Bill Lawrence on 'Ted Lasso' and the need for heart in comedy

In this episode, we revisit a conversation with Bill Lawrence – the creator behind hit sitcoms Scrubs, Cougar Town, Spin City, and the animated series Clone High. Joining us online as part of our 2020 virtual Creator Talk series, Bill shared a behind the scenes look at his latest big-hearted comedy Ted Lasso. The Apple TV+ show finds Jason Sudeikis recruited to manage an English Premiere League soccer team, despite having no experience in the role (or even a clear concept of the sport). The series, which proves that comedy and sincerity can be potent strike partners, has garnered a lot of awards season buzz, with nominations across SAG, Golden Globes, Critics Choice, Writers Guild Awards and more. Speaking to Warrior Nun Creator Simon Barry, Bill discusses mixing sensibilities in the writers’ room, and why some of the best comedies are the ones with a little bit of heart. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. We've taken our VIFF Talks online with a series of virtual events lined up over the coming weeks. Register now for our Creator Talk with the veteran writers of Bob's Burgers and creators of the new animated sitcom, The Great North, Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin. Happening February 23, 6PM PST. Tickets: http://goviff.org/ct-the-great-north VIFF is also running an online cinema on VIFF Connect, showcasing a program of compelling films for you to stream from the comfort of your home. View what's streaming. You can show your love of cinema by making a tax-deductible gift to VIFF. goviff.org/donate This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival. Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.