Ted Lasso is back – and so is Jason Sudeikis as the titular hero, a cheery and optimistic American who, in season one, landed in dreary London as the new coach of a local soccer team.
Season three, which aired in 2023, ended with Ted returning to Kansas City to co-parent with his ex-wife, Michelle. But in season four, viewers will see Ted return to Richmond, this time with Michelle and his son, to coach the women's team.
© Apple TVJason was already a huge star in America before the Apple TV show, after years as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live, but it was Ted Lasso that thrust him into the global spotlight.
While his high-profile romance with Olivia Wilde dominated headlines for years, many fans don't know that before his global fame, he was married to one of Hollywood's most successful comedy writers and directors: Kay Cannon
© WireImageWho is Kay Cannon
Kay was born August 21, 1975, the fifth of seven children and was raised in Illinois. A love of theatre led to her graduating with a BA in theatre and education, and she began performing and writing for the acclaimed Chicago-based comedy troupe Second City.
There she met Tina Fey, and the pair became friends.
Pitch Perfect
Kay is now perhaps best known for writing the acclaimed comedy Pitch Perfect. The film was a global, multi-million-dollar franchise, with two sequels (which she also co–wrote and produced), and not only redefined 2010s musical comedy and pop culture, but turned Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson into stars.
Her directorial debut came in 2018 with Blockers, and it was another smash, becoming a box-office and critical hit And making her one of only several female directors to lead a major studio R-rated comedy.
© Variety via Getty ImagesShe also worked with Camila Cabello and Nicholas Galitzine on the 2021 musical reimagining of Cinderella, and up next for Kay is the comedy One Attempt Remaining, which she has co-written and will direct.
How did Jason meet Kay?
Jason moved to Chicago in the late 1990s and through the comedy scene met Kay.
© Tribune News ServiceThey fell in love, and in the early 2000s, both moved to Las Vegas to become founding members of The Second City Las Vegas, a spin-off group of the original Chicago troupe that performed at the Flamingo.
Four-year marriage
In 2003, Jason was hired as a writer on NBC's Saturday Night Live but Kay was still living in Las Vegas.
In June 2004, Jason and Kay tied the knot, and Jason approached SNL boss Lorne Michaels to ask for a performer slot, joining the cast in 2005.
It is unclear when Kay moved to New York City, but around 2006. Kay was hired by Tina – another performer on SNL – to help her write what would become the Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock.
© Getty ImagesHowever, in 2008, Kay and Jason filed for divorce; it was finalized in 2010.
Amicable split
© NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesTheir split has always remained amicable, and in 2021, when Jason won his Golden Globe, Kay was one of the first to publicly congratulate him.
"A lifetime ago, I spent several years watching the #goldenglobes w/ @jasonsudeikis while he was high & wearing a hoodie," she quipped on X.
"Congrats on your win, ya wanker! And congrats to the cast & crew of @TedLasso. Such a great, funny & heartfelt show. #believe."
Kay's credits and nominations
After helping Tina write 30 Rock, Kay worked her way up to producer, and in 2008 she won a Peabody Award for her work on the show, and in 2010 was nominated for an Emmys Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.
Kay later moved to Los Angeles and signed a development deal with 20th Century Fox, during which she helped to create New Girl with Zooey Deschanel.
© Getty ImagesIn 2017 she created the show Girlboss alongside Charlize Theron for Netflix starring Britt Robertson.
Her next project, One Attempt Remaining, stars Jennifer Garner, John Cena, and Kate McKinnon and follows a divorced couple who must team up to track down a lost crypto password – one that logs into an account worth millions.
