{
  "id": 3478028,
  "title": "Ted Lasso puts its signature folksy spin on the Mean Girls formula",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ted-lasso-puts-its-signature-folksy-spin-on-the-mean-girls-formula",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T07:00:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/ted-lasso-recap-season-4-episode-4-greyhounds-day-off"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This particular episode of Ted Lasso examines the formation and dissolution of cliques within the AFC Richmond women's soccer team. The Lady Greyhounds are divided into three distinct groups: logical midfielders, protective but anxious defenders, and exciting but selfish attackers. This is approached in the signature \"Lasso Way,\" which is characterized by an upbeat, \"aw shucks!\" manner, with Ted Lasso, Beard, Alice, and even a stint behind bars all contributing to the resolution of the issue.\n\nAs with past episodes, the team members are introduced and then hastily broken apart, with Ted eventually bringing them together for a pub trivia night. While the players' individual stories are not fully explored, Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds deliver strong performances in their banter, and Brendan Hunt's Beard shows some improvement in his character.\n\nThe problem of the split cliques is highlighted through a conversation between Dr. Sharon Fieldstone and journalist Trent Crimm. While there's no technical solution to the issue, Ted attempts to foster unity by forcing the women to compete against each other in a pub trivia night. This ultimately leads to the female athletes setting their differences aside and working together, even taking down a team of male players who had been harassing one of their own.",
  "summary": "How many problems can the Lasso Way solve in \"Greyhounds' Day Off?\" The limit does not exist.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}