10 Shows to Watch If You Love Ted Lasso
- Joao Nsita
- Jul 12
- 11 min read
10 Shows to Watch If You Love Ted Lasso
You are likely staring at your television screen with a profound sense of emptiness, desperately missing the overwhelming warmth, infectious optimism, and perfectly timed humor of AFC Richmond's finest. You deserve to experience a total transformation of your streaming queue that inspires you, heals the post-finale blues, and empowers you to discover new, brilliant ensembles that radiate the exact same kind of joyful magic starting today. By diving into this hand-picked list of ten incredible series, you will gain a profound sense of comfort and a roadmap for your next great binge-watch. These shows offer far more than just background noise; they provide a lifestyle upgrade that improves your mood, deepens your belief in human goodness, and reminds you that the "found family" trope is the ultimate form of storytelling. Whether you crave the "unfiltered" kitchen chaos of a gripping drama or the "minimalist luxury" of a perfectly scripted workplace comedy, this list is your gateway to a more inspired, hopeful viewing experience. You will walk away feeling more connected to characters who choose kindness over cynicism, ready to own your evenings with absolute enthusiasm. Let’s start and then👇
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10. Schitt's Creek — Netflix
When searching for a series that perfectly mirrors Ted Lasso's soul, look no further than Schitt's Creek. Both shows are brilliant fish-out-of-water narratives centered entirely around becoming genuinely good people. The Rose family arriving in Schitt's Creek is pure Ted Lasso energy—deeply privileged, disconnected people who are violently stripped of everything they thought mattered, only to slowly, beautifully discover what actually does.
Schitt's Creek shares Ted Lasso's profound emphasis on community acceptance, personal growth, and emotional vulnerability. It provides a "total transformation" of its characters over six incredible seasons. The heartwarming moments and the earned warmth of the ensemble cast are legendary. If Ted’s relentless optimism made you cry-laugh, the Rose family’s journey toward finding their "authentic voice" and their "found family" will absolutely do the same.
Streaming: Netflix Genre: Comedy Status: Complete (6 seasons)
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9. Running Point — Netflix
Described by critics as Netflix's direct Ted Lasso replacement, Running Point is the closest current show to filling the AFC Richmond-sized hole in your heart. The series follows an underdog who is unexpectedly forced to run a massive, famous sports team entirely without the required experience. If that premise sounds familiar, the execution will blow you away.
Created by Mindy Kaling, the show features Kate Hudson completely disappearing into the role of Isla Gordon, balancing high-stakes drama and laugh-out-loud comedy in ways that consistently subvert expectations. The Los Angeles Waves basketball team is full of distinctive, lovable characters, and watching them bond while dealing with high-pressure wins and losses directly recalls the locker room magic of Ted Lasso. With Season 2 having premiered on April 24, 2026, it is the perfect "modern and fresh" binge.
Streaming: Netflix Genre: Sports comedy-drama Status: Season 2 streaming now (April 2026)
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8. Mythic Quest — Apple TV+
If you already have Apple TV+ for Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest is the hidden gem on the same platform that you absolutely must watch next. The workplace comedy focuses on a group of highly eccentric video game developers, perfectly paralleling the team dynamics and unusual, sharp workplace humor seen at AFC Richmond. It follows the studio's chaotic ups and downs as the employees struggle to thrive, find love, and simply keep their heads above water.
Like Ted Lasso, Rob McElhenney’s Mythic Quest is incredibly ambitious. It features stand-alone episodes—including a breathtaking quarantine special and a stunning black-and-white historical flashback—that rank among the best half-hours of television ever produced. Already renewed for a fifth season, it is the show that fans consistently discover next and immediately fall completely in love with for its "emotional depth."
Streaming: Apple TV+ Genre: Workplace comedy Status: Ongoing — Season 5 confirmed
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7. Abbott Elementary — Hulu / ABC
Abbott Elementary and Ted Lasso share a deeply held, fundamental core belief: people are generally good, and caring passionately about your work—even when the system makes it nearly impossible—is its own quiet kind of heroism. Quinta Brunson's Janine Teagues is essentially Ted Lasso in a Philadelphia schoolteacher's body; she is relentlessly optimistic, occasionally blind to her own needs, and the undeniable beating heart of everyone around her.
