There are very few series that manage to meld comedy, drama, and the joy of sports like Ted Lasso. The series has come to an end after three startling seasons, and while we wouldn’t say there’s much exactly like it on television, fans of the Apple TV Plus show will be happy to know there are other options to binge if they’re already missing Ted, Rebecca, and co. If you adored Ted Lasso and aren’t ready for a rewatch, but also don’t want to let the series go, then check out these 10 great shows that have similar vibes, themes, and humor.
Club de Cuervos
For lovers of Ted Lasso who preferred the sporting and comedic elements of the show, this Mexican Netflix series about a middling soccer club will hit the spot. It follows the Iglesias siblings, a half brother and sister plunged into civil war after their father and owner of Cuervos Football Club dies, leaving the son in charge. What follows is a combination of terribly executed political intrigue, plenty of slapstick, and lots of laughs. Although it’s not quite got the same wholesome vibe as Ted Lasso (think more Succession in terms of interpersonal relationships, but with lower stakes and even less competence), at its heart this is a show about how families mess you up, and how soccer clubs can be the vital lifeblood of small communities. Truly hilarious, but not quite Ted bringing the best out of everyone he meets.
Abbott Elementary
Ted Lasso is a workplace comedy, but that workplace just happens to be a soccer club. So, it makes sense that this incredibly charming series about a deeply underfunded Philadelphia public school will scratch the Lasso itch in more ways than one. It follows Janine (the brilliant Quinta Brunson), a peppy elementary school teacher who’s new to the job and still certain she can make a difference, despite all the obstacles in her way. Janine is endlessly positive, often to the point of annoying her colleagues, and although her schemes to improve the lives of the kids she teaches don’t always work out, she is constantly learning the value of bringing those around you up to your level, as well as teamwork and dedication. Funny, sweet, and incredibly endearing, this will bring out the tears in the best possible way, especially when you realize the Abbott in Abbott Elementary was a real life teacher who inspired creator Brunson.
Shoresey
A Letterkenny spin-off, this Canadian show about a failing ice hockey team has the same underdog-to-winners feel as Ted Lasso, while also giving viewers great humor and fantastic characterization. It follows a veteran player named Shore (Shoresey), who takes over as manager of the Sudbury Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have lost 20 games in a row, are anchored to the foot of the Triple A-level Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization table, and are on the verge of shutting down before Shoresy makes a bet with the team general manager that the team won’t lost again if he’s handed the reins. After he hires a new coach and players, he seeks to turn the Bulldogs from a laughing stock into one of the best teams in the region. Hilarious and sweet in parts, it doesn’t have the philisophical underpinnings of Ted Lasso, but will definitely turn you into a fan of the fictional Bulldogs.
Eastbound and Down
Although it’s not as sweet as Ted Lasso, this American baseball comedy blends sports and laughs in a way that will be familiar to fans of the coach from Kansas. It follows Kenny Powers (Danny McBride), a once famous baseball player who’s been languishing in retirement after his ego ruined his career. He heads back to his hometown after spending years ignoring it, and begins teaching physical education at his former middle school, all while attempting a comeback to the big leagues. Powers might be much more of a jerk than Lasso, but the series does show him grow as he tries to right his previous wrongs, so has that same Ted Lasso mixture of heart, humor, and sporting context. Most of all, though, it’s just a great watch.
Welcome to Wrexham
There isn’t any sport in the world that fosters passion quite like soccer, and when watching this docuseries you’ll get a taste of just what a club can mean to a town and its people. Welcome to Wrexham follows Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as they purchase Wrexham A.F.C, one of the oldest clubs in the U.K, but one that has been languishing in the lower leagues after years of mismanagemet. The pair attempt to revive the club and bring it back to its former glory, all while learning on the job and learning about the community the club serves. While it’s funny in parts, the main thing that Ted Lasso fans will love about Welcome to Wrexham is the underdog story, and seeing how the improvements in the club ripple out to various members of the community.
Schitt’s Creek
If you’re looking for something that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, while also showing great character growth a la Ted Lasso, then this Canadian series is a must-watch. It follows the once incredibly rich Rose family, who end up losing almost everything they own — except a town named Schitt’s Creek, which they bought as a joke. The Roses end up having to move there, residing in the local motel, and meet a cast of intriguing small town characters who help them all to grow from spoiled rich folk into kind, generous people. Heartwarming in the best possible way, Schitt’s Creek is a feelgood feast for positive emotions, and one of the best examples of character growth out there.
Lodge 49
Probably our most left-field choice in this list, Lodge 49 is similar to Ted Lasso thanks to its almost infuriatingly positive main character. It follows Dud (Wyatt Russel), an ex-surfer who has just lost his father and seen the family business collapse. Although the premise hardly sounds heartwarming, Dud’s endless optimism carries the show, which was sadly cancelled thanks to low ratings, despite garnering plenty of critical acclaim. Funny, sweet, and surprising in the best possible ways, the only bad thing about Lodge 49 is that is was killed off too soon.
Friday Night Lights
This iconic high school sports drama didn’t ever get major viewing figures and ended up being cancelled, but since its end has become a cultural touchstone for many, and famed for its realistic portrayal of middle America. It follows a high school football team in the fictional, close-knit community of Dillon, West Texas, after Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) becomes the coach. His reign is immediately hit with problems as his star player becomes paralyzed, but Eric manages to rally the team and teach them about themselves along the way. Similar to Ted Lasso in that it has an inspirational coach figure leading a team of middling athletes to become more than the sum of their parts, Friday Night Lights isn’t as funny as Ted, but will hit some of the same notes, while also being a great watch in itself.
Scrubs
This medical comedy follows the lives of various members of staff at Sacred Heart hospital as they deal with patients, their love lives, and each other. Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence also wrote this show, and there’s plenty of similarities between the two, most notably their ability to veer from slapstick and bad dad jokes to emotional devastation. Smart, funny, and wholesome (most of the time, anyway), Scrubs will make you laugh so hard you cry and cry so hard you think you’ll never laugh again.
The Good Place
When it comes down to it, Ted Lasso is about how to become a better person, and be better to the people around you, and that’s pretty much the premise of this fantasy comedy. It follows Eleanor (Kristen Bell), a loutish woman who ends up in heaven (“The Good Place”) after she’s killed, although she soon realizes that she only made it in by mistake. What follows is four seasons of some of the most inventive, funny, and intriguing television to come out in recent years, buoyed by great performances from Bell and her castmates. Like Ted Lasso, this highly conceptual show will make you want to do good, while also making you fall in love with its characters.
