How "Ted Lasso" became a television phenomenon
Jason Sudeikis and the cast and crew of "Ted Lasso" tell Norah O'Donnell about the show's improbable rise and positive message.
When Emmy nominations are announced this week, expect to hear the television show "Ted Lasso" mentioned… a lot. It's a fish out of water story about an American football coach from Kansas, who moves to London, England, to take charge of a professional soccer team, despite knowing nothing of the sport.
The tale of Ted Lasso may sound improbable, but as we first reported in March, the series has become a phenomenon and changed the game in Hollywood. So when production for the third season was about to begin, we went to London to meet as many members of the ensemble cast as we could, including Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso's mastermind and alter ego…to find out how the show scored.
Norah O'Donnell: Did you set out and say I want a character that's all about positivity and kindness and can transform people, bring out the best in people?
Jason Sudeikis: To play the character was intentional. To play someone that was kindhearted, that didn't swear-- be like Teflon towards people's negativity or-- or-- or sarcasm, 100% intentional.
Norah O'Donnell: --kindness and positivity can be transformative.
Jason Sudeikis: Yeah. And so can the opposite. But I mean, if you had to choose one at the-- at that point of writing it and wanting to play it, I'd much rather try to view the world, you know, as Ted Lasso.