BELIEVE

Behind the scenes of the soccer-themed TV show that became a surprise pandemic-era sensation.

When it debuted in August 2020, Ted Lasso might have easily been missed in the ocean of streaming content—a dramedy about a British soccer team had little obvious appeal to American viewers. But for a nation that was housebound and weary of Covid-19 and divisive politics, the show’s title hero (played by Jason Sudeikis) proved a balm. Also weary of Tony Soprano–style antiheroes, people eagerly embraced Lasso’s emphasis on openheartedness, optimism, and good humor. This comprehensive but unfussy history by Egner, the New York Times’ TV editor, covers the show’s entire run, from its origins in jokey promos for NBC Sports’ Premier League broadcasts to its much-debated third (perhaps final) season, where Egner is among those who disliked the bloated scripts and questionable plot turns. Striving to go beyond straightforward hagiography, Egner catches up with just about every relevant figure on the show, arguing that the show’s animating spirit of optimism was reflected in its leads—Sudeikis was processing a messy split with his partner, Olivia Wilde, and Hannah Waddingham (who played the team’s owner) was looking for a role that would keep her in England, where her daughter was recovering from an illness. “Every time a joke would come up that was rooted in sarcasm, or cynicism, or apathy towards someone else’s story, just cut it out,” Sudeikis says, which proved a winning strategy as the show gathered a mountain of Emmy nominations (20 in its first season alone). But Egner emphasizes the idea that staying positive, like staying in the Premier League, requires constant practice and doesn’t always turn out as planned.

Solid arts reporting, and excellent fodder for Lasso fans.