Ted Lasso is one of the most talked about television series among British football fans of the modern era. What started as promotional material for NBC Sports’ new coverage of the English Premier League has evolved into a global behemoth, enchanting football fans around the world.
The Premier League is comfortably the most-watched professional sports league on the planet. Today, it is broadcast live to approximately 212 territories worldwide, reaching out to some 643 million-plus households and a potential viewing audience of over 4.7 billion people.
Since the U.S. sports betting industry has accelerated at a rate of knots, the leading online sportsbooks are increasingly falling over themselves to provide the most competitive lines on upcoming Premier League fixtures. Those interested in the scale of the industry stateside should see here the odds for the upcoming matches in the English top-flight, showcasing prices from at least seven licensed sportsbooks.
The origins of Ted Lasso
The concept of the TV series was based on fictional character Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis. Lasso first originated way back in 2013 as a character in a string of commercials. Seven years later, he returned with his very own show. Released in August 2020 on Apple TV+, the opening series follows Lasso’s move into English football management, taking charge of ailing fictional team, AFC Richmond. Eagle-eyed Premier League fans will quickly realize that the team play their home games at Selhurst Park, the home of real-life Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Little does Lasso know that owner Rebecca Welton, played by Hannah Waddingham, is on a one-woman mission to sabotage the team as part of a vendetta against her ex-husband, the club’s former owner. Against all odds, Lasso’s relentless enthusiasm and people management skills enable him to turn the ship around at Richmond, much to the dismay of Welton.
The most notable stories within the 10-episode series
The first episode is one of the most enjoyable, acting as a laugh-a-minute scene-setter, with Lasso – a small-time American Football coach – enlisted to lead a soccer team in the world’s biggest league.
There’s more than a hint of raw emotion throughout the series, too. In episode five, Ted is visited in London by his loved ones. During their stay, it becomes clear that Ted’s relationship is nearing its conclusion. It provides a timely reminder that, beneath the bullish, positive exterior, Lasso is a human with personal burdens to carry too.
Episode seven brings a heart-warming event. Lasso strikes up a closer relationship with AFC Richmond owner, Welton. Her resolve of self-sabotaging Richmond’s Premier League survival hopes is severely tested as she begins to warm to Lasso’s charms – and the genuine impact he’s having on the club and her personally.
Welton warms to Lasso even more by the penultimate episode, when she breaks the news to Ted of her plot to sabotage the team, despite his best efforts. It’s a symbol of Lasso’s character that he hands out an olive branch to Welton almost immediately, which fuses their bond further still.
The season finale sees AFC Richmond’s Premier League survival hopes come to a head. The title of the episode, “The Hope That Kills You”, is a nod to the infamous football adage, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the industry. Without spoiling the end of the series, it’s clear that Lasso’s had a victory in personal development, regardless of Richmond’s on-field exploits.
The first season received unprecedented critical acclaim, achieving a 92% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, which is no easy feat. Demand was such that a second season followed from July 2021, yielding another dozen shows. Ted Lasso was even renewed for a third series, which premiered in March 2023. The series won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and Sudeikis even landed a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Series Musical or Comedy.