This show provides an "inspired guide" to finding joy in an underfunded, overlooked institution. With 24 Emmy nominations and Season 6 arriving in Fall 2026, it is unquestionably the best feel-good network comedy currently airing. The ensemble cast provides that same "found family" warmth, making every 22-minute episode a total "lifestyle improvement" for your mood.
Streaming: Hulu Genre: Mockumentary sitcom Status: Ongoing — Season 6 Fall 2026
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6. Brooklyn Nine-Nine — Peacock / Netflix
Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Ted Lasso are true spiritual twins. Both series are built entirely around a genuinely good person whose unrelenting positivity slowly but surely changes the entire culture of the institution around them. Jake Peralta and Ted Lasso aren't that different; they are lovable goofballs who turn out to be exactly the "visionary" leaders their respective teams needed.
Both shows handle serious issues like race, identity, and mental health with incredible care, grace, and absolutely no condescension. The 99th precinct is a "found family" that proves a workplace can legitimately become a home. All eight seasons are essential viewing for anyone who loves an ensemble cast that genuinely supports and loves one another without fail.
Streaming: Peacock / Netflix Genre: Workplace comedy Status: Complete (8 seasons)
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5. The Good Place — Netflix / Peacock
From Ted Lasso's co-creator, Michael Schur, comes The Good Place, a masterclass in comedic philosophy. Drenched in surprising emotional depth, the series follows Eleanor Shellstrop, a deeply flawed woman who wakes up after dying in "The Good Place" and realizes a cosmic mistake has been made. Through the force of a supportive community, she attempts to become genuinely better to avoid eternal damnation.
Ted Lasso and The Good Place are ultimately asking the exact same question: can people actually change? Both shows answer with an emphatic "yes" and build entire, brilliant worlds around proving it. With four perfectly constructed seasons and one of television's greatest finales, the show’s philosophy about human decency will linger long after the credits roll. If Ted made you believe in people, Eleanor will absolutely deepen that belief.
Streaming: Netflix / Peacock Genre: Fantasy comedy Status: Complete (4 seasons)
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4. Parks and Recreation — Peacock
Parks and Recreation is the direct creative ancestor of Ted Lasso. Michael Schur built the blueprint for optimism in a cynical world right here in Pawnee, Indiana. The show challenges the viewer while consistently delivering light-hearted, brilliant comedic moments.
Leslie Knope is the absolute prototype that Ted Lasso was built upon: an unstoppable optimist in a deeply cynical government setting who absolutely refuses to stop caring about her town. The series brings a positive and uplifting workplace environment focused on strong character relationships and emotional storytelling. Seven complete seasons teach everyone that fierce dedication, kindness, and waffles have the power to change the world.
Streaming: Peacock Genre: Mockumentary sitcom Status: Complete (7 seasons)
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3. The Bear — Hulu
If you are looking for the same "found family under pressure" dynamic but crave something significantly darker, more anxious, and equally unforgettable, The Bear is your next binge. It trades the soccer pitch for a high-pressure, chaotic kitchen but carries the exact same emotional weight: a group of misfits and deeply broken people trying desperately to build something beautiful together.
Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto is dropped into a hostile environment and must lead a team that is fiercely resistant and incredibly flawed—just like Ted arriving in London. While Carmy lacks Ted’s sunny optimism, he is driven by the exact same passion to make the people around him better, including himself. Both series are about a person holding a collapsing operation together through sheer force of will, making you feel every single high and every crushing devastation. With Season 5 currently filming in 2026, it is essential viewing.
Streaming: Hulu Genre: Drama Status: Season 4 complete, Season 5 in production
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2. Friday Night Lights — Peacock / Amazon
Friday Night Lights is the wizard behind the curtain for Ted Lasso. It is widely considered the greatest sports drama ever made and heavily inspired the Apple TV+ hit. The show follows the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas, and their deeply principled head coach, Eric Taylor.
Coach Taylor is Ted Lasso's spiritual father—a coach who is infinitely more concerned with shaping good human beings than simply producing athletes. His profound faith in his players is matched only by his fierce love for his family. The iconic phrase "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" is the direct precursor to every biscuit box and golden nugget of wisdom Ted ever offered. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to experience this masterpiece immediately.
