Ted Lasso’s new season is packed with Kansas City Easter eggs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The new season of “Ted Lasso” features several Kansas City connections, from recognizable landmarks to a local band and a KC resident who served as a stand-in for one of the show’s lead characters.

Iconic locations including Gates BBQ, CPKC Stadium and the Plaza appear in the new season. But some of the local ties are less obvious.

KC band Frogpond lands song in the show

Kansas City alternative rock band Frogpond had its song “Be” featured in the new season. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Heidi Phillips said the track comes from the band’s first album.

“This song ‘Be’ is from our first album. We have been a band since 1994,” Phillips said.

Drummer Michelle Bacon said the band holds a notable place in the city’s music history.

“Frogpond was kind of the pioneer of the rock scene here. We were one of the first bands in Kansas City to be on a major label,” Bacon said.

Band members said they were caught off guard hearing themselves in the show. Guitarist Kristin Conkright said “Ted Lasso” held personal significance for her before the placement.

“I was just thrilled. I love that show. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it. It was kind of a COVID comfort show,” Conkright said.

Bassist Brian Brooks said the experience of seeing Kansas City featured throughout the episode made the moment stand out.

“Seeing all the sites and the flavors of Kansas City all throughout the episode and having it capped with our song was incredible,” Brooks said.

KC local served as stand-in for lead character

Allison Smith, a Kansas City resident, served as a stand-in for Rebecca Welton, the character played by Hannah Waddingham.

“I’m a 6-foot-tall blonde that’s kind of in the same phase as Rebecca’s character in the show and kind of grows into her own,” Smith said.

Smith said the role carried meaning beyond the on-set experience.

“Being a part of a show that means so much to me as a person, but then also to Kansas City and the community, with all the little snippets of the KC love that Jason has put into it, has been so fun,” Smith said.