Not only is Ted Lasso one of Apple TV’s best shows, it’s also arguably one of the most beloved comedies of the last decade. Now, as it prepares to premiere Season 4 on the 2026 TV schedule, there’s a lot of hype surrounding its long-awaited return. However, before all that, back when the show was in its infancy, the team wasn’t so sure it’d be the winner it is.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and we’ve known for a long time now that Ted Lasso is special. However, before people were able to watch it with an Apple TV subscription, the streamer and Warner Bros. weren’t so sure about it. Explaining why that was the case, Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard and is a writer, producer, and co-creator on the show, told THR that his fellow co-creator and star Jason Sudeikis wanted the series to be filmed in the UK and have “British sensibility.” That was met with some apprehension, as Hunt recalled:
And what was in vogue for most comedies at that time was to be really, really fast-paced and, I don’t mean this as an insult, but really American. We had a lot of pauses, a lot of silent shots of people looking at other people, and that pace inherently changes the tone, and I’m not sure everyone at Apple or Warner Bros. saw the tone that Jason was imagining until it was finally in front of them in the editing room — and I think even then they were shitting themselves. Then, when it finally came out, they were like, ‘Oh, right. No, no, you’re great. We knew. We knew.’
Again, it’s hard to believe that there was doubt about Ted Lasso and the way it did comedy. However, I can also see why that was the case. It is a unique brand of humor, and it does have a different tone from the comedies we’re used to seeing all the time in America.
It’s also bursting with optimism, and it’s crammed with hilarious jokes. But that voice wasn't always apparent at first. Even the actors in the cast weren’t 100% sure what they were making would work, as Rebecca actress Hannah Waddingham recalled:
In fact, myself and Brett Goldstein stood behind the craft truck [on the last day of shooting season one], and, bear in mind, he’s a writer on it as well, and we were like [whispers], ‘I don’t know whether it knows what it is.’
Thankfully, Ted Lasso proved to know exactly what it was. Once it was released, it felt like catching lightning in a bottle with how big and successful it became. Now, the question is: Can they do it again?
Three years ago, Ted Lasso’s third season ended in a way that could have closed the door on AFC Richmond forever. However, now, it’s coming back for a fourth season, this time shifting focus to a women’s soccer team.
The trailer for Ted Lasso Season 4 gave us a tease of what’s to come, as some old characters return and a new team is introduced. It looks promising; however, it has a very high bar to live up to. So, I can’t help but wonder if lightning can strike twice here.
If I’ve learned anything from this story (and rewatching the first three seasons of Ted Lasso), however, it’s that we shouldn’t doubt or question the series until we’ve seen the finished product. By letting them cook the first time, Apple wound up with a major and beloved hit. Now, we get to see if it can continue to be that, as Season 4 of Ted Lasso premieres on August 5.
