We all need a Ted Lasso in our lives.
Jason Sudeikis is currently making headlines around the world for wearing a jumper showing his support for England football players Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka.
The three were despicably targeted with racist abuse after missing penalties for England in the shootout against Italy in the European Championship final last week.
Sudeikis was attending the Ted Lasso Season 2 premiere on Thursday night ahead of the new season premiering on Apple TV+ next week, and if you haven’t seen the comedy before, now is the time to catch up.
Co-created by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) and Sudeikis, the show sees Sudeikis play the title character, a perpetually optimistic American college football coach who is recruited to manage an English Premier League “soccer” team despite having no experience with the sport.
It’s a delightful show that even non-sports fans can enjoy, as it’s less about football and more about the kind Lasso endearing himself to the many players, fans and journalists skeptical of his appointment.
Add to this, the fish-out-of-water gags and a great cast, including Hannah Waddingham (Game of Thrones) and Juno Temple (Unsane), and you have a show that is both hilarious and wholesome.
Now, ahead of the comedy’s new season, Uproxx reporter Mike Ryan has shared a story about Sudeikis that happened three years ago – before the show began – to highlight he is “kind of like Ted Lasso in real life”.
“As it turns out, Jason Sudeikis, someone I’ve been fortunate to get to know a bit professionally, but certainly not well, did a truly nice thing for me when I really needed it and, frankly, I want people to know he did this,” Ryan wrote.
A few months after Ryan’s dad passed away, Sudeikis was doing press for his indie film Kodachrome which saw the actor’s character trying to make amends with his dying father who left him four rolls of Kodachrome film.
When Ryan interviewed Sudeikis, he mentioned that the themes of Kodachrome had resonated with him.
Later that day, Ryan received an email from the actor that the reporter describes as “pretty inspirational”.
The message published over on Uproxx reads:
“Just wanted to shoot ya a quick note and let ya know that I’m so sorry for your loss. And I thank you for feeling comfortable enough with me to share. Please please please feel ZERO regret in doing so.
“It’s important and f*****g necessary for us human beings to do that. To connect. To share. And to not concern ourselves too much with the outcome of such bravery. Especially the men of the world. Our generation is the first to “understand” that notion, but darn it, I’d love to try and be the first generation of fellas to “live” the notion as well. So let’s both continue to attempt to be on that “side of history,” shall we?
“I wish you all the luck and openness in the universe on finding the “four rolls of Kodachrome” your own father left you. Because he did. It’s out there. I know it is.
The one thing I want you to consider though is that it might not be physically “out there”, because it might actually be living inside of you. And through you. And merely accepting that possibility might be where and when the “finding” happens.
You see deeply into things for a living. Allow yourself the experience of doing that to yourself, for yourself.
Okay man. Be well. Always good to see and speak with you.
yours,
Jason”
Ted Lasso returns on 23 July on Apple TV+. Check out the trailer for the new season below.
Clip via Apple TV
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