Believe by Jeremy Egner--This upcoming behind-the-scenes look at the Ted Lasso tv series releases on 11/12. This extensive oral history of the show covers the 3 seasons with excerpts of interviews and commentary from the creators, actors, and crew of the series. It was almost too long and at times felt repetitive. I did really like looking back at the show and remembering why it was so enjoyable and heartwarming. Check it out if you're a fan of the show! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy.

I loved the Ted Lasso series, I even own a Believe t-shirt, and was bummed when it ended. I was super excited about this insiders book. It definitely isn't a book for someone who hasn't seen the show. It did make me want to go back and rewatch some episodes. I was a bit disappointment with the content, I thought there would be photos and charming stories but it was mainly about the impressive process involved in filming a production. Film students would love this part. Not a favorite for me.

Believe by Jeremy Egner ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PENGUIN GROUP Dutton
Pub Date: 11-12-24

Thank you @netgalley, @duttonbooks, and @jeremyegner for this eARC.

If you're a fan of Ted Lasso (and who isn't?) you will enjoy this book. A glimpse behind the scenes of the series and a collection of thoughts from those involved in its creation.

Nothing makes a show more enjoyable for me than knowing that the cast and crew enjoyed making it, enjoyed each other, and continue their relationships following the series finale. This is clearly true of Ted Lasso.

I began a rewatch of the show - not my first - as I started reading this book. Both the show and the book are a warm hug that is much needed once again.

"I am amazed and I love that it means something to quite a few people. And I think that those people would be delighted if they knew the truth, which is it means the same to us."

"It was a love story through and through."

#believe #jeremyegner #penguingroupdutton #netgalley

For those that will forever be in their Ted Lasso era. I've had the show on a loop for the last year, well into the double digit viewings and I love it more than the first couple times of watching it. This was such a fun behind the scenes look at one of my favorite, heartwarming stories!! I loved the writing, rhe interviews with the cast, and the deep dive into some of the episodes.


Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC in exchange for my review!

3.5 stars. This book is as delightful as Ted Lasso himself.

I really enjoyed the way the author outlined the key themes of the show through interviews with the cast and crew. As warm and comforting as the show is, it was incredibly important to point out that there are a lot of dark undertones to the show - but the significant thing to point out (as both the interviewees and the author did) is that the characters are earnest and kind. They allow themselves to grow & change and support one another when they need it. It was great to read that the cast and crew felt the same way!

I do think that sometimes there was too much content, especially early on when we had a TON of interviews and a TON of exposition. But overall this was a pleasant read and a great recap of a beloved show.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeremy Egner, and Dutton Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was a latecomer to what became a favorite show of mine, Ted Lasso. I wasn’t a fan of the original ad and I kept thinking there’s no way it’ll live up to the hype. And when I finally watched it (after season 3 had ended), I binge watched the whole series and texted essays to my friend who finally convinced me to see it.

What a treat it was then to receive this ARC and gain more insight into the series as well as a heavy dose of nostalgia for all it reminded me of. I loved learning about why certain decisions were made and seeing how intentional every storyline and personality trait was.

This show is so full of depth, focusing on mental health, friendship, self-growth, and so much more. And this book helps highlight how this show was so much more than just a series about soccer.

I highly recommend this oral history for any fan of the series. And if you haven’t watched it yet, go watch and then grab this book as a companion to the show.

If you're like the majority of the world during 2020 and you fell in love with Ted Lasso, this book is for you. Jeremy Egner collects every bit of interesting trivia and referential nod that exists in the three seasons of Ted Lasso and organizes them into an easy to read oral history. The chapters swap between chapters about the development of the show and chapters about specific episodes. This book was a wonderful light read that reminded me of the original feelings I had when I first discovered Ted Lasso. It feels good to read a book about how the creators and participants of one of your favorite shows also cared about it the same way. This was a light read and a great supplement for the Ted Lasso fans like me who read the imdb trivia page for every single show and movie they watch.

