Jason Sudeikis, creator and star of the hit sitcom “Ted Lasso,” recently revealed that he had originally envisioned the title character to be belligerent but changed it to a “warm and fuzzy” personality inspired by former President Donald Trump.
In an interview with The Guardian, Sudeikis discussed how the culture at the time, including the political climate and social media, influenced the show’s direction.
He stated, “It was the culture we were living in. I’m not terribly active online, and it even affected me. Then you have Donald Trump coming down the escalator. I was like, ‘OK, this is silly,’ and then what he unlocked in people… I hated how people weren’t listening to one another.”
Instead of creating a character based on anger and hostility, Sudeikis opted for a more positive and empathetic character. “Things became very binary, and I don’t think that’s the way the world works,” he added.
The critically acclaimed show premiered in 2020 and follows the story of an American college football coach who is hired to train an English football team. It has quickly become a fan favorite and earned Sudeikis his first Emmy Award in 2021.
“Ted Lasso” is set to run for three seasons, with the current season being the last one. Fans will surely miss the lovable and inspiring character that Sudeikis brought to life.