‘Ted Lasso’ is looking to pull off what only ‘Modern Family’ has accomplished at the Golden Globes

“Ted Lasso” is undefeated in Best Comedy Series at the Emmys, with back-to-back victories in 2021 and ’22, but it’s still looking to score its first goal at the Golden Globes. The Apple TV+ sports dramedy received Globe nominations for its first two seasons but lost both, which means it’s now trying to pull off what only one show has been able to accomplish: win the comedy/musical series prize on its third try.

Since the comedy/musical series category was established 53 years ago, the only show to have achieved this is “Modern Family,” which prevailed for the second half of its second season and first half of its third in 2012 after falling to “Glee” the two previous years. Technically, “The Carol Burnett Show,” which took home its first of two total wins in 1970, was the first to do it, but it earned its preceding two bids in the catch-all series category in 1968 and ’69.

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“Modern Family” is by far not the only show to attain its inaugural victory in the category later in its run, but it’s one of just two to do it after suffering multiple losses. The other is “M*A*S*H,” which bagged its first and only trophy on its fifth try, for the second half of its ninth installment and the first half of its 10th, in 1982. What “Modern Family” and “M*A*S*H” both have in common is that they had already raked in numerous series prizes at other awards shows, including two and one, respectively, at the Emmys, by the time they emerged victorious at the Globes. So their Globe wins were probably in large part the result of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association playing catch-up.

“Ted” is now in a similar position as “Modern Family” was before it triumphed: It’s the two-time reigning Best Comedy Series Emmy champ that’s been nominated at the Globes from the get-go and could finally prevail on its third try because it’s reached a level of esteem that may make it difficult for the HFPA to continue ignoring the show. A big difference between the two comedies’ situations, however, is that “Modern Family” had lost twice to the same show before winning, whereas “Ted” has been beaten by two different series.

In “Ted’s” defense, though, it was always going to have a tough time coming out on top in those two races. It arguably had its best shot on its first attempt when it was what the HFPA loves to award most, the new kid on the block, but it lost to “Schitt’s Creek” — a show that had theretofore never been shortlisted for a single Globe but the HFPA was clearly not going to let it go unnoticed after it made history at the Emmys as the first series to sweep all seven main comedy categories with its sixth and final season. On its second try, “Ted” didn’t have to face a departing juggernaut, but it was no longer a brand new toy at that point and fell to a show that still very much was, “Hacks.”

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Of course, “Ted” hasn’t gotten any younger since it last competed, so why would its prospects be any different this year? On paper, “Modern Family” also shouldn’t have stood a chance in 2012 for that same reason. Not only were it and “Glee” the oldest shows nominated that year, but the other three nominees — “Enlightened,” “Episodes” and “New Girl” — were all freshman series. But the ABC sitcom ultimately just had the good luck of being up against what was debatably weak competition. “Glee” had already been amply rewarded at that point and experienced a big drop in critical acclaim for its third season. And seeing as only one of the three first-season shows in contention even received a subsequent citation in the category — “Episodes,” which was up again the following year and lost to “Girls” — it’s possible that HFPA members just weren’t very high on any of them.

That’s not to say that “Ted” won’t face formidable challengers, should it be nominated. But if our odds are any indication, the lineup could similarly break its way. The show is currently in second place and predicted to be shortlisted alongside “The Bear” — which is in pole position — “Abbott Elementary” (No. 3), “Jury Duty” (No. 4) and “Only Murders in the Building” (No. 5), all of which have hurdles to overcome. Though undoubtedly the one to beat after an uber-acclaimed Season 2, “The Bear” would be only the fourth show to win this award on its second attempt. “Abbott,” the defending champ, would be the first show since “Glee” to repeat in this category and could be hurt by having aired episodes only in the first half of the year. As the lone freshman series in the top five, “Jury Duty” should probably be higher in our rankings, but the reality hoax comedy’s style could be hard for voters to get behind. And, finally, “Only Murders” would also be on its third try, but unlike “Ted,” it doesn’t have two Best Comedy Series Emmys to boast.

The main question for “Ted” is whether there is still an urge to award the series. Before “Modern Family” finally prevailed, it had yet to scoop up a single Globe, which might have spurred HFPA members to acknowledge the sitcom with the top prize. “Ted,” on the other hand, has already racked up two Globes, both for Jason Sudeikis in Best TV Comedy/Musical Actor. And since Sudeikis is the irrefutable face of “Ted,” there’s a good chance voters feel as though they’ve already recognized the show.

But there’s also no doubt that awards voters are still very much here for “Ted.” It led all comedy series with 21 Emmy bids this year — which is its highest total to date — and is currently forecasted to defend its series crown, per our Emmy odds. Though “The Bear” is nipping at its heels there as well, the assumption is that Emmy voters will want to embrace “Ted” one more time as its third season could very well be its last. And if its fate is confirmed by the time HFPA members mark off their final ballots, you better believe they will think twice about whether they want to risk going down as one of the show’s sole nonbelievers.

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