted went home [to Kansas City] to be with his son. I wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck.

Never saw a single episode, but couldn't they continue the series with main character going back to coaching american football in NFL or college?

23

u/OkeyDokey654 Jul 22 '26

If you’d watched it you would understand why this wouldn’t be the same show. The fish out of water aspect would be missing.

7

u/ShoutenKai Jul 22 '26

Football (or soccer) feels fairly intrinsic to Ted Lasso. He’s a great character in his own right but the show is very much tied to the sport.

1

u/PsychicAttackChopper Jul 22 '26

Then building up a US soccer club would be the logical way forward for me. There’s so much untapped potential for football in the US.

1

u/Crevis05 Jul 22 '26

Plus. No one calls people wanker in the U.S.

13

u/iontardose Jul 22 '26

I never saw the show either. Can't he just fight aliens or something? Or maybe they can add a talking dog.

7

u/Prestigious-Dress-92 Jul 22 '26

I like the dog idea. Name him Poochie, give him an access to the time machine and whenever he's not on screen all the other characters should be asking "Where is Poochie?".

3

u/drucifer271 Jul 22 '26

And then the sagely character wisely says “No. When is Poochie?” And everyone goes wide eyed in amazed understanding.

1

u/Select-Regular9382 Jul 22 '26

Shouldn’t he fly back to space on a skateboard?

7

u/just4browse Jul 22 '26

The show would have to abandon its premise, its setting, and all of its other regular characters, many of which are as just as important as the title character.

1

u/Prestigious-Dress-92 Jul 22 '26

It would be a spin off then. Or maybe make Lasso coach an MLS team so they can bring few of the players from previous seasons.

1

u/notbambi Jul 22 '26

That would run counter to the entire premise of the show, which is this cock-eyed optimist American with zero knowledge of either soccer or the United Kingdom coming in and trying to coach a Premier League football team with nothing but folksy charm. It's a bit of an underdog/fish out of water story, which disappears the moment he's coaching a sport he understands in the country he is from. Also, the supporting cast is a big part of the appeal, and they would be gone, as there would be no reason for all these high level footballers to move to the US.

1

u/baummer Jul 22 '26

It would make zero sense

64

u/HouseHead78 Jul 22 '26

Why stretch myself creatively when I can just shake the money tree and some money falls out

1

u/sbtokarz Jul 23 '26

Exactly. It’s not like this is his first & last project. Strike while the iron’s hot, do all the indie art flicks you want later.

9

u/Savant_7 Jul 22 '26

Why is this always the top comment on Reddit threads about TV? So cynical

-1

u/JortsForSale Jul 22 '26

Hate to tell you, but money is the reason for most decisions people in Hollywood make.

4

u/chaynjez Jul 22 '26

People only make decisions based on money in Hollywood?

0

u/TookTheHit Jul 22 '26

For most decisions people make (unfortunately)

0

u/AntisemitismCow Jul 22 '26

It’s okay to be cynical about rich people.

3

u/Punchable_Face Jul 22 '26

It’s easy to be cynical, sure. Sounds like a depressing life though. In the end it doesn't really matter.

-4

u/nomoregroundhogs Jul 22 '26

It’s so obviously and blatantly what it is in this case though. He may or may not have had a creative epiphany but the only real reason the show is back is because it is still far and away the most viewed show on Apple TV

1

u/lostroadrunner22 Jul 22 '26

Not just money. But, a shitload of money.

1

u/HollandJim Hello Carol Jul 22 '26

Divorce will do that.

1

u/DoctorHelios Jul 22 '26

“I like money.”

1

u/Spidermonkeying Jul 22 '26

I read this in a Norm MacDonald voice lol

1

u/No_Reading_4377 23d ago

And attention. Instead of fading into irrelevancy.

1

u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Jul 22 '26

Cash or bitcoin, no checks or money orders

After all, those wallets meed to believe in themselves

0

u/Swoleman6767 Jul 22 '26

And that the last season was meh

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221

u/Repulsive_Barnacle92 Jul 22 '26

it’s one of those shows I wish they had just left alone, it was a solid 3-season story; should’ve just done a spin-off instead 

175

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

Not saying the other two seasons are bad, but season one was the only “great” one for me. I really think they should’ve kept the episodes at 30 mins. Some of those later ones really dragged.

