25 Shows Like Ted Lasso You'll Definitely Want To Watch

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

With its unique blend of heart-warming storytelling, subversive comedy, and exploration of the UK's football subculture, "Ted Lasso" will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest sports comedy series ever made. It triumphantly returned television creator Bill Lawrence to the spotlight in a major way (more than making up for his "Rush Hour" misfire back in 2016), earned Jason Sudeikis several Emmy Awards, and turned actors Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein into international TV stars almost overnight.

The series ended on its own terms in 2023 after three solid seasons. Though there have been rumblings about a potential fourth season and-or spin-off series (reportedly following a women's soccer team this time around), that doesn't change the fact that we've had a football-sized-hole in our hearts and watchlists ever since AFC Richmond stepped off the pitch at Nelson Road for the last time. For those fans old and new suffering through the post-show blues with us, we've found a bunch of show like "Ted Lasso" that will give you the same warm, fuzzy, victorious feelings.

It's likely that "Ted Lasso" doesn't make it to air without "Sports Night." Even though Aaron Sorkin's pre-"West Wing" dramedy scored more points with critics than the public, it's become a Twitter sensation, the sort of show that's beloved by your favorite television creator. And, to be clear, there are many of parallels between "Ted Lasso" and "Sports Night." Both examine life through the lens of athletics. Both take a wide-ranging view of the wide world of sports, telling stories about journalists, superstars, fans, and more. Most importantly, both shows will break or bolster your heart in an instant.

That said, the primary difference between "Ted Lasso" and "Sports Night" is also unmissable. "Ted Lasso" is a show about how an American sports coach helps an English football team find its soul. "Sports Night" is about a sports network that risks losing its soul in a quest to improve its ratings. Both shows arrive at the same conversations, but that they take different paths to get there make them ideal companions. If you've never let Casey McCall and Dan Rydell lead you though the night's highlights, now is the time. 

Where "Ted Lasso" is a show with a global cast whose different backgrounds are visibly reflected on screen, "Slings & Arrows" is Canadian. Deeply Canadian. That said: "Slings & Arrows" belongs in Canada's cultural time capsule. If aliens were to arrive on Earth and extract a DVD copy of "Slings" from whatever case it's buried in, they'd walk away with a desire to make theater, believing that our neighbors up North are the funniest people on Earth.

If that doesn't make sense to you, then you haven't seen "Slings & Arrows." Most widely known as Rachel McAdams' breakthrough project, "Slings" does for on-stage performance what "Ted Lasso" does for soccer. The story of a theater festival haunted by their recently deceased artistic director is hysterical, sure, but it also uses magical realism as a springboard from which it tackles the questions Shakespeare's plays have wrestled with for centuries. Many of its episodes will qualify for television's Hall of Fame if such a vaulted place existed, most notably "Birnam Wood." 

The show that put "Ted Lasso" creator Bill Lawrence on the map, "Scrubs" remains a peerless both as a workplace comedy and a blend of antics and heartstring-tugging drama (barely a week goes in which I don't see someone tweet about "My Screw Up" or "My Hero," two high points of all early-'00s network television, although not every episode has aged well). 

But "Scrubs" also remains peerless as a cultural experience. "Scrubs" was a show you talked about. It created moments that reverberated through personal and professional circles. "Scrubs" made talking about health easier for many — how many comedies can do that while incorporating musical numbers set to Men at Work tunes? The answer, aside from "Scrubs," is none. 

Although "Scrubs" all but became a different show when it moved to ABC, perhaps diminishing its legacy in the process, its first seven seasons starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, Neil Flynn, and more are worthy of either a first-time watch or a re-binge.  

"Brockmire," like "Ted Lasso," fundamentally understands that sports are about people — the players, the fans, and, in this case, the broadcasters. "Brockmire" also understands that those involved in sports suffer both on and off the field. Case in point: the infamous baseball play-by-play man, Brockmire himself, played by "The Simpsons" star Hank Azaria. The series opens with the legendary broadcaster having an on-air meltdown after learning that his wife is sleeping with another man. The moment is tragic, hysterical, and unbelievably honest. If that sounds similar to "Ted Lasso," you're beginning to see how many parallels there are between these two shows about their respective nations' favorite pastimes. 

