“Richmond’s Got Talent,” the third episode of Ted Lasso’s fourth season, delivered a wealth of pop culture references and callbacks for viewers to discover. The episode, which focused on open tryouts for the AFC Richmond women's team, featured homages to Susan Boyle, Billy Elliot, and Harold Pinter, among others.
During the tryouts, Coach Beard suggested finding someone like a "mathematical genius" or a "coal miner's son who's a ballet prodigy," referencing "Good Will Hunting" and "Billy Elliot," respectively. Coach Alice Chilton then added, "Or a Susan Boyle," a nod to the iconic "Britain’s Got Talent" contestant. The episode also featured "I Hope I Get It" from "A Chorus Line" and a musical piece from the 1981 film "Stripes."
Further references included a quote from a Robert Herrick poem used in "Dead Poets Society," a joke about the playwright Harold Pinter's signature pauses, and Roy Kent's call for "Fucking Marty McFly," a clear reference to Michael J. Fox's character in "Back to the Future."
The episode also introduced Maria Rojas, sister of AFC Richmond striker Dani Rojas, played by Paloma Cinco, the real-life sister of Cristo Fernández, who plays Dani. The two co-host the "Fútbol es vida Podcast." Fernández suggested his sister's appearance, noting her soccer skills.
Beard’s reading material also provided a glimpse into his interests, with him seen reading "Female Soccer Player 101" and Brené Brown’s "Daring Greatly."
Callbacks to previous seasons included the reintroduction of The Milk Sisters, minority owners of AFC Richmond referenced in Season 1. Shannon, a character played by Shannon Hayes, returned after previously appearing in seasons one through three as a local girl Ted befriended. Ellie Jadav reprised her role as Phoebe’s friend Kokoruda, who was coached by Roy Kent. The recurring mention of "Derek" continued, with the name appearing in relation to Keeley’s package delivery, following previous mentions in Season 4 by Ted's wife Michelle and at various locations.
Visually, the episode included a clip of Chloe Kelly’s game-winning goal for England in the Euro 2022 final, a moment that reportedly inspired the show's current direction. Jill Scott, who played for England in that final, appeared as a color commentator, joined by broadcaster Rebecca Lowe. The episode also featured subtle sports references on the coaches' office wall, including photos of athletes like Brandi Chastain and Megan Rapinoe.
The episode concluded with Susan Boyle’s rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Misérables," the same song she performed during her "Britain’s Got Talent" audition, a move that served as a comedic beat for the series.