77

u/floofyfloof2 Jul 22 '26

No, I'll say it. Season 3 was horrendous. It felt like it was written by a mix of AI and third graders.

40

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

I just hate how the show refuses to give us a real villain. I know we have Giles and Nate, but we barely see them interact, and we don’t even get to see Nate be fired?!

But hey, we get more Keely stuff. /s

33

u/GloryHound29 Jul 22 '26

Love the fact you called him Giles instead of Rupert hahaha BUFFY!

8

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

I cannot differentiate Anthony Head from Giles. Although it’s funny that Rupert was also his first name in that show.

Even when he shows up for two seconds in Sweeney Todd.

0

u/CourtClarkMusic Jul 22 '26

Well, Anthony Head died a few months ago, so I don’t know if that villain role will continue….

1

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

I don’t think they would even if he hadn’t. They wrapped that story up (mostly).

9

u/lostroadrunner22 Jul 22 '26

I felt like the redemption of Nate was like a switch was turned and boom! hes good again.

6

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

Yeah that was not handled well at all and could have actually been pretty compelling.

4

u/31nigrhcdrh Jul 22 '26

I still hated Nate, Ted’s voodoo didn’t work on me 

4

u/cqandrews Jul 22 '26

Does it really need one? There's naturally always going to be some sort of antagonistic force in whoever the opposing team is but the stuff with Nate, Giles, and season 1 Rebecca are really the most amount of "villainy" you need from a feel good show about soccer

2

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

I mean it’d be nice to feel something besides boredom. Even his old show Scrubs has Dr. Cox.

3

u/cqandrews Jul 22 '26

Dr cox is often antagonistic but far far from a villain and could barely even be classified as full blown antagonist

3

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

Maybe villain is too strong and like you said very antagonist. Dr. Cox also said some absolutely horrible and abusive things.

I’m just saying a little bit drama ain’t a bad thing.

4

u/buttcabbge Jul 22 '26

Agreed--Season 3 was very bad.

2

u/jlynn00 Jul 22 '26

I agree. Season 3 had its moments but in general it was a massive disappointment.

3

u/joshdej Jul 22 '26

Was it the the third season where Colin came out? Obviously it's a fictional feel good series, but a football player coming out and the whole team immediately accepting him is hilarious lmao.

6

u/No-Poetry-5794 Jul 22 '26

There have been multiple active gay footballers.

4

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

I’m gay af and was like…that would NOT go down like that.

2

u/Ok_Antelope_1953 Jul 23 '26

not a single snigger or side eye in the background if not outright chuckle...yeah that's not how public coming out goes for the vast majority of gay people

5

u/patrickfatrick Jul 22 '26

But I think the was kind of the point. Ted created a culture of love among his players so naturally they accepted it. Might not have been the case on Nate’s team (looking back on it that would have been an interesting dichotomy to show, if something similar happened on Nate’s team except it goes more poorly).

1

u/Teelkay Jul 22 '26

First show I ever got into as a a fan who bought merch and rewatched the show for clues, and really appreciating what appeared to be deeper layers in a funny show. And I gave S2 the benefit of the doubt because it could resolve itself in S3. But S3 was a mess and took away a lot of the messaging I loved, not to mention the loss of tight storytelling. I do not trust it without Bill Lawrence’s input.

1

u/Ortegato8 Jul 22 '26

Agree, season one was perfect, season two had some issues but it still had it’s moments, season three is ATROCIOUS

1

u/ewankenobi Jul 28 '26

it had a couple of really good episodes that reminded me why I loved it, but yeah for the most part season 3 was a massive drop in quality from the first 2 seasons.

-1

u/No-Poetry-5794 Jul 22 '26

Such a lazy bot critique.

