10 Great Shows to Watch During the Wait for Ted Lasso Season 4

Fans are overjoyed at the confirmation of Ted Lasso returning for its fourth season. The much-loved Apple TV+ show gave TV buffs a range of beautiful plot lines to sink their teeth into, and there’s a lot more to come with a women’s team set to represent AFC Richmond. Until it’s back on screens, viewers can catch up on a few other shows that could well be to their taste.

Alongside comedy, Ted Lasso has become well-known for its moving topics and motivational characters. Viewers were in awe of the inspiration that came with each main plot line, and how the characters were given plenty of room to grow. With all those points in mind, the following shows each have something in common with the sitcom.

The Office Is a Famous Workplace Sitcom

Kicking off strong with another iconic workplace sitcom, the list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of The Office. The mockumentary came as an American remake of the original UK version, which starred Ricky Gervais in the leading role. The US series had Steve Carell in the equivalent position, who proved to be equally funny.

Running for nine seasons, the show is laced with sidesplitting humor that breaks up the seriousness of everyday life. Like Ted Lasso, it picks up on tricky topics that keep the show realistic and prevent it from becoming inauthentic. The basic workplace situation allows for each main character to have their moment in the spotlight, going deeper into their individual lives, and making them feel like real people who really do work at Dunder Mifflin.

Parks and Recreation Shows What It Means to Have a Supportive Community

Parks and Recreation is also a mockumentary, but found its own lane to avoid becoming a carbon copy of the similarly styled shows that came before. Leslie Knope has her work cut out as an official at the Parks and Recreation Department in a small town in Indiana. She strives to improve life for the local residents, though there are a number of obstacles to overcome.

Again, this series neatly blends day-to-day issues with a high level of comedy that Ted Lasso fans greatly enjoy. Individually, the characters are funny, and when brought together in bigger scenes, they bounce off each other to create a hilarious ensemble. It’s an interesting sector to focus on, especially as it leaves room for each character to be given a credible backstory and enough time to make an impact on the show.

Scrubs Puts Comedy Into Medical Drama

Taking a peek inside the fictionalized workings of a hospital, Scrubs is led by the medical staff at Sacred Heart Hospital. Learning to balance the difficulties of their patients along with their own personal lives doesn’t prove to be all that easy. Whilst a lot of comedy successfully comes out of the plot lines, Scrubs has a lot of sad episodes that really tug on viewers’ heartstrings.

The absurdist scenes serve the show well in softening the darker moments, but the show doesn’t neglect the exploration of deeper narratives. A very popular part of the show, the hospital’s janitor is always an unpredictable presence that guarantees some incredible humor. As for the other characters, they’re believable as medical staff and represent the best of sitcom writing.

A Whole Family Has to View Life Through a New Lens in Schitt’s Creek

A sharp shock heads towards the Rose family, who were once wealthy before finding themselves without any money and being forced to live in a town they’d previously bought as a joke. They’re stereotypically out of touch with the real world and are left with no choice but to immerse themselves in a different way of living. Their unexpected downfall encourages them to dig for heartwarming personal growth.

Initially, considering the context, it looks as though the Roses might be tricky to connect with. However, the series swiftly erases any doubt as the main characters become very likable. Their flaws are what add to making them relatable and somewhat realistic. For those who particularly enjoyed the Ted Lasso characters who had to go on a personal journey, Schitt’s Creek might just be for them.

Schmigadoon! Dances Its Way Through an Unusual Plot

This entry may be a little way out for some, but when it comes to Schmigadoon!, a book (or TV series) shouldn’t be judged by its cover. A couple takes a backpacking trip when their relationship starts to come under pressure. On their voyage, they find themselves in a strange, musical town, where everyone breaks out into unprecedented song and dance.

Uniqueness is key to this series, which has forged its own path and combined a collection of great themes. Iconic music and comedy bring an upbeat original piece to life, giving viewers an energetic boost as it goes. To sum it up, Schmigadoon! is the kind of show that Ted Lasso would undoubtedly seek out as a source of influential positivity.

Friends Is a Classic For Any Sitcom Lover

As one of the best comedy series of the ’90s, Friends has gone on to impress plenty of other generations and continues to do so. Stepping into adulthood in New York City has its stresses and strains, but the overarching narrative pushes the value of friendship between the six core characters. Viewers were engrossed in the love stories and career efforts they all experienced.

Friends manages to deliver the lighter side of unfortunate situations. Audiences are comforted by the notion that things can work out okay, even when life gets tough. For a lot of viewers, there’s a trait in at least one character that they can identify with, which proves the benefit of having a variation of personalities at the forefront of any sitcom.

After Life Chooses to Be Candid About Managing Grief

Ricky Gervais is known for not pulling any punches in his work, whether that’s during his monologue for the Golden Globes or indeed, his TV shows. After Life is the best showcase of Gervais’ ability to lay out an honest confrontation of life’s hardships, all the while including comedy that barely gives viewers a chance to catch their breath. After Life centers around Tony’s grief since his wife passed away, and how kindness and his friends get him through each day.

The most striking feature of the series is that pain is central to the whole plot, and everyone encounters it in some form. All of it is valid, and no one is shamed for how they deal with it. Most importantly, the show isn’t treated as a sensationalized step-by-step guide to how to get over loss. There are no false pretenses; there is just getting through each day with hope. Oftentimes, and particularly with such a sensitive topic, viewers simply want truth, and that’s what After Life delivers.

An Unlikely Group of People Come Together in Community

Going back to community college after his lawyer qualifications were taken away, Jeff attends Greendale Community College. His attempt at forming a study group to impress someone he liked went better than expected (and better than he wanted), with a range of students joining. The show explores their dynamic and the reasons they continue to meet up.

Community got creative with its style and plot to ensure viewers would keep returning, and they’d be able to find something different that would separate it from other shows of a similar genre. The characters are humorous, but even more appealing because of their development. It’s quite a quirky series that has proven there’s more than one way to produce a popular sitcom.

Only Murders in the Building Is a Fun-Filled Murder Mystery

A strong acting trio is found in Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building. Their individual knowledge of true crime gets put to good use when they believe a murder has been committed in their apartment building. As tensions rise and lies are fed to one another, it becomes even more crucial to add the clues together.

Granted, this show isn’t directly comparable to Ted Lasso in terms of narrative or even the character arcs. What will be attractive to fans, though, is the strength of the acting, which also goes beyond the three leads. They entice viewers into a murder-mystery, to find out that the plot is just as enthralling.

Some Viewers Will Be All Too Familiar With the Frustrations Found in Superstore

The employees of Cloud 9 face the daily grind of working in retail and dealing with unforgiving customers. Superstore is set in an environment that a lot of people will be familiar with, whether that’s because they have experience as a worker or simply through being a customer. The show feels like real life, despite not being filmed in a mockumentary format.

To put it simply, Superstore is brilliantly written, incorporating drama and comedy in perfect measures. Viewers recognize characters and can understand the frustrations that they regularly encounter. What’s more, it’s not a headache to follow the plot. That’s not to say it’s overly simplistic, but audiences relax in the humor and conflicts without having to decipher any complicated plot points.