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15 Shows like Ted Lasso for Fans of Workplace & Sports Comedies

shows like ted lasso

Sports and workplace stories have the potential to portray some of the most moving storylines and teach us some of the most heartfelt lessons. This is because it is something we can all relate to. Some of us have been team members both at work and at play. In the case of shows like Ted Lasso, it can be a combination of both. Ted Lasso features Jason Sudeikis as the titular character, an American college football coach who is thrown into the deep end to manage AFC Richmond, an English football (soccer) team.

At first, he comes off as clueless due to his lack of knowledge on the sport itself, as well as the new environment which he finds himself in. Slowly, he begins to win over the team, fans, and even the media through his gentle brand of coaching.

This has in turn captivated viewers at home, as Ted Lasso has come as a breath of fresh air in terms of tone and is actually quite hilarious to boot. If you’re looking for more shows of this nature, you’ve come to the right place as here are 15 shows like Ted Lasso, to hold you over before the new season drops.

List of TV Shows like Ted Lasso

1. The League (2009)

The League, created by Jeff and Jack Schaffer,is a sport-oriented comedy series like Ted Lasso. It is centered around a group of six friends living in the city of Chicago, who participate in a fantasy football league, and go to hilarious lengths to ensure that they win and come up on top in their collective rivalries.

This show is semi-improvised in nature, meaning not all scenes are fully scripted and actors are encouraged to go off-the cuff at times. It’s a low-key sitcom, and if you’re a fan of those then you should definitely give this one a watch also.

2. The Office US (2005)

The Office is a classic 2000s series, not just for its great use of the mockumentary style, but for its impressive ensemble cast, who all bounce well off of each other in the same vein as series similar to Ted Lasso. The show contains a whole load of comedy, egos clashing and wacky characters.

One of these wacky characters is Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, who heads the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. This show is adapted from its UK version of the same name which starred British comedian Ricky Gervais in the same role as Steve Carell. Every fan of the comedy series as a whole needs to watch this one.

3. Cobra Kai (2018)

Cobra Kai is pitched as a sort of sequel to the original Karate Kid movie released back in 1984. The rivalry between William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel De Russo is revived again.  Interestingly, it takes things from Johnny’s perspective rather than Daniel’s, and it is quite a welcome twist to the Karate Kid formula. If you’ve already seen this engaging series, then check out our list of shows like Cobra Kai.

The series which was released on both YouTube and Netflix, performed well in terms of viewership, and has received critical acclaim for its writing, acting performances, even making use of the nostalgia factor well and respectfully. There are more than a hundred reasons for you to watch this show, especially for the themes it shares with shows like Ted Lasso.

4. Friday Night Lights (2006)

The highly acclaimed series Friday Night Lights focuses on a coach and his team, in the same vein as shows similar to Ted Lasso. It centers on head coach Eric Taylor, who manages one of the best football teams in the country in the Dillon Panthers, and all the prep and drama behind the scenes before game day every Friday.

It’s a series that outdoes its premise, cementing itself as one of the best shows on TV throughout the 2000s according to critics. It has been hailed by fans as the greatest sports-related show ever made, and its style and enthralling drama is one that hasn’t really been replicated till today.

5. All American (2018)

It’s another high school football story next in All American. This sports drama, similar to series like Ted Lasso, follows the story of a rising high school American football player from South Los Angeles, as he aims to make it to the upper echelons and go pro, while coming from nothing.

This show is inspired by a real life football player in Spencer Payslinger, and has gained some good reviews during its time on air. It’s a show that tries its best to tackle dicey issues such as race and class struggles. This show has been renewed for its sixth season, so if you’re interested, catch up on it all the way from the first one.

6. Eastbound & Down (2009)

Eastbound & Down is another hilarious yet mature sports centered series compared to shows like Ted Lasso. It follows the story of Kenny Powers, a former pitcher whose attitude has seen him leave the major leagues… literally. He moves back home to his hometown located in North Carolina.

He takes a job as a substitute teacher, teaching P.E at the middle school which he had actually attended while growing up. Produced by comedic legend Will Ferrell alongside Adam McKay, the show is said to be based on the life of former MLB pitcher Mitch ‘Wild Thing’ Williams, although any connection has since been denied by the former baseball star.

Also Read: Shows like Seinfeld

7. GLOW (2017)

GLOW is a comedy-drama series similar to Ted Lasso, which follows the story of a group of female professional wrestlers known as the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW). We are treated to all the hijinks and adventures that this large female ensemble cast goes through, as well as all the drama that happens behind the scenes.