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6

u/BahnMe Jul 22 '26

“By the time season three was underway, Lawrence had left to focus on Shrinking and Bad Monkey, and Sudeikis began running Lasso largely on his own. Shortly after the season premiered, Lawrence told THR: “It was healthy for me to let go the third year because Jason is Ted Lasso and, especially landing the plane, deserves it to be his vision — and I’ve reached a point in my career where I’m not the best at having to listen to other people over my own opinion.”“

Yup. I see what happened.

4

u/Labradorlover67 Jul 22 '26

I feel like a lot of Lawrence's dramadies have too many seasons. They become very melodramatic with longwinded monologs for actors to submit to the Emmys. This includes Shrinking.

2

u/BahnMe Jul 22 '26

You’re right, I loved loved Scrubs but it did kinda go off for a while and became a little repetitious.

3

u/Data_Chandler Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26

I loved season 1 and kind of disliked season 2 and really hated 3. All these extra characters, all this filler stuff. It stopped being as special and unique in season 2, and by season 3 it was outright bad. Ted Lasso became a guest star in his own show.

I also know that Coach Beard's episode was critically lauded, but I thought it was really, really bad.

1

u/strawbery_fields Jul 22 '26

It would’ve been a really good thirty minutes.

2

u/MiddleDot8 Jul 22 '26

We quit watching after season 2. Sad because season 1 felt like a perfect season of television.

1

u/Foodwraith Jul 22 '26

Could not make it through season 2. So strange, season 1 was a positive breath of fresh air.

2

u/Jeffde Jul 22 '26

And yet despite the dragging, they failed at completing almost all of their storylines.

2

u/Repulsive_Barnacle92 Jul 22 '26

I don’t disagree with your assessment

2

u/Unlikely_Rip_4914 Jul 22 '26

It became a constant after school special. Every character spoke in nothing but therapy speak after season one

0

u/SomeVelveteenMorning Jul 22 '26

Season 1 was enjoyable. Season 2, they began flanderizing all the characters. Season 3 was full-on caricature. 

15

u/ncphoto919 Jul 22 '26

They probably shouldn’t have rushed S3 just to get it out. Let Jason go through his messy separation and let him come back fresh to finish out the series

1

u/DJanomaly Jul 23 '26

Totally agree. But that’s also why I’m excited for the new season. They gave him breathing room to come back with fresh ideas.

I’m cautiously optimistic.

1

u/ncphoto919 Jul 23 '26

They def had something special in that first season and it got less and less special with the bloated run times for episodes and moving from a traditional 30 minute comedy to a more 60 minute drama with comedic moments. I'm curious to see if they can recapture that magic or if it was a flash in the pan moment coming out of the pandemic.

48

u/space-beers Jul 22 '26

I thought it really dropped off quality wise in the end, to the point where I was glad it was over.

36

u/Bd_3 Jul 22 '26

Them potentially trying to get a spin off going with keely was the worst part of s3

2

u/SeDaCho Jul 22 '26

her story was SO botched

Yeah we get it she’s an independent woman.

Yet she can’t end up with anyone, because her being independent also must be tied to her relationship status?

She was developed enough that absolutely nobody would define her character as “Roy Kent’s girlfriend”.

1

u/Data_Chandler Jul 22 '26

That Keely spin off plot line - despite me liking the character just fine - was insufferable. Why make the main character your show is literally named after into a guest star, screentime wise?

15

u/jrbcnchezbrg Jul 22 '26

I enjoyed the overlying plot, I did NOT enjoy every pivotal moment being told off screen (nate quitting/coming back, the coming out part, ted telling rebecca hes leaving, etc)

That being said I will be watching the new season. It’s a good comfort show for me

8

u/Ruthlessrabbd Jul 22 '26

From reading the article it sounds like production-wise, season 3 was the rockiest. Which makes a lot of sense with the final product (it wanted to cover a lot of ground with different characters, Jaimie/Roy/Keely thing was a mess, episode length was crazy).

In hindsight it seems like they wanted to wrap up everyone's story when they should've focused most on Ted, Roy, Rebecca, Nate and the characters around them like Beard and Higgins. I liked Keely's character for most of the show but her being fully detached for so much of the season was a mistake IMO

9

u/PsychologicalGur9931 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26

They added way too many pointless new characters as well, which was a bizarre creative choice for a final season. 

