Ted Lasso’s cultural references, deciphered

Watching “Ted Lasso” is like taking a cultural literacy masterclass. References to history, politics, music, cinema and sport are interspersed throughout the dialogue. Some, however, are so mysterious and delivered so quickly that they are difficult to understand. So as a public service, we’ve taken some of Ted Lasso’s funniest lines and broken them down for viewers who are either too young, too old, too busy, or too protected to understand them.

“We’re going to call this exercise ‘The Exorcist’ because it’s about controlling possession.”

Decrypted : The 1973 horror film portrayed a 12-year-old girl possessed by demons.

“You don’t have to be best friends to be great teammates. Think of Shaq and Kobe. Lennon and McCartney. Even Woody and Buzz get under each other’s plastic.

Decrypted : Los Angeles Lakers teammates; band mates in The Beatles; animated characters from the “Toy Story” movie franchise.

“I can’t really tell you what lives and what doesn’t live beyond our physical world. But I can tell you that except for the wit and wisdom of “Calvin and Hobbes”, not much goes on forever. “

Decrypted : A syndicated comic created by cartoonist Bill Watterson.

“You fight, it’s like Woody Allen playing the clarinet. I don’t want to hear it.

Decrypted : The filmmaker is an avid jazz enthusiast who has played the clarinet in jazz orchestras for years.

“Our goal is to come out like Willie Nelson, on a good plan! “

Decrypted : The musician is well known for smoking weed and advocating the legalization of marijuana.

“It’s kind of like all the nipples in that ‘Showgirls’ movie. Halfway down, you don’t even notice it.

Decrypted : A 1995 film set in Las Vegas and features an abundance of nudity.

“You’re all going to be so dehydrated you’re going to look like one of those trees from a Tim Burton movie. I’m talking about any Tim Burton movie, even ‘Dumbo.’

Decrypted : The filmmaker’s works often depict dark scenes with twisted, leafless trees.

“You’re like Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner, you know? Or Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow. Franck and…. In fact, you know what? I’m starting to realize that Ol ‘Blue Eyes may have skewed the mercurial.

Decrypted : The singer-actor has had numerous marriages and relationships known to be tumultuous.

“You are more of a mystery than David Blaine reading a Sue Grafton novel in Area 51.”

Decrypted : A magician, a mysterious novelist and the top secret US military testing center in Nevada.

“Ice cream is the best. It’s kind of like seeing Billy Joel perform live, you know? He never disappoints. It gives me the hangover, however. (Ice cream, not Billy Joel.) ”

Decrypted : Known as the Piano Man, Mr. Joel is a mainstay of the touring circuit. Ice cream is known to cause bloating and gas in people with lactose intolerance.

When asked if he could name footballers … “You have Ronaldo and the guy who folds it like him.”

Decrypted : The title of the 2002 film “Bend It Like Beckham” refers to football player David Beckham’s ability to bend or bend the ball in flight.

“Whoa! Room 5150. Finally! Sammy Hagar, the greatest singer in Van Halen history.

Decrypted : A reference to Van Halen’s 1986 album “5150”. The number is a term for a person with a mental disorder under Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

“David versus Goliath. Rockys vs. Apollos. Steve Wiebes vs. Billy Mitchells.

Decrypted : The first two are Biblical and “Rocky” references. MM. Wiebe and Mitchell were rivals in the “Donkey Kong” video game competitions.

“That’s what I get for having a drink next to John Holmes.”

Decrypted : The late John Holmes made hundreds of sexually explicit films in the 1970s and early 1980s.

“The point is that all they said [in the newspaper article] it was true. And unlike Lieutenant Kaffee, I can really handle the truth.

Decrypted : “You can’t handle the truth,” was famously shouted by Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) when questioned by Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) in the 1992 film “A Few Good Men”.

“Being able to stop and change direction quickly?” Well, it’s like Kanye’s ‘808s and Heartbreaks.’ He’s not getting enough credit.

Decrypted : The title of the 2008 album by musician / producer Kanye West refers to the Roland TR-808, a drum machine ubiquitous in hip-hop music.

Ms. DeCarbo is a writer in South Carolina. She can be contacted at [email protected].