What "Brockmire" conveys is a palpable sense of exhaustion. Day in and day out, its characters must rouse themselves into a state of relative hopefulness. On TV, that sometimes seems too easy. "Brockmire" knows that it's actually quite difficult, and the side-splitting ends that the show goes to in pursuit of revealing this truth make it one of the last decade's essential comedies. 

A show whose fandom has only blossomed since its one-season run, FOX's "Pitch" didn't just tell a positive story about women in sports — it was the playbook for how a woman could thrive in Major League Baseball. The series about the first woman (Kylie Bunbury) to play in Major League Baseball, which was co-created by "This Is Us" executive producer Dan Fogelman, took pains to get the details right. It featured both the San Diego Padres and Petco Park, filming scenes in the stadium when the team was away. Its plot took a deep dive into the intricacies of baseball, examining everything from the screwball pitch to interorganizational subterfuge.

More importantly, "Pitch" was a show that put both women athletes and female sports fans front and center. As Kendra James wrote in Cosmopolitan, "'Pitch' mostly reflects the baseball fandom I want to see more of: There are white, black, brown, and Asian girls and women peppering the stands. No one is wearing a baby blue or pink jersey." 

It was a watermark moment for sports television, despite lasting just one season, and though "Ted Lasso" hasn't exactly picked up where "Pitch" left off, it hasn't dropped the ball either. Women are an integral part of both AFC Richmond's organization and its fandom. Sports are for everyone, and both shows reflect this. But they're not the only two... 

In 2021, "Big Shot" was a minor cog in the Disney+ content machine. That's not a criticism as much as an inevitability — especially since "Star Wars" and Marvel dominated the streamer early and has expanded its presence on since then with more from both franchises always on the way. In that light, a show following John Stamos coaching girls' basketball doesn't have the same mainstream shine.

But it should! Produced by none other than David E. Kelly, the man behind "Big Little Lies," "The Practice," "Ally McBeal," and so many more, "Big Shot" is a family-friendly feature extended to a season-long drama, and wastes no time diving into the obstacles young women face when pursuing a life in sports. It's remarkably frank for a Disney show. In addition, the role of Coach Marvyn Korn is as revelatory for John Stamos as Lasso was for Jason Sudeikis, filtering the actor's natural charm through layers of self-deprecation, doubt, and tenacity. It's a gentle balancing act that few could've imagined when "Full House" premiered back in 1987. 

Netflix's "The English Game" is a terrific history lesson for anyone who gets chills when AFC Richmond takes the field, telling the story of how football in the 1870s planted the seeds of a cultural phenomenon. It's even more potent, however, as an examination of classism. The true story of how the well-funded Old Estonians fought working-class Darwen FC for the Football Association Cup, "The English Game," penned by the Academy Award-winning chronicler of class issues Julian Fellowes, wastes no time in asking the pivotal question of who "the beautiful game" is for. 

Though the sport was created by (and eventually run by) the wealthy, they were not its future, and "The English Game" captures that inflection point. The miniseries' inherent conflict still has resonance today, as "Ted Lasso" clearly illustrates. From the clashes between Sam and Dubai Air to Nate's ever-shifting status in the AFC Richmond organization, "Ted Lasso" knows that social hierarchy is an established haunt of sports, one that sports alone can eradicate. That makes "Ted Lasso" — and "The English Game" — essential viewing. 

There is no proof, as of this article's publishing, that Ted Lasso or Coach Beard have watched every season of "Friday Night Lights," but come on now. It's more than reasonable to assume that Lasso and Beard saw, at a bare minimum, the NBC seasons of Jason Katmis' high school football drama. You don't get to "Believe" without "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." You don't have Marcus Mumford's stirring "Ted Lasso" theme without the delicate "Friday Night Lights" score by W. G. Snuffy Walden. If Roy Kent wouldn't both fight and enjoy a drink alongside Coach Taylor, I'm voting Jaime off of "Lust Conquers All." 