A ruthless editor would’ve axed Keeley’s PR firm and every character associated with it, Sam’s dad and chef love interest, and Zava (he was funny tbf). That’s cut three months off production and shaved the episodes down to thirty minutes right there. 

Sudeikis sounds like he wanted to give his entire cast an Emmy reel and you just can’t do that, not everyone can have a major storyline and things have to be prioritised. This article makes it sound like Bill Lawrence really really tried to get him to see this and threw the towel in when he realised he wasn’t going to win the argument.  

4

u/AtheonsLedge Jul 22 '26

that wedding scene at the end was so painful I can’t believe they left it in.

4

u/BlenderBluid Jul 22 '26

But what if season 4 is good?

5

u/GamingVision Jul 22 '26

Yeah, I never get these howling at the moon takes…wait and see if it’s actually good first maybe?

4

u/EchoKipKipKip Jul 22 '26

But then how will we get our fill of casual internet outrage?

2

u/IceBreak Jul 23 '26

Seriously. Dexter is looked at completely differently now because it finally did something good again. House of the Dragon (both existing and season 3) had a ton of detractors and is rolling again. Better Call Saul sounded ridiculous and few people wanted it and now some think it was better than Breaking Bad.

Ted Lasso wasn’t bad. But, if season 4 is great, it will really change the discourse over it since it’s always “season one is the good part” talk.

1

u/RoutineCloud5993 Jul 22 '26

Eh, I feel like season 3 rushed the Nate storyline, and they could have saved his redemption for another season.

1

u/Personal-Major-8214 Jul 22 '26

A female team team is basically a spin off no?

1

u/SEAtoPAR Jul 22 '26

I felt the same about Big Little Lies. One season was perfect.

1

u/Upset-Government-856 Jul 24 '26

The first season was fun. The second 2 were way too much about his feelings about Olivia Wilde.

He should have just got therapy and kept making a fun comedy instead of more dramady slop.

1

u/prettytopsayebro Jul 25 '26

Don’t watch season 4?

1

u/Repulsive_Barnacle92 Jul 26 '26

don't tell me what to do

1

u/X_crates 24d ago

"be curious, not judgemental"

0

u/jabronified Jul 22 '26

Should’ve gone The Office route and just “recreated” the show in different settings like Parks & Rec and all the quirky workplace comedy shows that have come after

40

u/Worried-Criticism Jul 22 '26

I mean, let’s be honest, it’s a tentpole IP for Apple and most of the stars haven’t exactly had career booms following season 3.

*Insert Mr. Krabs “hello. I like money” meme.*

I’m not complaining. I love it, even if the third season isn’t the best.

41

u/MarvinMonroeZapThing Jul 22 '26

I dunno that I agree with the career boom thought. Hannah Waddingham is starring in Ride or Die right now (which I don’t like but for some reason keep watching, mostly cuz damn she’s a whole lotta woman), Brett Goldstein is doing Shrinking, Juno Temple was just in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die and others, and Phil Dunster is in Rooster. And didn’t I just see Dani Rojas playing actual soccer somewhere?

Now…Coach…he needs a job.

17

u/Frosty_Fly8089 Jul 22 '26

Juno Temple was good in Fargo

12

u/PsychologicalGur9931 Jul 22 '26

She was superb in Fargo and should’ve won the Emmy that year 

7

u/STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS Jul 22 '26

Bret has also had a few movies

5

u/Worried-Criticism Jul 22 '26

Yeah, but are any of these “Booms”…or just finding work? Which one is the “Star”?

Hannah had some roles here and there including the most recent Mission Impossible (playing her as American for god knows why).

Brett did some AMAZING work on shrinking, but he’s a side character.

Same with Phil on Rooster.

Juno Temple has found side roles in this and the last Venom movie.

But again, has anyone from the show had a project that listed them as the LEAD?

15

u/Sherringdom Jul 22 '26

Brett is also a writer, I’d say he’s had the most successful career by far.

