I used anomaly in the title to this post which may lead you to believe this post has something to do with investing. It does not.

One saving grace of pandemic is that many of us have ready access to a nearly unlimited amount of entertainment options.  One surprising find this Summer has been Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. Which Matthew Gilbert at the Boston Globe calls a ‘pleasing anomaly’ because it takes a fish-out-of-water character from promos for NBC Sports in 2013-14 and turns it into a genuinely funny and heart-warming show. And others seem to  agree.

Alex Tabbarok at Marginal Revolution writes: “Ted Lasso on Apple TV. My go to feel-good show. The relentlessly optimistic US soccer coach Ted Lasso finds himself teaching a moribund team of British footballers. Everyone needs some Ted Lasso in their life! Especially now.”

Willa Paskin at Slate writes “Like Parks and Recreation and the Emmy-sweeping Schitt’s Creek (plus a dollop of Major League), Ted Lasso is a big-hearted puppy dog of a series, an anti-cringe comedy where everything that seems like it might go wrong goes right instead. It’s counterprogramming for the state of the world.”

Caroline Framke at Variety writes: “There’s almost something subversive in how straightforward it is. In going against the expectations of how TV stories are supposed to build and climax, “Ted Lasso” finds a refreshing new gear in simply writing interactions in the way that real people with a healthy amount of self-awareness might in real life.”

Christopher Kamrani at The Athletic notes: “Ted Lasso” a show that nobody ever would’ve imagined working, given the American-level absurdities the character exemplified in 2013 and 2014. But, no, Trent Crimm, this is not a joke. I can attest. I binge-watched as many episodes as I could in 24 hours. And like Ted Lasso’s meticulously homemade biscuits, the show is a damn treat.”

Brandon Katz at the Observer writes: “Ted Lasso is a formulaic endeavor that uses cliches to its advantage and wins you over with pure positivity. In an age drowning in nonstop negativity, that sort of innocent naiveté and boundless optimism feels like a warm shower for the soul.”

Keri Lum at Paste writes: “It has felt recently like Americans have lost their hope, and what my one European friend describes as “The American Smile.” Ted Lasso gives us an ideal: an imperfect person with unabashed hope. It will inspire you to recall some of the hope you had in the Before Times.”

I think we could all use some more ‘boundless optimism’ and ‘unabashed hope.’ ‘Ted Lasso’ has already been renewed for a second season at Apple TV+ set to debut sometime in 2021. So if nothing else, you have something to look forward to next year.