"Friday Night Lights" — which follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor — is the wizard behind not only the "Ted Lasso" curtain, but also Lasso himself. The show was likely a balm for his grief, the way sports so often is for ours. If you've never seen "Friday Night Lights" and are reading this article, I implore you with every bone in my body to pause and start watching it now. We all deserve clear eyes and full hearts. When we have them, we can't lose — even in defeat. 

The Greyhounds are misfits, and that's compliment. The team's roster includes a wide swath of personalities and interests, and most of its players are deeply quirky. Their diversity only makes their shared love for one another more endearing, and their victories more meaningful. And it makes AFC Richmond much more than a job; for most of these men, AFC Richmond is a home.

That proves equally true for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, who joined Sam Sylvia's upstart organization for various reasons, but come to find that it bolsters their hearts in addition to their wallets. And "GLOW" — which was heartbreakingly canceled by Netflix a half-year into the COVID-19 pandemic — provided accommodation for viewers who are turned off by sports shows more often than not. 

Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch's stirring dramedy — starring Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel, Jackie Tohn, and more — chronicled the saga of GLOW (a real-life wrestling promotion, although many of the details were a little different), but it's just as much about its characters, their sexualities, and their ethnic identities as it is about professional wrestling. If the subplots about Dubai's Air's abuse of Nigeria's people and Roy's struggles to be vulnerable resonate with you, "GLOW" is a show you should check out. 

The differences between "Ted Lasso" and "Eastbound & Down" could not be starker. "Ted Lasso" is a show that spends an entire episode on the redemptive power of Christmas. "Eastbound & Down" is the kind of series where arrogant pitcher Kenny Powers (Danny McBride), says stuff like this:

"I've been blessed with many things in this life: an arm like a damn rocket, a c**k like a Burmese python, and the mind of a f*****g scientist. So people often ask me, 'Kenny, what are your weaknesses? Do you have any?' I would say that my biggest flaw, my Achilles heel, is my tireless work ethic."

Why, then, does "Eastbound & Down" make this list? Well, for one thing, it's one of the essential comedies of the 21st century, painting as strong a portrait of male ego, insecurity, and fallibility as has ever been committed to film. For another, like Coach Lasso, Kenny Powers struggles to see himself for who he is, not who tries to be. Instead of acknowledging himself, faults and all, he cracks wise and lashes out and makes poor decisions. If that isn't of kin with "Ted Lasso" episodes like "The Signal" and "Headspace," then I don't know what is. 

In the surprisingly poignant "Never Have I Ever," a vaunted athlete serves as our guide through one girl's grief. Davi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is an Indian teen who has lost her father and the use of her legs (temporarily). Her tale is narrated by none other than former tennis star John McEnroe, who provides hilarious narration for the series.

Thankfully, like "Ted Lasso," Mindy Kaling's highly touted coming-of-age series at Netflix never makes you wait for a fresh comic set piece. "Never Have I Ever" deftly weaves its tale of trauma and mourning into a genuinely new strain of teen comedy. This is a 2020s show, one that makes room for races and gender orientations that have been sidelined far too often. It also, thrillingly, gives its characters idiosyncratic voices. There's never been a "nice guy" quite like Ben Gross (Jaren Lewiston), or a mentor as sharply wise as Dr. Jamie Ryan (Niecy Nash). 

Also like "Ted Lasso," "Never Have I Ever" believes that each of its players, no matter how minor, are capable of revelatory change. If they have to make a few mistakes and lose a bit first, that's all right. So did John McEnroe. 

If you like "Ted Lasso," you likely enjoy workplace comedies. You also appreciate, to some degree, a show that riffs on established genres, be it sports films or romantic comedies. You also like a show that has its heart in the right place, that isn't afraid to act foul from time to time, and that strains to serve its entire, talented ensemble. Plus, you already have the right streaming service.

May I interest you, then, in the gently used "Mythic Quest" on Apple TV+? Though it has received less publicity than its football-focused companion, the Rob McElhenney vehicle is just as ambitious (hello, stand-alone episodes!) as it is funny. Made in partnership with gaming giant Ubisoft, "Mythic Quest" follows a fictional video game studio's ups and downs as its employees struggle to thrive, find love, and keep their heads above water. 

