Jason Sudeikis Says 'Ted Lasso' Saved Him From 'Self-Harm'

Jason Sudeikis, the creator and star of the hit Apple TV series "Ted Lasso," has stated that the show has been instrumental in saving him from "some form of self-harm" throughout the years.

In a recent appearance on the podcast "Talk Easy With Sam Fragoso," Sudeikis, 51, discussed how he has not experienced certain emotions since his "confusing" teenage years. He described the impact of the show, saying, "Some form of self-harm. Flat out. That's probably the rawest, most, maybe embarrassing, but I don't think it's embarrassing."

He further elaborated on the internal conflict, admitting that a part of him feels shame when thinking about having such thoughts. During his adolescence, Sudeikis considered drumming or dancing as potential outlets for his emotions.

"So how did [Ted Lasso] save me?" Sudeikis mused. "To a certain degree, it helped [and] it carried me as sometimes the work has done in the past."

The actor also addressed the future of "Ted Lasso," expressing a desire to continue the series for a fifth and sixth season, though he remains uncertain. He indicated that while he assumes Apple would be open to more seasons, he is not intentionally being evasive. He emphasized that creating the show, co-created by Bill Lawrence, requires a significant collaborative effort, and a writers' room has not yet been convened.

When asked if a similar creative void to the one he experienced before creating the fourth season could lead to more episodes, Sudeikis quipped, "Um, we're going to need a bigger cup."

Earlier this year, Sudeikis shared that embodying a character with such an optimistic outlook has been personally beneficial. He recounted telling fans who expressed how much the series meant to them that it had "saved [him] too."

He told The Hollywood Reporter that playing a character who consistently sees the best in people and remains unbothered by the world's "foibles and bullies and shadows" is infectious. "It's not like I'm Daniel Day-Lewis, but it was good to live in that — to have that coursing through your brain and your body all day. It still is," he said.

Initially, Sudeikis was hesitant to return for another season, despite earning $1 million per episode, because he felt the story had reached a natural conclusion. He clarified that this was not a negotiation tactic, stating, "The story was told. Ted went home to be with his son. I wasn't going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck. It made no sense to me."

Ultimately, the award-winning star expressed gratitude for finding a way to bring the show back, concluding, "I know I needed this. I needed it as much as other people do."