Jason Sudeikis’ iconic mustache is making a return as “Ted Lasso,” the beloved dramedy about an optimistic American soccer coach in London, is gearing up for its fourth season. The release date and production status of the new episodes have yet to be announced, but Apple TV+ confirmed the upcoming season on Friday.
Sudeikis, who stars in and executive produces the show, teased that the upcoming episodes would focus on taking risks. He hinted that the characters of AFC Richmond will learn to “LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK” in season four, discovering that no matter where they land, they’ll be exactly where they’re meant to be.
The character of Ted Lasso was originally introduced by Sudeikis in 2013 in a promotional short for NBC Sports’ coverage of the English Premier League. In that short film, Lasso was portrayed as the coach of London’s Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and it quickly became evident that he had little to no knowledge of soccer.
In a mock press conference, Ted Lasso confidently declared, “They’re gonna play hard for all four quarters,” when discussing his team’s approach. “Do we have any goals this season? Absolutely. We’re gonna win a lot of games and we’re gonna get in the playoffs.” A reporter quickly corrected him, pointing out, “There’s no playoffs.” The humorous moment gained so much popularity that Sudeikis was asked to bring the character back the following year.
The idea to create a show based on the Ted Lasso character surfaced, but it didn’t come to life until Bill Lawrence helped secure its pickup by Apple TV+. “Ted Lasso” premiered in August 2020, right in the midst of the pandemic lockdown. In this version, Lasso became the new coach of a fictional London soccer team, AFC Richmond. His relentlessly positive attitude helped him win over even the most skeptical soccer fans, as well as viewers who were growing weary of being stuck indoors.
Sudeikis explained that Ted Lasso represents “the version of me that I wish I could be.” He acknowledged that Lasso experiences ups and downs like anyone, but remains “eternally optimistic, hopeful, and sincere.”
The show has been a major success, winning seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series for its first two seasons. It also helped elevate its supporting cast, including Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, and Juno Temple, into stardom.