10 Shows Like ‘Ted Lasso’

Cross-Atlantic hit Ted Lasso hits all the feel-good notes for most of its viewers, and has become one of the most beloved sitcoms of the last few years. But for some of us, it might be just a little too sweet–or there may not be enough of it to satisfy your sweet tooth at all.

However you find yourself in regards to Ted, you’ll be happy to know that there’s quite a few shows that hit the same notes, for various reasons. Here’s ten of the best Lasso-like shows, for when you need a pick-me-up.

Schitt’s Creek

The first few episodes might deceive you into believing that Schitt’s Creek is entirely sardonic, but just give it a chance and it’ll surprise you. This delightful show has a great deal of heart to it, but only in the moments that matter.

With a lovable cast of characters (that you’ll want to throttle every once in a while) and a town that starts to grow on you, Schitt’s Creek is the rare sort of show that captivates you from start to finish. The way that the story fully concludes in such a satisfying, well-earned way is something of a rarity in shows these days.

Barry

While not nearly as jovial as Ted Lasso, HBO’s Barry shares the same sort of dry humor, albeit in a much tenser setting. Fellow SNL alum Bill Hader stars as the titular Barry, a former veteran-turned-hitman who fumbles his way into an amateur acting career.

These shows have often been called parallels of each other, with there being hints of wisdom in between all the respective absurdity and chaos. Either way, Barry is certainly just as bingeable.

High Maintenance

On paper, a show about a weed delivery guy sounds like it’ll be just another in a long line of stoner-driven series. But in practice, this show demonstrates more soul and creativity than most shows out there, and I still mourn its cancellation.

High Maintenance follows “The Guy” throughout New York, as he delivers his products to trusted customers. Their lives often intersect, making the customers the main characters of each episode, and The Guy our beloved recurring character. But everyone is treated with fairness and tenderness, and where Lasso‘s sweet moments are a little on the nose, HM‘s are wonderfully subtle.

Mozart in the Jungle

Ted had some pretty big shoes to fill, going to work in London, and for what was initially meant to be an orchestrated disaster. In a similar vein, Hayley Ruttelidge (Lola Kirke) finally got her chance to play for the NY Symphony Orchestra, and it’s more cutthroat than she ever could have anticipated.

Anyone who’s ever tried to make it as a musician will find some catharsis in this show, as well as anyone who’s dedicated to their art in general. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, with a constant air of levity and determination, but the moments when shit hits the fan really make you sit up straight.

Hacks

I hate this show and I love it. Hate, because it can get so toxic I get second-hand embarrassment whenever I watch it. And love, because hey, that’s good TV!

Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a once-renowned comedian, is in turmoil over her career, while Ava (Hannah Einbinder) can’t find steady work as a comedy writer after an ill-advised tweet. The two are a pair of snarky, insufferable jerks together, and it’s both fantastic to watch and anxiety-inducing for Ava, who’s just trying to keep her job. But don’t worry, it’s not all knives out: there are the occasional moments of sweetness, and they hit especially hard in their rarity.

Insecure

Now that Insecure has officially ended, you really have no excuse NOT to watch it. Especially if you’re a fan of Lasso, because these shows are both about rooting for the little guy, and watching Issa (star and creator Issa Rae) grow into who she needs to be is incredibly inspiring!

Issa Dee is approaching her thirties and finding her life isn’t fulfilling, while her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) has a great career, but is scratching the bottom of the barrel for dates. It’s a hilarious, captivating, and at times heartbreaking show that pairs each episode with literally the best music you could possibly play in a TV show.

Shrill

Ahhhhhhhhh how I love Lil Baby Aidy! Similar to Insecure, Shrill is all about a young woman trying to find more purpose in her life and her work, yet with a different set of challenges keeping her from progressing. When the series begins, Annie’s (Aidy Bryant) got a cool job but not enough to do, and her boyfriend is a moron who makes her feel awful about herself. Annie herself really lacks a backbone, and much of the series sees her grow from a wallflower into a “shrill” badass. It’s is a really cool journey, especially for plus-sized viewers, and even when she acts like a jerk, I can’t help but root for all the growth she’s making happen.

Mythic Quest

This is a silly series, if you liked the silliness of Ted Lasso. I also considered putting Rob McElhenney’s first show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on this list, but that series is ultimately quite mean and Lasso is…pretty much the opposite of that. So, thankfully, we have McElhenney’s other show to go on: Mythic Quest.

Video game development is a notoriously slimy industry, but this show does a great job at humanizing it via all the ridiculous stunts and in-office drama. The cast helps make the magic happen, featuring everyone’s favorite snark shark Danny Pudi and the infamous “Rickety Cricket” (David Hornsby).

King of the Hill

Now if you’re a person of taste and you liked Lasso for its southern charm (notably lacking in conservative politicking), then you can’t go wrong with King of the Hill. It’s satire at its best, albeit with less saccharine sweetness and more a dry humor that’s best paired with a green thumb.

I don’t know what else to say really, it’s King of the Hill. If you ain’t with it, get with it. I tell you hwhat.

Malcolm in the Middle

So I might be a little biased, but I firmly believe that Malcolm in the Middle is, without a doubt, one of the greatest TV shows of the modern era. It’s got all the hallmarks of the early 2000s while still managing to be painfully relevant today (i.e. the follies of our education system, class inequalities, plain old teen angst, etc.).

It may not be as obviously sweet as Lasso, especially in the moments when Lois is whooping ass, but ultimately, it’s a show about a family that only has each other in the animalistic world they live in. And as animalistic as they are themselves, I love that they never really change: they stay who they are, for better or for worse.

(Featured Image: Apple TV+)

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