Summary
Glen Powell leads Hulu’s new comedy seriesChad Powersas the titular football player, which sounds like a more promising way to revive the charm ofTed Lassothan returning for season 4. Seemingly coming out of nowhere,Ted Lassohit Apple TV+ in 2020 to become a massive critical, awards, and viewership smash, with its hopeful themes and light humor becoming a beacon within a vast landscape of acclaimed feel-bad TV. In the time sinceTed Lasso’s endingin 2023, there’s been a search for a similar show to fill the gap left by Jason Sudeikis’ iconic mustachioed character.
EnterChad Powers, a brand-new Hulu TV show withmovie star Glen Powellin the lead, hot off the heels of a string of hit movies that includeTop Gun: Maverick,Anyone but You,Hit Man, andTwisters. Theshow is based on a popular ESPN+ comedy skit from 2022, which saw NFL quarterback Eli Manning go undercover for walk-on college football tryouts atPenn State under the alias “Chad Powers,” while wearing facial prosthetics, makeup, and a wig. Taking the same plot setup, Glen Powell’sChad Powerssports show has the potential to be the nextTed Lasso.
While thepossibility ofTed Lassoseason 4 happeningon Apple TV+ is tempting, it may be wiser for the fictional AFC Richmond to hang up their cleats after the titular coach’s departure. Instead, it’s time to let a new story take its place on the small screen, and the story of a fraudulent, disgraced former college football quarterback trying to revive his career might be the answer. Thecareer dud-to-college turn for Russ Holliday, aka Chad Powers, will be just as amusing as watching American football coach Ted Lassolearn and excel at managing English football.
Ted Lassois also based on a comedy skit. Jason Sudeikis originally played the character in a series of commercials for NBC Sports starting in 2013.
With Glen Powell in the starring role, it’s expected thatChad Powerswill succeed in striking a similar balance toTed Lassoin its comedic and emotional or dramatic tones. This has also been impressively replicated byHulu’s sports comedy showShoresy, which follows a senior Canadian hockey team led by the foul-mouthed, sarcastic titular player. Since “Chad” is walking onto a “struggling” Southern football team, itsounds like Powell’s upcoming series will mirrorTed Lasso’s rags-to-riches Cinderella sports storywhile improving the lives of Russ Holliday and his teammates.
Ted Lasso Season 4 Updates Keep Making The Apple TV+ Show’s Future Worse
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Will Ted Lasso Even Be Ted Lasso Without Jason Sudeikis?
Though he’s actually on the team itself rather than serving as the coach,Powell’s Chad Powers character is expected to take on a role comparable to Ted Lassoat the start of the show. LikeTed with AFC Richmond, Russ will likely join the team and have an incredible influence on the players, coaches, and staff as he takes them to victory and builds up their program. Seeing Russ gradually build these relationships will be the big emotional payoff ofChad Powers, whichTed Lassoalready accomplished by season 3’s ending.
Chad Powerscan fill the gap left afterTed Lasso’s ending, but still be a completely new, refreshing take on the beloved sports comedy narrative.
Therefore,Ted Lassohas already concluded its primary arc. If the series does get another season on Apple TV+ without Sudeikis, then it will be difficult to truly fill Ted’s boots and start from scratch with another existing character taking on his role. Russ Holliday’s personality and disposition will also be extremely different from Sudeikis’ character, soChad Powerswon’t be a carbon copy of theTed Lassoformula. In this way,Chad Powerscan fill the gap left afterTed Lasso’s ending, but still be a completely new, refreshing take on the beloved sports comedy narrative.
Ted Lasso
Cast
Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he’s fit for the job.