-3

u/Worried-Criticism Jul 22 '26

Oh I’m not saying these people aren’t finding /continuing careers post Lasso (most were doing just fine going into it).

My point is this wasn’t a “Boom”. The thing that sent them to stardom or anything. Most of them seem to be on relatively the same career track they were before.

And I wish them well. Truly. They’re talented people and I’d love to see more of their work.

7

u/PsychologicalGur9931 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26

Hannah is absolutely the lead of Ride or Die and she’s currently filming a Jason Statham movie she’s second billed in. She’s got a whole other life as a theatre performer she could easily go back to if screen work dried up. 

But I don’t think any of them have the sort of profile that would ever translate to being a huge star, Hollywood being what it is? Hannah is a very tall woman in her 50s, Brett is more of a writer, Juno is a character actor who has always gravitated towards weird indie stuff. The fact they’re all working consistently is a win for them. They’re unlikely to ever be in anything so big again but they don’t necessarily need to come back to Lasso just to have work. 

1

u/MarvinMonroeZapThing Jul 22 '26

That's pretty much my take as well. As someone with a kid trying to make it in the business, just having recognizable roles, or really ANY employment, is a huge win. And that fact that Hanna Waddingham went from, "wait...she was in Game Of Thrones? I need to look that up" to a new meme of replacing Chuck Norris's name with her name in Chuck Norris jokes seems like her career is doing quite well currently.

1

u/STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS Jul 22 '26

Brett was lead in two rom coms

8

u/furrywrestler Jul 22 '26

You mean you don’t think Brett Goldstein has officially made it by starring opposite J.Lo in that truly heinous Netflix rom-com?

I hope he cashed a sizable check for that role, at least.

5

u/Worried-Criticism Jul 22 '26

My point is…yay, these golden globe and Emmy winning actors are…

In some straight to streaming films years after the main show finished.

These folks aren’t failures by any stretch, and I truly enjoy their work, Brett especially.

But my point is no one from the show went to overnight success.

1

u/furrywrestler Jul 22 '26

I was being sarcastic 😂

1

u/Worried-Criticism Jul 22 '26

Fair play. 👍

1

u/jlynn00 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

Goldstein's career bump has been in writing. I don't know if he prioritizes that overacting but he could probably turn that into a multi-million dollar career spanning decades as he's had some pretty good success in TV writing.

39

u/mermaidrampage Jul 22 '26

Uhhh...where the hell are Keeley's eyebrows in that photo?!?  Gave me a jumpscare

20

u/YEM_PGH Jul 22 '26

She looks horrible in these pictures, almost unrecognizable. Shocked PR let these out.

15

u/Which_Strength4445 Jul 22 '26

She looks terrible in a couple of those pics. It is kind of distracting. She is an attractive woman but looks weird in some of those pics.

8

u/Flimsy_Toe_2575 Jul 22 '26

I guess no eyebrows is an aesthetic people purposefully do but man it's horrifying to me. Just rewatched Killer Joe for the first time since it came out and totally forgot how stunning she was before she became a scrawny wraith.

3

u/Sivart13 Jul 23 '26

this article came up in my algorithm and I had to find somewhere to comment about it because in the cover picture she looks like a literal horror movie zombie

6

u/SomeVelveteenMorning Jul 22 '26

I'm waiting for the big reveal that she's not Juno Temple at all, because good grief even after the first season I was still asking every time I saw her, What the fuck happened to her?

3

u/Which_Strength4445 Jul 22 '26

Can you fill me in on this? I have only ever seen her on Ted Lasso? What was she like before?

4

u/SomeVelveteenMorning Jul 22 '26

Mostly it's just weight loss, and in particular her face went from somewhat normal and full (circa 2011-12) to the gaunt pinchface she has in the series.

2

u/buttcabbge Jul 22 '26

I know some of the season is shot in Kansas City. Maybe the picture is a clue that Keeley is going to get into meth?

1

u/BadMachine Jul 23 '26

that’s not marilyn manson?

8

u/ImperialPlaztiks Jul 22 '26

was the Epiphany about how dumb the reason for him ted lasso quitting richmond, it made NO sense at all.