If this all sounds familiar, it is. And it's how the show subverts that familiarity — see the Zoom-set COVID episode, or the way McElhenney's performance deliberately diverges from Mac on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" — that makes the show a magic, frequently moving watch, even though it got canceled by Apple TV+.

Making its debut in 2009, "The League" follows a group of friends living in a Chicago suburb whose competitive streaks know no boundaries when it comes to their fantasy football league. Making up the group is married couple Kevin and Jenny MacArthur (Steve Rannazzisi and Katie Aselton); Kevin's stoner brother, Taco (Jon Lajoie); doofus dentist Andre Nowzik (Paul Scheer); Pete Eckhart (Mark Duplass), who divorced his wife because she gave away his "lucky" shirt; and smarmy Rodney Ruxin (Nick Kroll), who puts more effort into fantasy football than he does his job and his marriage, which is why he's won the league's trophy (the coveted Sacko) more than anyone else. 

While the gang's league is the spine of the show, throughout its seven hilarious seasons, "The League" takes off on some truly wild tangents that have nothing to do with fantasy football while introducing such borderline phrases as "vinegar strokes" and "Eskimo brothers" (Google both at your peril). The show also welcomed a dizzying array of NFL players in cameos and an impressive array of guest stars (Jeff Goldblum and Sarah Silverman, for example, play Ruxin's father and sister in a Thanksgiving episode), along with the hilarious Jason Mantzoukas as the recurring Rafi, one of the most outlandish characters ever depicted on a sitcom.

Also set in the world of professional sports, "Ballers" stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a former NFL star forced into retirement by an injury, who uses the knowledge he gleaned as a pro athlete in his new gig as a financial adviser for sports stars. Starring alongside Johnson, Rob Corddry ("Children's Hospital") portrays fellow financial adviser Joe Krutel. Like "Ted Lasso," "Ballers" takes viewers into the inner workings of professional sports (with a focus on the business aspects) while also looking at the unexpected ways that an athlete's physical and mental condition can impact the bottom line. 

"Ballers" has been compared to a sports-themed version of "Entourage," focusing on jocks instead of actors. Given that "Ballers" came from "Entourage" producers Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson, that's no accident. What makes "Ballers" so entertaining is Johnson, whose charm and charisma elevate every scene he's in and leave no doubt why he's become one of the biggest movie stars in the world. 

As Johnson explained in an Instagram post commemorating the series' end, "Ballers" gave him the chance to share a rarely seen perspective on television. "It was an opportunity to not only embrace culture, not only embrace ambition, not only embrace success — which we do in the show — but also embrace the failures, which is a key and critical thing in life, to learn from them," he said.

Fans of "Ted Lasso" are struck by the character's unflappable optimism, even in the face of some pretty terrible circumstances. A similar vibe permeates "The Good Place," the afterlife NBC sitcom created by Michael Schur, who wrote for "The Office" and co-created "Parks and Recreation" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." 

Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") stars as Eleanor Shellstrop, who meets her end after being hit by a truck. She finds herself in the titular Good Place, where she meets Michael ("Cheers" alum Ted Danson), who introduces himself as the "architect" of this heavenly retreat. He informs her that the Good Place is where the most virtuous and selfless humans are sent after death. She's paired with Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), who's supposed to be her soulmate, and then meets fellow Good Place residents Tahani Al-Jamil (Jameela Jamil), who was a wealthy philanthropist on Earth, and her soulmate, silent Buddhist monk Jianyu Li (Manny Jacinto). 

However, there's one glitch in this seeming perfection. Eleanor knows that she's a pretty awful person who's done some terrible things. This leads her to believe there's been some sort of error that's sent her there instead of the Bad Place (that is eventually explained in a game-changing twist). Ultimately, Schur deftly uses the show's premise to explore some heady philosophical concepts surrounding morality, ethics, and self-improvement to emphasize that attempting to be a better person may end in failure, but that doesn't mean one shouldn't keep on trying.

A spiritual ancestor of "Ted Lasso," the still-beloved NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation" takes an "Office"-like approach to the goings on in the parks and recreation department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. 

