Television shows and movies adapted from characters originally created for commercials don’t exactly have a great track record but the first three episodes of the Apple+ series Ted Lasso show the comedy’s namesake is no cave man or talking baby.
In fact, the character that originated as a campaign for NBC Sports’ coverage of the Premier League is a welcome diversion in the cynical and divisive times we find ourselves in.
Portrayed by the affable BBQ-loving, Kansas City native Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso is a corn-fed Kansan who inexplicably agrees to take over fictional Premier League club AFC Richmond after leading Wichita State to a national championship on the gridiron.