Two Zimbabwe-born actors Tanaka Mandimika and Mary Roscoe star in Ted Laso
Apple TV+ hit series “Ted Lasso” a show that features two Zimbabwean actors Tanaka Mandimika and Mary Roscoe joined the ranks of comedy legends at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards held last Tuesday night, 13 August 2022 with its win for Outstanding Comedy Series for its first and second seasons, becoming only the eighth series in the genre in 74 years of Emmy history to do so.
The second season of “Ted Lasso” also became the most Emmy-winning comedy for the second year in a row with four total wins, including Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jason Sudeikis), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Brett Goldstein), and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (MJ Delaney).
Apple’s “Ted Lasso” now joins the ranks of only seven other comedy series in history that have landed Outstanding Comedy Series wins in their first two years: “Modern Family,” “30 Rock,” “Frasier,” “The Golden Girls,” “Cheers,” “All in the Family” and “The Phil Silvers Show.”
The series follows Ted Lasso played by Jason Sudeikis, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team in an attempt by its owner to spite her ex-husband. Lasso tries to win over the skeptical English market with his folksy, optimistic demeanour while dealing with his inexperience in the sport.
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| Tanaka Mandimika |
Zimbabwe-born actor Tanaka Mandimika plays the recurring character of Robbie Roberts a Forward player for AFC Richmond. He is seen with other team members and even participates in group activities such as karaoke and dancing in clubs. Tanaka Mandimika first appears as Robbie Roberts in the pilot episode with his last appearance seen in the twelfth episode and season finale of season two titled "Inverting the Pyramid of Success."
Another Zimbabwean actor, Mary Roscoe plays a recurring character of Julie Higgins, wife of Leslie Higgins, a main regular character of the show played by Jeremy Swift her real-life husband.
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| Mary Roscoe with her husband Jeremy Swift |
The first season premiered on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2020, whilst the second season was released on July 23, 2021. The series was renewed for a third season in October 2020.