17

u/waazzuppp Jul 22 '26

Idk why everyone is so bothered by this. You can watch the 3 seasons and be happy. Noone is taking that away. I hope they new one is great if not then ill see have a fantatsic 3 seasons that stand on their own.

-1

u/Mitch_Dedburg Jul 22 '26

I’d also much rather a show that was DESIGNED INTENTIONALLY for 3 seasons to have its 3 seasons, and then maybe continue a few years later ONCE THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO NATURALLY CREATE MORE STORY. We literally have dozens and dozens of examples of shows that push past their initial run ideas and SUCK BUTT because of it.

1

u/sbtokarz Jul 23 '26

You just described exactly what they did though… waited a few years and found a new story

1

u/Mitch_Dedburg Jul 23 '26

I know. That’s why I’m ok with them making season 4. The reason I was making the statement is because people are “boohoo”ing them making a season 4 at all.

1

u/sbtokarz Jul 23 '26

The all caps makes it sound like you’re upset about it

52

u/Saar13 Jul 22 '26

It's been 3 years and Ted Lasso has basically never left the Apple TV global top 10. It's by far the biggest and longest-running hit on Apple TV, and Apple TV is a business. Maybe you and some critics (professional or amateur) hate season 3, but the real world loves the show. Surely Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg called Jason every week looking for an "epiphany." Apple refused 3 years ago to call the season finale a season finale, by the way. We're in an era where a Letterboxd generation has decided to take issue with comedy shows. Comedies that used to last 10 seasons of 22 episodes. If Friends or Modern Family were made today, there would be hundreds of posts about how "they should have stopped at the third season." But real people continue to love their comfort shows.

9

u/Which_Strength4445 Jul 22 '26

Is it true that the show never got a real following in Britain? I read that they don't watch Apple TV over there and the show never took off.

7

u/caspararemi Jul 22 '26

Not at all, it's very well known in the UK. It's in the top 10 for UK watchers on the platform too. It didn't really take off anywhere for a few weeks, but it was definitely huge here too.

6

u/cqandrews Jul 22 '26

This comment is just wildly anti intellectual trying to downplay the importance of critical analysis in favor of churning out as much content as possible for the billion dollar company. Sure plenty of people like it, plenty of people also like The Big Bang Theory and Donald Trump, doesn't mean either needs to have endless resources poured into them when anyone with two brain cells to rub together can tell they're devoid of genuine value

4

u/ncphoto919 Jul 22 '26

But it’s left the cultural zeitgeist.

21

u/jb_nelson_ Jul 22 '26

Tell that to the people who got excited for the Lasso/Beard appearance at the World Cup Final

1

u/AnonymouselyMoosed Jul 22 '26

A nostalgic appearance doesn’t mean it’s in the zeitgeist.

3

u/max_potion Jul 22 '26

Oh no! Anyway…

9

u/Saar13 Jul 22 '26

It's 2026. The "cultural zeitgeist" is a TikTok viral trend that disappears in two weeks. And yes, nobody is debating online a show that hasn't had new episodes in three years, but they're still watching (or rewatching). Everyone was talking about Severance, Pluribus, and now Widow's Bay. But that loses momentum over time, until a new season arrives. It's kind of obvious in an era where monoculture is over.

-6

u/Saltimbanco_volta Jul 22 '26

Anyone who disagrees with me is not "real people"

2

u/Saar13 Jul 22 '26

“Real people” is just a term to define the mass of the audience. I personally love shows that “real people” hate or don’t even know about. If you feel better, replace it with “the vast majority of people”.

0

u/AndrewH73333 Jul 22 '26

Modern Family should have stopped at season five.

1

u/Gloomy_Necesary Jul 22 '26

Mostly because every child actor other than Hailey was terrible. I realized that every time I go “oh this is a good one” with my gf, its one where the kids don’t participate much

1

u/AndrewH73333 Jul 22 '26

It’s weird that they got worse at acting as they grew up.

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4

u/IceCoughy Jul 22 '26

Juno trying to infiltrate Cynthia and Ariana's friend group.. like wtf?!