”The creators of Ted Lasso knew early on they had something special on their hands.”

Utterly delightful. If you already love Ted Lasso, prepare to fall even deeper in love with the creators, the cast, the characters, and the brilliance behind the show as a result of reading this book.

”It’s a story about what happens when you dare to believe.”

I was fascinated to hear where the writers drew their inspiration - I never would have imagined that so many different movies, musicals, shows, genres, and even personal lived experiences played a role in helping the writers and actors hone the final product. I was so interested in the casting process and how the selected actors made the characters their own, and then in hearing how they participated in their characters’ story arcs and transformations over multiple seasons. I loved the episode breakdowns that analyzed key moments in the show’s history.

”As one might suspect on a show as in touch with its feelings as Ted Lasso, the final day on set was an emotional one.”

I could imagine this book being remade as a documentary; truly, it reads more like a documentary transcript than a book, with the inclusion of many verbatim interviews from the cast & crew, without much added structure or narration from a third-person voice in those sections. I loved it, and it made me want to go binge watch the entire series all over again.

”This thing called life… might be all that you get. It might be it. And wouldn’t you rather spend it moving through the world with grace, with empathy, and with people you love?”

——

A huge thank you to Jeremy Egner, Penguin / Dutton, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way Into Our Hearts- the joy of falling in love with Ted Lasso all over again. Getting to dive back into the world of Richmond, Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and more, was truly magical.

Off the bat, I enjoyed Egner’s choice if layout to share cast interviews. I felt as if I was sitting with the actors/writers as they shared their take on one another, filming, and the series as a whole. I particularly enjoyed hearing the casting process and could feel the excitement as each actor was brought on board.

As a fan of the show, I also enjoyed hearing where scenes, coach speeches, dialogue, and music selection came from. Hearing that inspiration was drawn from sports movies, mentors in real life, famous coaches, and even musicals was fascinating- maybe even enough to change my views towards the episode “Beard After Hours.”

Jeremy Egner’s passion of writing and sharing his love of Ted Lasso is evident through this novel. I found the added bonus of, “Who Won The Episode”, “Best Save, “Best Assist”, “Best Line”, and “Random Stats” at the end of each episode chapter to be a fun touch.

Thank you Jeremy Egner, Dutton, and NetGalley for allowing this Ted Lasso fan to enjoy this book!

Are you a lover of the show Ted Lasso or have someone in your life that is? Answer yes to either one of these, then I've got a book for you.

Believe is an oral history about the behind-the-scenes story of how Ted Lasso came to be. It's pretty well known that Ted Lasso first appeared in a NBC sports promo and his character was later further expanded into the Apple TV series of the same name. I loved hearing the stories from all of the actors, showrunners, and personnel that helped the show touch so many lives. I enjoyed that Egner also focused on some key episodes each season that helped to further the storylines of characters but also move the plot along of the series. I personally enjoyed all three seasons of the show, although I know the third season didn't resonate with everyone. This book offers a nice farewell, or possibly see you later, to the characters that helped many of us find companionship during the pandemic and beyond.

If you don't want spoilers for the show, don't read this book. From the beginning things will be spoiled for you if you haven't watched or finished the series.

As Christmas is fast approaching, this would make a great gift for the Ted Lasso fan in your life, even if it's yourself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

As a fan of Ted Lasso I was excited to dive back into the Ted Lasso universe. This book offers great insight from the beginning with interviews with the writers and actors. I enjoyed seeing the behind the curtain and seeing where the show started and knowing how it progressed while I watched it! This is a great book for all fans who Believe!

I love Ted Lasso and this behind the scenes look at the making of the series was really enjoyable. Told through firsthand accounts of the writers, producers, and stars of the series, this book takes the reader on an adventure from the creation of the Ted character all the way through the end of the show and feelings about continuing beyond season 3. A delightful read for any fan.