Boasting an eclectic array of characters, the show's heart and soul is Deputy Director Leslie Knope. Played by "Saturday Night Live" alum Amy Poehler, Leslie is the eternal optimist, a firm believer in the power of government to serve its community, who tackles each obstacle with a smile and the conviction that no problem is too difficult if everyone does their best. "There's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives," she declares in one episode. In another, she describes her favorite hobby as "jammin' on my planner" (because "organizing my agenda" sounded too nerdy). 

Her boss, friend, and philosophical foil is Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), an unapologetically carnivorous libertarian happy to dance on the grave of government, which he believes has been irretrievably broken by layer upon layer of pointless red tape. Yet, the more dour and inflexible Ron becomes, the more Leslie pulls out all the stops to try to inspire him — no mean feat for a stubborn individualist who once opined, "There are only three ways to motivate people: money, fear, and hunger."

A Canadian comedy that became a surprise hit in the U.S. and beyond, the immensely quotable "Schitt's Creek" follows the exploits of the Rose family. The series begins with video store mogul Danny Rose (Eugene Levy) losing everything after discovering his business manager had been embezzling the money he thought he was paying in taxes. With nowhere else to go, Danny, his actress wife Moira (series MVP Catherine O'Hara), and vacuous grown children David (Levy's real-life son, Daniel Levy) and Alexis (Annie Murphy) are forced to live in the small town of Schitt's Creek, which Danny had purchased as a lark years earlier because he found its name to be hilarious. Also thrown into the mix are the town's eccentric locals, particularly Roland Schitt (Chris Elliott), a moronic descendent of the town's founder, and his wife, Jocelyn (Jennifer Robertson).

Throughout six hilarious and heartwarming seasons of "Schitt's Creek," the Roses learn that not only have they become better people due to losing their wealth, but they've also forged friendships and become part of a community — not unlike the way Ted Lasso finds his purpose while helping others find theirs as the coach of AFC Richmond.

Best known for playing vain Dennis Reynolds in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," Glenn Howerton struck out on his own in the NBC sitcom "A.P. Bio," which aired for four seasons (three on NBC and one on the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service Peacock before it was canceled). 

Howerton plays Jack Griffin, who was once an esteemed philosophy professor at Harvard. The kind of guy who'll stop at nothing to get what he wants, Jack burned all his bridges in his attempt to land his dream job as a tenured professor at Stanford. However, when he doesn't get the job,  he's forced to take a gig at a high school in Toledo, Ohio, teaching Advanced Placement Biology. 

The only problem is Jack has no intention of teaching anything. Telling his overachieving students that he holds control over their GPAs, he enlists their help to exact revenge on those who have wronged him, with the first target being the guy who got the job he wanted. Comedian Patton Oswalt is the show's secret weapon as the school's principal, Ralph Durbin, who eagerly lets Jack steamroll him so he can proudly proclaim that one of his teachers is a Harvard graduate. 

From this twisted place emerges an opportunity for Jack to use his borderline-sociopathic creativity for revenge to help his students with their own problems. While his methods are rarely ethical, the experience provides Jack with some personal growth as he learns empathy for others, presumably for the first time.

Working in a big-box store isn't the kind of vocation that immediately suggests laughter, yet that's the premise of "Superstore," the hit comedy that ran on NBC from 2015 to 2021. 

America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty" fame stars as Amy, a long-term employee at a Cloud 9 outlet, just like the rest of the main cast, including "Kids in the Hall" alum Mark McKinney, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nichole Sakura, and Nico Santos. Essentially a workplace sitcom, "Superstore" empathetically demonstrates that those who slave away for low wages in the service industry still have hopes and dreams. Ultimately, the Cloud 9 staff realize their jobs are soul-crushing, yet that realization not only doesn't kill their spirits but also inspires them to carry on and try even harder.

"Superstore" also gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of people they may only encounter when shopping in a big-box store, depicting them as three-dimensional people whose lives matter. "That was the main draw for me: The opportunity to put a name and a face to people that we interact with but we usually just gloss over," says Ferrera of her initial attraction Ferrera of her initial attraction to the show. "We never get to know those who work in customer service or similar positions. We wanted to challenge all assumptions regarding social class, ethnicity, and race. Using humor as a great way to start conversations."

"Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" creator/star Rob McElhenney made headlines in 2020 when they joined forces to purchase Wrexham AFC, a struggling Welsh soccer team. The pair decided to bring television viewers along for the ride by filming it all for the FX documentary series "Welcome to Wrexham," in which they embark on the Herculean task of running the team while juggling their various Hollywood projects. That the show focuses on a U.K. soccer franchise isn't the only similarity that "Welcome to Wrexham" shares with "Ted Lasso." There's also the fact that Reynolds (a Canadian who hails from Vancouver) and McElhenney (born and raised in Philly) are fish out of water, facing struggles to the ones that Ted overcame in the first season.

The series has chronicled some truly uplifting and beautiful moments in sports across four seasons, with a fifth on the way along with a spin-off. Victory never tasted so sweet. "I'm completely and totally speechless," tweeted Reynolds after his underdog team's unexpected win in 2023. "What a club. What a town. What a win."

"Ted Lasso" left a mark on viewers with an ensemble cast of flawed but lovable underdogs you couldn't help but root for, not only because they strove each episode to treat one another with more empathy, but because their success would validate a better, more compassionate way of doing things in their normally cutthroat world. The same is true for Quinta Brunson's must-watch mockumentary sitcom "Abbott Elementary."

Brunson stars alongside a roll call of underrated comedic actors, who play the put-upon teachers and administrative faculty members of the titular Philadelphia elementary school, all of whom must balance the financial and institutional realities of their career with their desire to ensure the kids in their care have the best chance possible in the real world. Brunson's bright and unflappable Janine Teagues is an optimist cut from the same unity quilt as "Park and Rec's" Leslie Knope — her enthusiasm and determination to change the system often creates conflict between her and her colleagues. 

Meanwhile, "The Walking Dead" alum Tyler James Williams plays Gregory Eddie an overqualified and underexperienced newcomer, who butts heads with Janine most frequently. There's also Jacob (Chris Perfetti), whose attempts to be the "cool teacher" blow up in his face, veteran teachers Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), both of whom know the only way to survive is to keep your head down and play the game, and the scene-stealing self-centered principal Ava (Janelle James).

It's hard to imagine there are "Ted Lasso" fans out there who haven't heard of "Abbott Elementary" (especially given that its historic Emmy run overlapped with "Ted Lasso"). But if you've already walked these halls, don't head for your diploma just yet – there are also plenty of shows like "Abbott Elementary" that will school you with the same mix of comedy and hope.

If you're looking for a series like "Ted Lasso" that uses sports to examine society and identity, Amazon Prime Video's "A League of Their Own" would be a home run. Inspired both by the 1992 film of the same name (which starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna) as well as other, numerous true sports stories, it follows the early days of the All-American Girls' Professional Baseball League from the perspective of the Rockford Peaches baseball team (a real-life Illinois team that competed in the league throughout the '40s and early '50s).

If you've already seen the classic film, don't let that turn you away from the series — in fact, you're likely to appreciate it even more. "A League of Their Own" is a bold swing of an adaptation that, while a bit slow loading the bases, ultimately knocks it out of the park by giving more narrative agency to the players. 

Credit is due to creators Will Graham ("Daisy Jones and the Six") and Abbi Jacobson ("Broad City"), the latter of whom stars as awkward newcoming catcher Carson Shaw. The show focuses heavily on her relationship with teammate Greta Gill ("The Good Place" alum D'Arcy Carden), exploring how their sexuality impacts their lives in the mid-20th century. Meanwhile, Chanté Adams plays Maxine Chapman, a pitcher denied opportunities by the league at large due to her race — the series depicts her struggle to overcome these obstacles to win her rightful place in the dugout. (Hanks' part is basically taken over by a perfectly-cast Nick Offerman, though he's appropriately more of a supporting character in this telling of the tale.)

Sadly, "A League of Their Own" was cancelled after only two seasons, and suffice it to say, we weren't happy when we heard the news. Even if the game is over, the series is far from a strike-out.