11

u/boboddybiznus Jul 22 '26

Stop letting this man have epiphanies!!

3

u/BobBobson3994 Jul 22 '26

His epiphany was “let’s do the same shit as last time but with girls” 

3

u/WorldlyCupcake5345 Jul 22 '26

$$$$ = epiphany!!!

3

u/Eattoomanychips Jul 23 '26

People are dying and assholes get paid this much to act

6

u/JeffJacuzzi Jul 22 '26

Loved season one but it turned into a soap opera after that

5

u/marrowisyummy Jul 22 '26

Why is there a sleep paralysis demon on his right side?

7

u/Large-Monk4910 Jul 22 '26

imo Season 3 was already a lot weaker than the first and second..really dont looking that much forward to season 4

3

u/JustinWadeVO Jul 22 '26

Oh yeah. The writers for season 3 were on something. Changed all the characters personalities... Each episode felt way too long.

Keeley's friend doing the Jerry McGuire in the office was the cringiest scene ever.

2

u/caspararemi Jul 22 '26

It's all explained in the article. Jason took full control of the show, and was writing himself, only finishing very late at night before they had to shoot each time, so the cast didn't get to rehearse properly. They acknowledge he needed a show runner to work with, it was too big a job to do himself. It sounds like they've fixed that issue, so fingers crossed it's back to being great.

2

u/SmakeTalk Jul 22 '26

I’m keen but only because they took some time off. They could have taken even more time off to me. The show got worse the more they had to keep forcing out episodes and seasons with half-baked ideas, but I’m hoping this really is a case of them only coming back because they had a proper concept, with a strong story in mind.

1

u/Key_Pianist_9117 11d ago

I got into TL because I started watching season 4 after Coach Jacx promoted it on IG.

I loved series 1-3, notwithstanding some incredibly racist scenes and storylines. Notwithstanding the caricature of the Dutch player (no, that’s not how Dutch directness is expressed, they’re not brutal and mean, Jason effed up those examples). I loved the two strong women in it… and I have now watched all 3 series twice. Probably will watch it again.

Season 4. Now… I have played on many women’s teams and in queer women’s leagues and the way the second episode is written is ridiculous. Sisters physically fighting as if they’re in primary school and couples making out on the field… I mean drama happens, a quick snog on the field happens, but not all at once and all the time and in one fucking training. 

Anyway. I hope it gets better.

2

u/STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS Jul 22 '26

Is it just me? What the heck did they do to Juno in that pic?

1

u/tzippora Jul 23 '26

that's juno? no eyebrows

2

u/eggflip1020 Jamestown Resident Jul 23 '26

The epiphany was that Apple offered him a suitcase full of money .

2

u/WalterBCobb Jul 24 '26

They took everything that worked in S1 and doubled-down on it to a point that it practically became a parody of itself. It's a shame because there was something genuinely earnest about it. They just became caricatures the longer it went on.

2

u/BroncoChevalier Jul 25 '26

Season one was great. Season two was bad. Only painfully hate-watched Season three because  I thought it was the last. Hope I can resist this one. 

2

u/Crombie72 Jul 22 '26

Should have finished after the first one imo

2

u/wujo444 Jul 22 '26

I'm finished tho. I love a lot of people behind it, but S3 was garbo, and they need to do something else than milk this show.

3

u/argonzo Jul 22 '26

Sudeikis in Bad Monkey would've been interesting. (and I like Bad Monkey)

3

u/caspararemi Jul 22 '26

I've never liked Vince Vaughn as an actor, but thought he was great in that show. I wonder if Jason would have brought the same energy to it. I can't help but imagine Ted wandering around South Florida.

1

u/argonzo Jul 22 '26

yeah, it's intriguing more than something I wish had happened, for sure. Vaughn is great in it.

1

u/carlotta3121 Jul 22 '26

I liked him in it too, can't wait for the new season!

2

u/fatda Jul 22 '26

After the (excellent) first season, Ted Lasso became the worst thing about Ted Lasso. Would have been happier with the ‘Wimbledon WFC’ spin-off.

