‘Ted Lasso’s Trent Crimm Is The Smoothest Guy On TV

From shining a spotlight on the importance of mental health to preaching kindness, even — and perhaps especially — in the face of hate, Apple TV+‘s Ted Lasso has achieved a number of ambitious feats over the course of its three seasons. But a remarkable, albeit smaller-scale, accomplishment deserving of praise is that in a show brimming with hot young athletes, the slickest man in the locker room is a reporter — and a retired one at that.

When James Lance’s character Trent Crimm (formerly Trent Crimm: The Independent) first skewered Ted in the press room minutes into the pilot, I’m not sure anyone expected him to become such a vital component of the series, nor a champion of the very integrity Jason Sudeikis’ character tries to teach by example. Yet from that very first scene, Crimm’s personality, allure, and staying power were apparent. 

A lover of tweed blazers, graphic tees, and white high-tops, Crimm and his voluminous dark locks with silver streaks bring an understated style to the series, while giving reporters — who are often portrayed poorly or unethically in TV shows and movies — some extra on-screen street cred. You see, Trent Crimm is the smoothest guy on TV right now — but never at the expense of professionalism. Always ready with an extra pen in his breast pocket, he never shies away from asking tough questions — or in Ted’s words, “bringing that heat.” But a single day spent shadowing the American coach proved Crimm’s skepticism wasn’t cemented when he admitted in an article that was supposed to be a hatchet job: “If the Lasso way is wrong, it’s hard to imagine being right.”

Towards the end of Season 2, Crimm nearly lost the support of real-life journalists when he sent Ted an article he’d written about his game-day panic attack, followed by the revelation that Nate was his source. But in the finale, Crimm redeemed himself by telling Ted he knowingly committed the violation of ethics, came clean to his boss, and left his career as a reporter behind in pursuit of something deeper. (But also, to do what he felt was right!) That”s a class act right there. And he’s only gotten better with time.

In Season 3, Crimm returned to closely observe and write a book about AFC Richmond. Having him on-screen more frequently has been nothing short of a delight. Unless, of course, you’re Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent, who’s loathed the reporter ever since Crimm penned a scathing review of his 17-year-old Premier League debut, which Kent carried around in his wallet for years. “I thought I was being edgy,” Crimm explained. “I was trying to make a name for myself. All I really did was look for the worst in people. I’m sorry.”

Despite transitioning careers, Crimm remains a sophisticated, seasoned anchor in a sea full of eccentric characters in this new chapter. He’s a quiet, naturally curious observer concealing an undoubtedly fascinating inner monologue. And he’s meticulously shaped — both inside and out — by Lance, who believes his original backstory for the character inspired the extended role. In an interview with Vulture, Lance said he told Sudeikis that he believed Crimm “had a dad who really wanted him to be a manly man and be sporty, but Trent wasn’t that guy. So he hit the library and donned intellect as his shield and armor.” Lance also felt Crimm was bored of sports journalism, explaining, “There’s more in there. He’s not living the life he wants to live.” Cut to Trent Crimm: Author, and all that character development.

With the subtleties Lance brings to the Crimm, it’s no surprise he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Take the way he shoves his hands in his pockets, nonchalantly leans against the wall of the club, fidgets with his glasses, or holds his jacket over his shoulder with a single finger. Crimm flashes scintillating smirks, walking with unflappable swagger whether it’s down a hall to The Kinks or down a sidewalk to Leonard Cohen. As such a firmly established epitome of calm, cool, and collected, when he exposes softer sides of himself — like his love of A Wrinkle in Time and The Princess Diaries, or his inability to ride a bicycle — they only make him more intriguing, ultimately strengthening his overall vibe.

After Crimm saw Colin (Billy Harris) and Michael (Sam Liu) kissing at the end of Season 3, Episode 3, fans started to fear that the reporter in him wouldn’t be able to resist exposing the secret. Do we really think this man would prioritize a scoop over the well-being of an AFC Richmond player after all he’s observed? After all his soul searching? After directly immersing himself in Ted’s world? Nate (Nick Mohammed) reminded us there’s always potential for even the purest characters to falter, but thus far, Crimm has continually surprised us, so I can’t help but root for him again.

We’ve followed Crimm from the press room to the locker room, to the White House, and back again. The man is an icon thanks to the show’s writers and Lance, who have modestly cleared a space for him as one of TV’s coolest characters. We’re not sure what’s in store for the writer, but investing in Trent Crimm was one of Ted Lasso‘s smartest plays.

New episodes of Ted Lasso premiere Wednesday on Apple TV+.