Cristiano Ronaldo’s TV Series, Like Ted Lasso, May Have Already Made Its First Mistake
A different football playbook
Ted Lasso used coach Ted’s limited soccer knowledge as a source of comedy and a way into the sport for U.S. audiences. Its fictional club, AFC Richmond, also gave viewers room to learn the team’s history and traditions alongside him.
Day 1s takes another route. The Paramount+ comedy follows a talented young footballer who signs with Brentford Football Club, and it is the first production from UR-MARV Studios, Ronaldo and Matthew Vaughn’s joint venture.
The risks of a real club
Brentford’s real-world history and rivalries could make the series harder for casual viewers to enter. Supporters of nearby Premier League clubs Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers may also be reluctant to root for Brentford, even if its players and storylines are fictional.
A real club may also give the writers less freedom than AFC Richmond did. Blending a club’s public image and fanbase with invented television plots could unsettle Brentford supporters or distance other audiences.
Different paths to soccer stories
Welcome to Wrexham shows that television can draw audiences into a real football club. The FX documentary follows Wrexham AFC’s actual fortunes, while the club’s history and supporters are central to its appeal.
Wrexham began outside the English Football League, and its bid for promotion provided an underdog narrative. Brentford is already an established Premier League club, so Day 1s cannot draw on the same real-life story. The series also faces expectations shaped by earlier soccer-focused shows, despite its creative team’s limited experience making character-driven television comedies.
Key points
- Day 1s follows a rising footballer who joins real-world Brentford FC.
- Ted Lasso used fictional AFC Richmond to welcome viewers unfamiliar with English soccer.
- Brentford’s real rivalries could challenge the show’s appeal and creative flexibility.
- Welcome to Wrexham followed a real club, while Day 1s is a scripted comedy.