In Amsterdam, Brendan Hunt (50) learned the intricacies of improv comedy. The American comedian and actor came to the Netherlands in 1999 in his twenties to play in the comedy group Boom Chicago. “The plan was to stay for one year, but I loved it so much it turned out to be five,” Hunt said via a zoom link from the London film set, where he watched season 3 of the series. Ted Lasso picks up.
The series Ted Lasso revolves around a culture clash between America and England. American Football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is brought to England to coach a Premier League football club. And that while Ted knows nothing about football. While the football players thwart, roguish Ted, an archetypal American who always remains kind and optimistic, must do everything he can to make his arrival a success.
He is assisted by the taciturn Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt). “Ted would never have crossed the ocean alone for a new job,” Hunt says. “Because Ted talks a lot and gives the locker room speeches, Beard can remain silent. But his support is important, if only by having a beer together.’
The series won seven Emmy Awards in 2021, including best comedy series. ‘We are amazed by all the positive reactions,’ says Hunt. “A lot of people say the series helps them through tough times. Great, but it wasn’t necessarily our intention. There are also many difficult times: careers are ended, there are divorces, relationships break up. Then it turns to the question: how do you deal with setbacks, how do you manage to remain yourself? Maybe it inspires viewers in that sense.’
Ted Lasso is more than a laugh and feel-good and contains a decent portion of drama. ‘The series has an absurd, let’s say ridiculous premise. An amateur football coach would never just be put in charge of a British Premier League football club. But because of that starting point, we had a duty to work out the rest of the storyline as seriously as possible.’
For the third season, recordings were made in Amsterdam. Hunt: ‘That’s great for Jason Sudeikis, writer Joe Kelly and myself, because Amsterdam is the place where we became friends, where we developed as performers, where we became football fans. Without Amsterdam would Ted Lasso do not exist, so that we have now also filmed there, means a lot to us.’
Ted Lasso can be seen on Apple TV+. Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, July 7-17 at the Rozentheater, Amsterdam
Boom Chicago Comedy Festival
For the second year, the Amsterdam-based American comedy group Boom Chicago is organizing its own summer festival (7-17/7). There are stand-up comedy shows by the Scottish Fern Brady (12/7) and the American Josh Johnson (13/7). There is also a lot of improv comedy, Boom Chicago’s specialty. The daily improv shows also feature guests such as columnist Aaf Brandt Corstius (7/7), comedian Jörgen Raymann (9/7), actor Brendan Hunt (16/7) and presenter Arjen Lubach (16/7).