It is set in the 1980s, in Southern California as well as Southern Nevada. The show’s soundtrack is infused with a lot of great records from the era which it is set in. It has been praised for its excellent ensemble cast, as well as its use of goofy and self-depreciative humor.

8. A League of Their Own (2022)

We have another ensemble female cast on the show A League of Their Own. It is based on the 1993 movie featuring Tom Hanks, and follows the story of the formation of a team known as the Rockford Peaches. This is a women’s team formed to participate in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

It’s a show with themes ranging from equality to camaraderie, the latter which will be familiar to fans of shows similar to Ted Lasso. It gives its own spin on the 1993 movie and has garnered good to great reviews from fans and critics alike.It’s been renewed for its second and final season so why don’t give this one a try.

9. Welcome to Wrexham (2022)

Ryan Reynolds and Ron McElhenny just might be the real life Ted Lassos. This TV documentary follows the two American Hollywood stars after their purchase of the Welsh football team. It follows the team’s progress under their new ownership, and their hopes of improving the team and positively affecting the Wrexham community.  

It was well received by critics and won Best Sport Documentary at the 7th Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, also bagging another nomination for Best Ongoing Documentary Series. The natural humor of the owners rubs off on what is meant to be a run-of-the mill documentary, and you will definitely enjoy it, if you love series like Ted Lasso.

10. Shoresy (2022)

Much like shows like Ted Lasso, Shoresy is a comedy-drama and a spin-off of a Canadian series known as Letterkenny. It follows the story of Shoresy, the titular character played by Jared Keeso, who moves to Sudbury to manage the Sudbury Bulldogs, a team that has lost 20 games in a row, and is at risk of being shut down.

It has been praised for matching the energy of the show which it is based on. It makes good use of gags, satire and visual comedy. It’s a great show that might even see you get interested in hockey as a sport. If you’re liking all that you’ve heard make sure to add this to your watchlist.

11. Brockmire (2017)

It’s another down-on-his-luck former MLB employee in Brockmire. This time we have a baseball play-by-play announcer who suffers a meltdown after finding out that his wife has been cheating. A decade later he moves to a small town to rejuvenate his career and love life.

This show with its sport-centric plot similar to shows like Ted Lasso has been a critical success, with praise particularly reserved for the acting performances of Amanda Peet and Critics’ Choice TV Award-nominated Hank Azaria, as well as its good use of humor. It was its network’s highest rated series, averaging over 500,000 viewers per episode.

12. Superstore (2015)

Superstore stars Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera and Ben Feldaman, who both play Amy and Jonah respectively. It’s quite similar to comedy series like Ted Lasso and The Office, with its large ensemble cast, and a story about co-workers or team members working towards a common goal… or maybe just to make ends meet.

Superstore, created by Justin Spitzer,was one of the better comedies during its time on air. The show has been praised for growing stronger and getting better as the seasons went on. So if things seem a bit slow at first, just give it a bit of time, and you may just find yourself falling in love with this show too.

13. Mythic Quest (2020)

This is one premise we’ve not really seen explored in workplace comedy shows like Ted Lasso. Mythic Quest is a TV series that follows a video game studio, who are most known for developing a popular MMORPG known as, you guessed it… Mythic Quest.

It stars Rob McElhenney as Ian Grimm, the creative director for the game Mythic Quest, who is trying his best alongside his team to keep their cash cow relevant in the gaming sphere. Debuting on Apple TV, Mythic Quest is a smartly written show, with loads of humor and a good refresh of the usual workplace comedies.

14. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the story of Detective Jake Peralta and his colleagues at the 99th Precinct of the NYPD. Used to being carefree and careless, a new Captain comes into town, forcing Peralta to rein in a bit of his laissez faire tendencies, as he looks to reform the police department.

A long-running comedy series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is quite similar in terms of tone to shows like Ted Lasso, despite being a police procedural. It garnered a lot of great reviews and was a regular winner and nominee at the Emmys and Golden Globes, especially in the Comedy categories. You’ve got to give it a watch if you haven’t.

15. Pitch (2016)

Sadly this sports drama was canceled after one season, but it does share some similarities to series like Ted Lasso, and still has a good story for you to enjoy. It follows the story of a young pitcher known as Genevieve Baker, who becomes the first woman to play in the major leagues of professional baseball.

It lasted 10 episodes and received good reviews while it was still running. This show was even deemed the most consistent sports drama since the classic Friday Night Lights. Genevieve’s character was a good role model for young female viewers of the show, especially athletes. Too bad it had to be canceled, but I guess we’ll always have this season.

Honorable Mentions

Here are more shows like Ted Lasso that didn’t make the list which you can watch regardless:

  1. Schitt’s Creek
  2. Detroiters
  3. Ballers

When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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