It doesn’t take much for British Jews to embrace one of our own in their success. It doesn’t take much for British standups to reject one of our own in their success. You’d understand then, that being a British Jewish standup, this reviewer might be conflicted when it comes to fellow British Jewish standup Brett Goldstein and his Emmy win for Best Supporting Character in the sitcom Ted Lasso.
“How come this guy, who just a few years ago was gigging to drunk tourists in the same sweaty basement as you, is now an international breakout star on an international breakout TV show?” I can exclusively reveal here, that it’s because he’s a MONSTER! When I think about all the people he’s crushed in his rise to the top. All the betrayal and backstabbing and… arghhh, fine. Brett’s very nice. And charming and talented and works hard. Which is disheartening. Because it means I’ve been focusing on all the wrong qualities.
If only I’d had someone like Coach Lasso. I guess a lot of people could do with a Coach Lasso, and now, all you’ve got do to get one is subscribe to Apple TV+. We’re nearing the end of the second season but in the first, Ted, barely contained in the form of Saturday Night Live alumni Jason Sudeikis, is bought to the UK after successfully coaching American football, for the helmetless variety at AFC Richmond. That it’s a revenge ploy by the team’s new owner, an unrecognisable Hannah Waddingham from Game of Thrones, backfires as Ted bulldozes through each obstacle in his onslaught of winning over everyone to see the world his way. Then maybe the team can get on with some actual winning.
