The cast of ‘Ted Lasso’ visits the White House to discuss mental health

WASHINGTON — A scene like “Ted Lasso” unfolded during Monday’s White House press briefing as actor Jason Sudeikis, who plays the show’s eponymous football coach, responded to a question from fictional sports critic Trent Crimm.

The light-hearted exchange came as several cast members made an appearance at the daily press briefing to talk about mental health, a popular theme on the hit Apple TV+ show.

“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for,” Sudeikis said, everyone knows someone or was that person who “struggled, felt isolated, who felt anxious, who felt alone. And it’s actually one of the many things that – believe it or not – we all have in common as human beings.

“The big theme of the show is checking in with your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends, your family, and asking them how they’re doing and listening,” said the Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor. “We also need to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to seek help ourselves and that takes a long time, especially when it’s something that has such a negative stigma, like mental health, and it doesn’t. don’t need to Be like that.”

Sudeikis was joined on the podium by Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent; Hannah Waddingham, who plays Rebecca Welton; Toheeb Jimoh, who plays Sam Obisanya; and Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard. The third season of the show recently aired on Apple TV+.

Cast members were scheduled to meet President and First Lady Jill Biden after they appeared in the briefing room.

After Sudeikis finished his remarks on mental health, he appealed to a “familiar face” among members of the White House press.

“Trent Crimm, fake reporter,” said James Lance, the actor who plays Crimm on the show. “What do you think of Kansas City being one of the designated host cities for the 2026 World Cup?”

“I was there hoping for a softball,” joked Sudeikis. “You know what? I’m very excited. Truth be told. Kansas City is going to be one of those teams. I mean, I love this city. What really worries me is once we get all these people from all over the world to come to Kansas City and see our city, eat our food, meet our people, you’re going to get, you know, a lot of people who want to leave.”

As the cast left the venue, a real reporter asked Sudeikis if he could reprise his impression of President Joe Biden, which he performed on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

“They have the real one here now,” he said. “I need fake teeth and, you know, an injection of a lot more nerve to achieve this.”