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WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitt Romney has taken on a new persona, at least for Halloween.
Though often perceived as a stiff, buttoned-down, every-hair-in-place politician, the Utah Republican's lighter side emerged in the form of Ted Lasso.
Don't know who Ted Lasso is? Here's a description: "Ted Lasso" is a comedy series streamed on Apple TV+ about a relentlessly optimistic small-time American football coach who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching the sport.
Jason Sudeikis, of Saturday Night Live fame, plays Ted Lasso. Sudeikis, by the way, also parodied Romney on SNL during his 2012 presidential run. (Kate McKinnon plays Ann Romney in the sketches).
"After 10 years, I'm finally returning the favor. How was my @TedLasso, @JasonSudeikis?" Romney tweeted Thursday.
Posted one person on Twitter in reply: "Ok but there should be an SNL skit where Jason Sudeikis plays Mitt Romney dressed up as Jason Sudeikis."
After 10 years, I'm finally returning the favor. How was my @TedLasso, @JasonSudeikis? pic.twitter.com/LpYd2koEsh
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 28, 2021
Romney, apparently, watches "Ted Lasso." With 20 Emmy nominations last month, it is the most-watched program on Apple TV+. One Deseret News viewer described it as a "heart-warming comedy, but with super strong HBO language."
How Romney got turned on to the show is unclear. His staff isn't sure.
Regardless, Romney donned a fake mustache a la the main character and did Ted Lasso things around the Senate office building. He delivered cookies — biscuits, in this case, because the show is set in Britain — to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., as Lasso does to his boss.
Biscuits with the boss. pic.twitter.com/tKpiToDWE6
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 28, 2021
Romney also put on a Real Salt Lake jersey and rehearsed Lasso lines such as "Your body is like day-old rice. If it ain't warmed up properly, something real bad can happen."
Warming up for Halloween weekend with the grandkids. As @TedLasso says, "Your body is like day-old rice. If it ain't warmed up properly, something real bad could happen." pic.twitter.com/Z93fzp2TC5
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 28, 2021
He also taped a replica of the show's iconic "believe" poster above his office door, a nod to the "Lasso Way" of inspiring the mediocre soccer team.
"If you believe in yourself, and have clear eyes and full hearts — you can't lose," Romney posted on Twitter, combining a phrase borrowed from another of his favorite TV shows, "Friday Night Lights," during his 2012 presidential run.
If you believe in yourself, and have clear eyes and full hearts—you can't lose. pic.twitter.com/CpkmFKo49i
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 28, 2021