Glen Powell Has Brought Us the Ted Lasso of College Football. It's Surprisingly Great.

"In 2013, NBC produced a 4-minute, 41-second commercial to hype up its acquisition of broadcast rights for the English Premier League. Jason Sudeikis starred as "an American Coach in London." After that viral marketing success, some TV writers and producers realized that Ted Lasso, as Sudeikis' character was named, could be good television. The resulting series became the first big hit for Apple TV+ in 2020 and, despite the wishes of many, is still coming back for more."

"In 2022, ESPN produced a seven-minute bit in which two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning pretended to try out for a walk-on spot at Penn State. He wore a prosthetic face and went by the name "Chad Powers." After that video went viral, some TV writers and producers realized that Chad Powerscould be good television. Now Glen Powell has tagged in for Manning, and Disney is hoping that the rebooted Powers also makes for good TV. Amazingly, it does."

"This six-episode season of Chad Powers premieres on Hulu today, with each installment coming in around half an hour. Powell plays washed-up quarterback Russ Holliday, who in turn plays Chad Powers, the unknown redneck quarterback who takes college football by storm. Russ was already a big star, eight years earlier. The show begins with him running in a national championship-winning touchdown for Oregon at the sport's most hallowed venue, the Rose Bowl. Except he doesn't run in the touchdown."

A 2013 NBC commercial launched Jason Sudeikis' Ted Lasso character, which later became a hit Apple TV+ series. A 2022 ESPN bit featuring Eli Manning as Chad Powers went viral and inspired television interest. Glen Powell now stars in a six-episode Hulu series that follows washed-up quarterback Russ Holliday, who adopts the persona of Chad Powers. The season opens with a disastrous Rose Bowl celebration that costs Russ his reputation, includes a violent incident with a fan, and follows his attempt to disguise himself and reemerge amid college football spectacle and personal redemption.

Read at Slate Magazine