WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Stick season 1, episodes 1–3.WhileTed Lassois preparing to return for a fourth season,Apple TV+ has a brand-new heartfelt sports comedythat has similar narrative appeal and character dynamics. Based on a skit Jason Sudeikis performed for NBC Sports promos in 2013,Ted Lassodebuted on Apple TV+ in 2020 to become a massive phenomenon for the streaming service. With substantial critical acclaim, high viewership numbers, and plenty of accolades to show for it, the search to replicateTed Lassoafter its season 3 finalein 2023 has been a great challenge for Apple TV+ itself and rival streamers.
Similar heartfelt sports comedies have popped up in the time since its premiere elsewhere, such as Crave/Hulu’sShoresyandGlen Powell’s upcomingChad PowersHulu show, but Apple TV+ has largely found itsTed Lassosubstitutes in non-sports comedy-dramas like Bill Lawrence’sShrinking. However, ahead of theconfirmation thatTed Lassoseason 4 would be happeningwith many original cast members returning, Apple TV+ ordered another sports comedy that resembled the Jason Sudeikis show’s original appeal. Withthe first three episodes of that series now streaming, Apple TV+ is able to enjoy the continued success ofTed Lassoalongside another sports comedy companion.
Stick Is The Next Ted Lasso For Apple TV+
Owen Wilson’s Golf Comedy Is Reminiscent Of Ted Lasso’s Heart & Humor
Focusing on a very different type of playing field,Apple TV+’s latest sports comedy-drama isStick, which tackles the golf world rather than soccer.Stick’s cast of charactersfocuses on Pryce “Stick” Cahill (Owen Wilson), a washed-up former professional golfer who decides to get back into the sport by coaching the talented young amateur Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager). As the coach-player duo works to get Santi to qualify for the US Amateur Golf Championship, many story beats bear resemblance to early aspcets ofTed Lassoseason 1.
The two coaches start off their respective series as underdogs, with Ted never having coached soccer, especially on a losing team, and Cahill now trying to reclaim a spot in the golf world after a career-ending incident at TPC Sawgrass in 2009.They’re also trying to coach some talented players who may be resistant to new trainers and personalities, with Santi having trauma related to his father coaching him inStickandplayers like Roy and Jamiealso resisting Ted’s coaching due to past familial traumas and insecurities in their careers.
Outside the sports comedy TV shows’ focus on winning the games at hand,StickandTed Lassoalso have similar emotional beats for their coaches and players.Stick’sPryce Cahill is still grieving the death of his young sonwhile working through a difficult divorce in season 1, while Ted Lasso struggled to be away from his young son and eventually ended his marriage in season 1. As withTed Lasso’s main characters, Pryce and Santi forge a heartwarming “found” family in their wider sports team amid personal familial and relationship struggles.
Stick’s Pryce Cahill Is Very Different From Ted Lasso
Pryce Doesn’t Quite Know How To Be A Coach Yet
While Pryce and Ted’s stories share some heartfelt similarities, the two characters in Apple TV+’s shows are very different from one another. Ted has an innocent, folksy, upbeat optimism that his players don’t always respond to well, even though it works by eventually instilling a greater sense of positivity, confidence, and hope in the team. Meanwhile, Pryce is more condescending, having never been a coach before, and has more significant struggles figuring out how to properly prioritize and approach Santi’s emotional and physical well-being, game, and future.
Pryce is still learning how to be a coach and mentor – something Ted had mastered long beforehand.
Pryce doesn’t have Ted’s steadfast optimism, and that’s part of why it’s taken him so long to make a necessary change in his career and focus. Overall, they’re both kind-hearted people who want the best for their loved ones, but Pryce is still learning how to be a coach and mentor – something Ted had mastered long beforehand. InStick’s first few episodes,Pryce is just as concerned about redeeming his own legacy as he is about forging one for Santi, which will get him into far more trouble than Sudeikis’ character faced withTed Lasso’s AFC Richmond players.
Stick Has A Great Opportunity To Run For Even Longer Than Ted Lasso
Following One Player’s Career Opens Up More Story Potential
ThoughStickseason 1 has yet to achieve the substantial critical acclaim thatTed Lassoboasted in its inaugural season (Stickholds an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score whileTed Lassoseason 1 carries a 92% rating),its more contained story opens it up to other advantages regarding its potential longevity. By making Pryce Cahill and Santi Wheeler the main characters,Stickprimarily only has to worry about keeping those two figures around and in the golf world in order to maintain a cohesive, long-lasting narrative.
80%
Ted Lassoseason 1
92%
Meanwhile,Ted Lassobeing focused on a full soccer teamarguably limits the future extent of its story arcs. In the soccer world, players are traded, retire, or leave their teams quite often, so it wouldn’t be realistic for AFC Richmond’s main ensemble to remain the same for a long period of time. Going on for too many more seasons with the full ensemble may lead to spreading itself too thin, which is why the three-season arc it had in place was such a perfect plan. Without restarting the narrative, the novel directions for the story to go afterTed Lassoseason 3’s ending are limited.
As a solo player sport, golf isn’t restricted by the same narrative limits ofTed Lasso’s team ensemblefocus.Stickcould go on for many more years thanTed Lassoby following Santi’s professional career, which he still hasn’t even started in season 1. With Pryce as his coach, Santi’s story inStickcould follow him through the ups and downs of his career as he wins major tournaments, becomes a huge golf star, tries to win The Masters, and – most likely – attempts to achieve a Career Grand Slam (winning The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and the Open Championship).
The latter feat has only been accomplished by six professional golfers in the modern era, with the amount of time it took for them to achieve the Career Grand Slam ranging from four to 15 years. IfStickbecomes the popular, acclaimed sports series that Apple TV+ doubtlessly hopes it’ll become, then the show already hasplenty of options for multiseason stories as Pryce and Santi work to set records and take home golf’s biggest awards over time. WhileTed Lassoseason 4 is also still on the way,Stickholds the story tools to have a longer run.
Stick
Cast
A disgraced golf pro seeks redemption by mentoring a troubled teen prodigy, igniting a journey of healing and second chances.
Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he’s fit for the job.
