Jason Sudeikis returns for the second season of the Emmy-nominated Apple+ comedy series Ted Lasso on July 23, this time with a focus on mental health while at the same time making sure to keep the "yuks" coming.
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Continuing the story of an upbeat and lovable American football coach who heads to England to manage a London soccer team (despite his own limited understanding of the sport), Ted Lasso’s second season will be centered on "what’s happening internally for the characters," says co-creator, producer, writer, and actor Brendan Hunt, who plays Lasso’s (Jason Sudeikis) assistant, Coach Beard. "Mental health still has stigmas around it in this country, and even more so in England, and even more so in sports, so we take a little time to explore that, and where our characters are at with that," he continued. "Now, I know that all sounds hilarious. But we’ll still get our yuks in."
Speaking with Deadline, first-time Emmy nominee Hannah Waddingham added regarding the fragility of her character Rebecca in the second season, "We find her in an improved place. She’s very much the head of the team, and for the first time ever, loving it. She loves her boys, and she is totally behind Ted, but the other side of that is her chewing up her phone on these dating apps and not having a f***ing clue what she’s doing," she admits. "I love the juxtaposition of that, that she is absolutely the figurehead of that team, but in every other way, when she’s just at home, she’s floundering around like a teenager."
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Ted Lasso returns to Apple+ for season 2 on July 23, and was renewed for a third season in October of last year. The series has been nominated for a whopping 20 Emmys this year, including four nods for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, two Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nods, and a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for Sudeikis, among quite a few others.
Series co-creator Bill Lawrence also explained, "This story [we’ve already mapped out], I know has a beginning, middle and an end, and will end the third year." Adding, "I think there’s other stories to tell about 'Ted Lasso' and the gang, and we’ll see. I think either way, it’ll be important to Jason and all of us to try and go out on a high note."
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.