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Joy Behar Reveals Why She Rejected a Role in Ted Lasso
Joy Behar, the outspoken 81-year-old co-host of “The View,” recently disclosed that she turned down the opportunity to play Jason Sudeikis’ mother in the acclaimed series “Ted Lasso.” Behar cited concerns about the London heat as her primary reason for declining the role, further stating she didn’t believe the show was at its peak popularity. This revelation surfaced during an episode of “Behind the Table,” the show’s podcast, sparking discussion among fans of both Behar and the Emmy-award winning series.
The Heat Wave That Derailed a Potential Casting
- Podcast Revelation: Behar shared on “Behind the Table” that she declined the Dottie Lasso part in “Ted Lasso’s” third season due to excessive heat in London.
- Producer’s Question: Brian Teta, the show’s producer, inquired about her reasons for dismissing a role in what he considers his favorite show.
- Temperature Concerns: Behar explained, “It was too hot… there was a heat wave going on at that time, like, 100-degree weather, and I’d have to get on a plane and go in the middle of the heat? No.”
Behar emphasized her focus on her own writing, stating, “Listen, I’m a writer, I write my own stuff, I don’t care about other people’s stuff. I don’t need to be in everything.”
Becky Ann Baker’s Emmy-Nominated Performance
The role of Dottie Lasso eventually went to Becky Ann Baker, who received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the episode “Mom City.”
Disagreement Over the Show’s Popularity
Teta, expressing his disappointment, asserted that “Ted Lasso” was “the hottest show on TV.” However, Behar countered, “It was not the hottest show on TV.” She added that she might have considered the role had the filming schedule been in the spring or fall.
When Teta mentioned Baker’s Emmy nomination, Behar simply responded, “Bravo. Good for her.”
Other Topics Discussed by Behar
Besides the “Ted Lasso” anecdote, Behar also discussed highlights from her interview with former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her conversation with Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
London Filming and the 2022 Heatwave
“Ted Lasso’s” third season was primarily filmed in the Richmond and Twickenham areas of London and debuted in March 2023. In July 2022, the UK experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius, as reported by the Met Office.
Subsequent reports indicated that temperatures in the UK exceeded 30 degrees Celsius for seven straight days in September 2023, with highs reaching 31 to 32 degrees in southeast England.