Hulu’s Ted Lasso replacement series, Chad Powers, debuts with a disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score. The upcoming series, which begins with a two-episode premiere on September 30, features Glen Powell as Russ Holliday, a former college football quarterback who transforms himself into a walk-on player after his career ended shamefully.
Along with being one of the most anticipated sports comedy series since Ted Lasso season 3’s ending, just as the Apple TV+ was inspired by an NBC sports sketch Jason Sudeikis did, Chad Powers is inspired by the NFL’s Eli Manning going undercover as a walk-on player during Penn State football tryouts in ESPN+’s Eli’s Places.
Prior to the show’s release on Hulu, Chad Powers has now debuted with a 50% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. At the time of writing, the rotten score is based on 12 reviews, although the score will likely fluctuate as more are added to the aggregation site.
What This Means For Chad Powers
Despite having movie star Glen Powell as the lead, the Rotten Tomatoes debut score indicates that Chad Powers isn’t a worthy Ted Lasso replacement. More than one of the early reviews describes the show’s humor as “mean-spirited”, which is a sharp contrast to Ted Lasso’s more kindhearted and wholesome comedy.
While some reviews have a more favorable attitude to the show’s humor, many question the show’s uneven tone and what the series is ultimately trying to accomplish. One of the more praised aspects so far is Powell’s performance, especially as he navigates playing Russ and Chad.
The initial critical response to Chad Powers does not have to define the show, though. A more positive reception from general audiences, along with performing well on streaming charts, could overshadow the lackluster reviews, which may also become more favorable as more come in and as the season progresses.
Our Take On Chad Powers’ Rotten Tomatoes Debut Score
With Ted Lasso being one of the best comedies in recent years, it is difficult for any new show to compete with it, especially with season 4 of the Apple TV+ hit in the works. Chad Powers doesn’t appear to be the new Ted Lasso, and it doesn’t seem like the new sports comedy show will have the same kind of widespread appeal.