Jason Sudeikis, the award-winning actor and creator of the hit series Ted Lasso, has revealed that his creation of the lovable character was partly inspired by the arrival of Donald Trump on the political scene in 2015. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Jason Sudeikis explained that he had been considering revisiting a character he had previously created for a comedy skit, which had originally been more “belligerent”. However, the divisive politics of the time persuaded him to take the character in a warmer direction.
Jason Sudeikis was particularly struck by the way that Trump’s arrival on the political stage had “unlocked” something in people, causing them to become increasingly binary in their thinking and less willing to listen to opposing viewpoints. In response, Jason Sudeikis decided to create the warm, uncynical character of Ted Lasso, a clueless coach who is recruited to take charge of a fictional English football team.
Since its debut, Ted Lasso has become a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic, with Ted Lasso’s motto of “Believe” capturing the imaginations of viewers everywhere. And as the show prepares to bow out after three seasons, the character’s positive influence has even spread to the White House. During a recent visit to the Oval Office to discuss mental health strategies with President Joe Biden, Jason Sudeikis noticed that the word “Believe” had been pinned above the door.
Reflecting on this experience, Jason Sudeikis expressed amazement at the impact that his creation has had on people’s lives.
“It’s nuts, man,” he said. “I haven’t even looked at the pictures of the White House yet because I want it to just live up there for a while as this amazing firework show rather than saying, ‘Oh, boy, why did I wear sneakers?'”
