Copyright Screen Rant
When Ted Lasso premiered in 2020 on Apple TV, it quickly became one of the world's most beloved shows, and despite its heartwarming blend of humor, optimism, and depth, there are better series when it comes to sports as a whole. While Jason Sudeikis' portrayal of the titular Ted Lasso is wonderfully nuanced, the sports comedy leans more into its human elements than its sports side. With critics hailing Ted Lasso as one of the greatest modern sports comedies from its very beginning, the show has earned numerous awards for its writing, performances, and production. The themes of empathy, growth, and the universal language of sports have brought viewers to the show from all over the world, despite not always having the most consistent display of the actual sport being played. While many aren't likely coming to Ted Lasso to watch soccer, the biggest piece of the puzzle for the series is often working through the football matches without having to show just their intensity or technicality. Matches are rarely the focus on Ted Lasso, which is by design. The emotional arcs off the field drive the show's creative choices, but may not work for some viewers. For fans who crave the adrenaline, pressure, and realism of sports storytelling, Ted Lasso may leave them wanting more. Shows that balance strong character work with an immersive look at sports culture tend to find their audiences quickly, but may need a wider reach. Fortunately, TV history is full of shows that have delved deeper into the world of sports than the Apple TV success. 9 All American The CW All American, The CW's long-running series based on the life of former NFL player Spencer Paysinger, follows Spencer James through the ups and downs of high school football. Moving from south LA to an affluent high school in Beverly Hills, All American examines race, class, and identity through football. The series will conclude with an eighth and final season in 2026. While football is a massive part of everything about All American, the series doesn't show as much of the contact sport as some other shows that keep their characters on the field. The series does use grounded action shots during games, but infrequently. Even so, All American's commitment to the systemic issues surrounding football pushes it into a completely different category than Ted Lasso. 8 Ballers HBO Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ballers was HBO's comedic drama created by Stephen Levinson. The series, which ran between 2015 and 2019, saw Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player whose injury sidelined his career and put him in the world of financial management for other football players. Hoping to help other athletes make smarter decisions with their money, the series blends humor and realism. Where Ted Lasso rests on the emotional intelligence of its viewers and leans into mentorship as a major theme, Ballers explores the consequences of success through a lens of life after athletic fame. The series offers viewers an inside look at the NFL lifestyle, which shows off different sides to those outside of the fold. While Ted Lasso brings warmth, Ballers looks at the reality of the industry. 7 Pitch Fox Fox's groundbreaking one-season series, Pitch, made history in 2016 as the first network drama centered around a woman playing baseball in the MLB. Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury) led the series as the first-ever female pitcher for the San Diego Padres, which came with its own set of challenges. Exploring the media scrutiny, locker room politics, and pressures of representation, Pitch was an emotional ride. The show's depiction of gender dynamics, which came into play with Ginny's relationships with her teammates like Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Blip Sanders (Mo McRae), was in-depth and intense. Showing the immense pressures that Ginny was under allowed Pitch to dive deeper into what sports mean, not just what they are. The show's intensity felt far stronger than Ted Lasso's often does. 6 Kingdom DirecTV A somewhat difficult to find series, Kingdom aired for three seasons on a variety of different networks, most notably DirecTV's streaming platform. The series followed a family-owned MMA gym with Frank Grillo as Alvey Kulina, the father of Jay Kulina (Jonathan Tucker) and Nate Kulina (Nick Jonas), and the coach of Ryan Wheeler (Matt Lauria). The complicated family dynamics of the show are underscored by their intense physical fights. Though Kingdom spent a lot of time outside of the ring on the series, the intensity of their fight sequences is unmatched and the brutal, unflinching honesty surrounding athletics is consistent. Where Ted Lasso uses gentle humor to lead into emotional moments, Kingdom packs a literal punch as it moves through the stories of the emotional toll that sports often take on athletes. 5 GLOW Netfix Netflix's GLOW followed a rag-tag group of women in the 1980s who became storied female wrestlers. The series starred Alison Brie as Ruth Wilder and Betty Gilpin as Debbie Egan, the show mixed comedy and drama to explore empowerment, exploitation, and creativity within the world of sports entertainment. Watching the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling form uses the sport as a way to work out character issues. GLOW was able to use wrestling as a massive piece of its storytelling puzzle. Rather than the wrestling being in the background of the series, GLOW was quick to teach both its viewers and its characters about the performance behind the curtain of the sport. Where Ted Lasso is heartwarming, GLOW allows itself to be unapologetically bold and raw in its storytelling. 4 Winning Time HBO HBO's Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty follows the birth of the 1980s Lakers, dramatizing the lives of players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and team owner Jerry Buss. With Quincy Isaiah as Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Abdul-Jabbar, and John C. Reilly as Buss, the series is a stylized, high-energy look at one of the most transformative eras in sports history. While Winning Time, created by Adam McKay, faced some backlash after its release, the series is one of the most intriguing looks at the behind-the-scenes of an iconic era in NBA history. Every frame immerses the viewer in its story, looking at the culture and history of basketball. Bringing in the strategy and spectacle of the era, the show focuses on messy stories of human greatness. 3 Eastbound & Down HBO Danny McBride's HBO series, Eastbound & Down, takes a completely different approach to sports than most, positioning itself as a sports comedy. Following washed up MLB pitcher Kenny Powers (McBride) as he attempts to reclaim his former glory, the show is a comedy of errors rather than a display of triumphs. Kenny Powers is the direct opposite of Ted Lasso as a character, but the show works. Where Ted Lasso is built on warmth and optimism, Eastbound & Down thrives on cynical chaos. Despite their stark differences, both shows angle to ensure that the undercurrent of what's moving the story forward is a love for sports, a love for the human condition, and the romanticism that can come with it. While Eastbound & Down may be a biting, hilarious critique of ego, it still offers heart. 2 Cobra Kai Netflix A revival of the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai brings back Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) long after their teenage rivalry. The Netflix series follows the adult men as they reopen their dojos and find themselves mentoring a whole new generation of fighters. In the process, they reignite their old feud with an intense need to come out on top. Where Ted Lasso falters with balancing heart and action, Cobra Kai is able to capture the discipline and drama in equal measures. The dynamic fighting choreography and exploration of mentorship is at the forefront on Cobra Kai, and the humor of the series is able to balance out the drama smoothly. Allowing its heroes to fall instead of idealizing them, Cobra Kai does great work. 1 Friday Night Lights NBC Still the most realistic, emotionally rich sports shows of all time, Friday Night Lights is a masterclass in what it means to make sports television. Following the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, Friday Night Lights centers on Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) as he works with his team in the wake of tragedy. Football is the main character of Friday Night Lights, and the show never forgets it.
