Ted Lasso's optimistic vibe rubs off on fans

The cast and creators of the unlikely hit say a kind-hearted, non-cynical sitcom may have been just what audiences needed

Ted Lasso, about a small-time American football coach who was hired to coach an English Premier League team, stars (from far left) Brendan Hunt, Cristo Fernandez and Jason Sudeikis.
Ted Lasso, about a small-time American football coach who was hired to coach an English Premier League team, stars (from far left) Brendan Hunt, Cristo Fernandez and Jason Sudeikis. PHOTO: APPLE TV+
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Up for 20 Emmys next month - a record for a comedy series in its first season - Ted Lasso was also one of the unlikeliest television hits of last year when it debuted on Apple TV+.

In one review after another, critics expressed surprise at how good this sweetly optimistic show was - perhaps because of its modest premise, which imagines a small-time American-football coach being hired to lead an English Premier League team despite being clueless about soccer.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 02, 2021, with the headline Ted Lasso's optimistic vibe rubs off on fans. Subscribe