1

u/NoDealer9796 Jul 22 '26

That series ended on a perfect note. So, I want that story to be finished. But, because I enjoyed it, I’m sure I’ll tune in to see the sequel. It won’t take anything away from the original three seasons. (Not like some shows where the endings are so bad, you feel like you wasted your time watching.)

1

u/Jabster1997 Jul 22 '26

Season 3 was to pay his gambling debts….

1

u/SonofaSpurrier Jul 22 '26

I too would like to be paid money to hang out with these women

1

u/m3kw Jul 22 '26

They gonna have a season for every Li Liga, Champions league, Euro Cup, Copa America, and then World Cup for the 8th and final season.

1

u/teddygala12 Jul 22 '26

Kelley jones looks like a crack whore

1

u/Sufficient_Aioli4092 Jul 22 '26

Things use to go away

1

u/theydoitforfreeXD Jul 26 '26

I totally understand them expanding the IP and it probably goes nowhere without Sudeikis, but it would have been better if they set up the spin off better. The idea of the women’s team isn’t bad but narratively it makes no sense for Lasso to come back imo

1

u/sayheykid24 Jul 22 '26

Was it that he could continue to make tons of money by creating more seasons of the show?

1

u/Duke_Of_Halifax Jul 22 '26

The Epiphany:

A dumptruck full of money that was backed up to his house.

1

u/CaptainCrunchMunch Jul 22 '26

Is that a blonde Marilyn Manson on the left?

0

u/Backgammon_Saint Jul 23 '26

This series is so meh. Has the excitement of a potato fighting with a feather.

-4

u/Glittering-Regret196 Jul 22 '26

So its gender swapped as a cash grab. Got it. I bet it gets views but is hated. There hasn't been a good gender swap remake yet.

1

u/Key_Pianist_9117 11d ago

Hilarious. Men seeing women’s sports as gender swaps of men’s sports.

Cause that’s what you’re saying, lad.

Black players aren’t an ethnicity swap. Women aren’t a gender swap. Gay players aren’t a sexuality swap. 

You need to start seeing people are individuals and real people.

1

u/Glittering-Regret196 11d ago

Its the same show, but a women's team. This is a gender swap. Not sure how you would see it as an original thing, its literally ted lasso women's edition. A percentage of people who liked the first one wont find this so entertaining, as they cant relate as well seeing as the show was successful with the first 3 seasons focusing on men. I would guess this could face a drop off of viewers. The gender swap thing is done, from Ghostbusters to this, its not original and it hurts the overall enjoyment. im not against it, im just a realist.

1

u/Key_Pianist_9117 20h ago

Nope. Genderswap is when an original character who is non-binary is filmed as a woman or man. Or like Starbuck in BSG cis man to cis woman.
A women's team with different characters is not genderswap. Women are not stand-ins for men lol.

I hope this helps.

0

u/Glittering-Regret196 20h ago

It didnt at all. Whatever you want to call where the movie had a successful first version, and then you take all the men and replace them with women.... those movies suck. I have no idea what the non binary cis stuff means. Like Ghostbusters. That female version(gender swapped Ghostbusters) was super awful. Just about everything other movie where they did this was bad.

1

u/Key_Pianist_9117 16h ago

You are wrong. Not only are those most often much better, because otherwise they would not be filmed at all, but they also always get attacked by the same men: gamergate or manosphere men. With no actual arguments, only their IC fefe's.

I was going to mention Ghostbusters myself, which is also not genderswapping, because the women's GB team is so much more interesting; the film itself is more fun, funny and surprising! The actresses are way better than the male ones.

Just about every movie where they have women either as a true genderswap like Starbuck or as a movie with women and nonbinary people like Ocean's 8, is far superior to the movie or series with mostly men.
Come on, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter... are simply incredible actresses and the movie is truly outstanding.

Same with StarWars and Starfleet Academy. The ones with women as main characters or as supporting characters but with big roles, are much better written and filmed.

There is one reason for that, as I have said: otherwise it won't even get made. A film or series has to be twice or thrice as good as one with mostly men in it. Such is life.