This is a great supplement to (in my opinion) one of the best series ever, Ted Lasso! Super detailed from the series inception to the end, this is THE book if you want all of the nitty gritty details about the Ted Lasso series. I really enjoyed reading all the details about the actors, producers, writers, etc.

I did not know I needed this book until I read (i.e. inhaled) this book.

I love Ted Lasso. I am forever indebted to the coworker who introduced SNL and Jason Sudekis into my life. Because of that, I also watched Ted Lasso, which got me out of some dark times. Mostly, I loved that everyone on there had a genuinely good experience. I've read oral histories of TV shows where some people where jerks, or there was secret drama (a la Modern Family), or it turns out actors felt "unappreciated" (a la The West Wing) and it's comforting to know that what you saw on Ted Lasso is what you got. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll now be printing a "Believe" sign for above my office door.

Thanks, NetGalley!

As a Ted Lasso lover, this book was so fun to get a behind the scenes of how it came to life. This is not information you learn about most shows, but it is so interesting to know! Ted Lasso will always be a top favorite of mine and this book just put it up a few notches.

Really enjoyed this book and learning more about one of my favorite shows. It took me awhile to get through it, but that was a me issue. I find it hard to get through these types of books, but it was rather interesting for the subject.

Reading 2024
Book 198: Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts by Jeremy Egner

Saw this book on a friend’s IG page as she was taking the Ted Lasso tour in England. Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review (Pub date is November 12). Book 39 of #30booksin30days is a nonfiction book I read on my Kindle.

Synopsis: Egner approaches his reporting as a journalist and as a cultural critic, but also with an affection and admiration fans will appreciate, carefully and humorously telling Ted Lasso’s story of teamwork, of hidden talent, of a group of friends looking around at the world’s increasingly nasty discourse and deciding that maybe simple decency still had the power to bring us together—a story about what happens when you dare to believe.

Review: How fun was this book! Going to have to rewatch Ted Lasso again after reading this. Every little detail about the trajectory of a small show on a brand new streaming service, to a huge hit. All the actors involved in each episode and all the inside scoop you can handle, and maybe more than you want. Really enjoyed this, my rating 4⭐️.

As someone who has watched Ted Lasso all the way through three times, plus individual episodes here and there, I thought I knew everything about the show. There was so much symbolism I missed and a depth to each episode that I didn’t think about until I read Believe, which is a fascinating behind the scenes look at the show, the characters, the writers, the plot trajectory, and the original concept of Jason Sudeikis. I enjoyed the authors style of writing and how he presented the contents of Believe. A perfect book for our library, and a must for everyone you know who loves Ted Lasso, and let’s face it, who doesn’t.

This book is filled to the brim with so many fun tidbits about the cast, production & filming of Ted Lasso! Reading this made me want to do a rewatch of the show, so I could try and pick up all the little references to other pieces of pop culture scattered throughout that I missed the first time around. And honestly, this would make a great rewatch companion guide with the way the author laid the book out by season & with chapters dedicated to individual episodes.

The chapters about specific episodes that provided a deep dive into the plot, and included stories/thoughts from the actors regarding their characters in that episode, were definitely my favorite! One of my absolute favorite chapters discussed how the actresses that played Rebecca & Keeley formed a real life friendship early on in filming. So the way you see them in the show is how they are off camera as well & I just love that so much 🥹

It did feel somewhat repetitive at times, as the author would briefly mention something in one chapter & then use very similar wording when he began to expand upon that same thing in a later chapter. But all the memories shared by the cast members were so funny & moving that I was able to quickly move past that.

This is kind of obvious but, I wouldn’t recommend reading this if you haven’t watched the show yet, or watched but did not enjoy (which, let’s be real… that second one’s highly unlikely). All you Lasso fans though— run to your nearest bookstore on November 12th to grab a copy of this behind the scenes goldmine!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group - Dutton for this ARC

This was so much fun to read as a fan of the show. I loved the inside information on how the show came to be. This just added to my excitement for the new season 4 that was announced!