We'll come right out of the gate and say it: "The Newsroom" has a complicated legacy. It's generally considered a weak point in writer-creator Aaron Sorkin's legendary career (even the "West Wing" scribe himself felt "The Newsroom" never found its footing) and some (us included) have argued that it might be one of the worst HBO shows of all time. If one goes to "The Newsroom" looking for an accurate, novel diagnosis of the issues regarding American media, they will be sorely disappointed, but if they're looking for the same sort of optimistic alternate reality created by "Ted Lasso," where hard work is rewarded and people can generally be trusted to be good, reasonable, and compassionate, "The Newsroom" provides a similar escape.

After veteran news anchor and devout political moderate Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels, giving one of the greatest performances of his career) has a very public panic attack when asked about the state of America, he (and his new executive producer and ex-lover Mackenzie McHale, played by Emily Mortimer) decides to completely rework his approach to reporting the news. Rather than conceding to the political interests of the network, the monetary interests of its parent company, or the general desire for scandal and simple answers from the public at large, his team commits to serious, fact-based reporting that is solely meant to ensure that Americans are informed on the issues that actually matter. It's a goal that's way easier said than done, but that conflict of a few underdogs taking on the system is exactly what "Ted Lasso" fans will cheer for.

Part of what makes "Ted Lasso" so refreshing and relatable is that it's an underdog story where the underdogs are far from perfect — in fact, a few of them behave pretty terribly, especially early in the season. This creates a more complicated, compelling, and ultimately satisfying story arc, the likes of which can also be found in all six seasons of "Cobra Kai."

Originally airing on the now essentially defunct "YouTube Red" streaming platform, "Cobra Kai" itself was something of an underdog when it first premiered. Its first season is unquestionably one of the most successful sleeper-hit series of the 2010s, having since moved to Netflix where it completed an impressive 65-episode run that single-handedly revived "The Karate Kid" as a viable, franchiseable piece of intellectual property for Sony Pictures (though "Karate Kid: Legends" failed to capitalize on it). 

William Zabka and Ralph Macchio reprise their roles from the 1984 film, both older and dealing with the consequences of their respective childhoods. Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) takes center stage here, now a burnt-out martial arts master hiding his emotional wounds underneath a gi of rugged masculinity. Though he initially hopes to pass this on to the vulnerable kids that seek his help learning self-defense, his students and the newfound sense of purpose and community they provide him allow him to process this pain.

Like "Ted Lasso," "Cobra Kai" also emphasizes character development without sacrificing its sports setting — the competitive fights are as exceptionally choreographed and thrilling to watch as the football games played by AFC Richmond. It may seem a little more teen-oriented than "Ted Lasso" at first, but "Cobra Kai" is a knock out for audiences of all ages.

Of course, there is arguably no better TV series for fans of "Ted Lasso" to watch than "Shrinking," a spiritual successor to the former series in just about every way. The setting and premise is where the most significant differences lie, as Apple TV+'s "Shrinking" leaves behind the grassy pitch and fluorescent locker rooms of AFC Richmond, as well as the grey skies of London entirely, for the therapy offices of Pasadena, California.

In one of these offices, Jimmy Laird — an open-minded but nearly burnt-out therapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy (played by "How I Met Your Mother" alum Jason Segel) — puts his professional reputation on the line in an attempt to find unconventional, but potentially more effective methods of treating his struggling patients. Jimmy's motives, though altruistic, are complicated by his own psychological difficulties. In the wake of his wife's tragic death, he has turned to sex and substances to distract himself and has distanced himself from his daughter (Lukita Maxwell) and his best friend (Michael Urie). His methods also bring him into conflict with his coworkers, played by "The Daily Show" correspondent Jessica Williams and cinema treasure Harrison Ford.

Though this plot may sound far afield of what you'd see on "Ted Lasso," the series' creative DNA are identical, because alongside Jason Segel, "Shrinking" was created by Bill Lawrence and Roy Kent himself, Brett Goldstein (who was a writer on "Ted Lasso" before he'd even thought about donning a jersey).They bring the same combination of defiant optimism and willingness to explore the darkness of the human psyche to this series, creating the same complicated yet comfortable narrative environment that makes you want to look inward long after the credits roll. And if all that weren't enough to send it to the top of your post-"Ted" watchlist, "Shrinking" is also streaming exclusively on AppleTV+.