Streaming: Peacock / Amazon Genre: Sports drama Status: Complete (5 seasons)
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1. Shrinking — Apple TV+
Taking the absolute number one spot is the closest show to Ted Lasso currently existing on Earth: Shrinking. This is not a coincidence; it was created by Jason Segel alongside Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence and star-writer Brett Goldstein (the legendary Roy Kent). If Ted Lasso expertly combines humor and heart, Shrinking manages to do it with even more biting realism.
Segel stars as a grieving therapist who starts breaking all the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks, joined by Harrison Ford in one of the most brilliant, heartfelt roles of his entire career. Jimmy Laird and Ted Lasso are running incredible, parallel journeys through immense grief, personal growth, and the reliance on found family. With Season 3 having just completed its run on April 8, 2026—featuring massive guest stars like Michael J. Fox—and Season 4 already confirmed by Apple, it is the pinnacle of feel-good television. If you love Ted Lasso, Shrinking is not a recommendation; it is an absolute requirement.
Streaming: Apple TV+ Genre: Comedy-drama Status: Season 3 complete, Season 4 confirmed
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Conclusion
Finding a television show that leaves you feeling genuinely uplifted, deeply connected to its characters, and profoundly hopeful about the world is a rare and beautiful thing. While saying goodbye to Ted Lasso is undeniably difficult, the incredible truth is that the DNA of that show—the fierce optimism, the importance of "found family," and the belief in personal redemption—lives on in so many other brilliant series. From the raw, high-anxiety kitchens of The Bear to the whimsical, philosophical afterlife of The Good Place, television in 2026 is rich with "inspired guides" for the human heart. By exploring these ten handpicked recommendations, you are not just filling a void; you are actively choosing a "lifestyle upgrade" that prioritizes joy, empathy, and spectacular storytelling. So, grab your remote, make yourself a cup of tea (or bring some biscuits), and prepare to fall completely in love with a brand new ensemble of misfits who will inevitably feel like family.
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10 FAQs
1. Is Ted Lasso officially over for good? Yes, the creators confirmed that Season 3 marked the end of the core story they intended to tell. However, there are ongoing rumors and subtle Easter eggs regarding potential spin-offs within the Apple TV+ universe.
2. Why is Shrinking considered so similar to Ted Lasso?Shrinking shares the same creative DNA, being co-created by Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent). It explores the same themes of a broken man using unconventional methods to help others while slowly healing his own profound grief.
3. Does Running Point feature real basketball teams? No, Running Point centers around a fictional Los Angeles basketball team called the Waves, though it heavily parodies real-world NBA family dynamics and front-office drama.
4. How many seasons of The Bear are there currently in 2026? As of early 2026, four seasons of The Bear are complete and available on Hulu, with Season 5 officially in production.
5. What is the "found family" trope? The "found family" trope is a storytelling device where a group of unrelated people—often outcasts or misfits—form a bond that is as strong, or stronger, than biological family ties. It is the central theme of Ted Lasso.
6. Do I need to understand video games to enjoy Mythic Quest? Not at all! While the show is set in a video game studio, the humor focuses entirely on the ridiculous workplace dynamics, massive egos, and interpersonal relationships of the staff.
7. Is Schitt's Creek suitable for kids? It is generally rated TV-14 for strong language and some suggestive themes, so it is best suited for older teenagers and adults.
8. Why is Friday Night Lights considered the inspiration for Ted Lasso? Jason Sudeikis has openly stated that Coach Eric Taylor's philosophy of molding young men into good people rather than just winning games directly inspired his portrayal of Ted Lasso.
9. Can I watch The Good Place if I don't like fantasy? Absolutely. The "fantasy" afterlife setting is merely a brilliant framing device to explore deeply human questions about ethics, morality, and what we owe to each other.
10. How can I dress like the characters in these shows? Check out our "Shop This Look" sections under each show recommendation! We provide direct links to Amazon products that perfectly capture the specific aesthetic of your favorite characters.
For more deep dives into the cultural impact of modern television streaming, check out this comprehensive analysis on The Evolution of Comfort TV.
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