Jason Sudeikis back in Kansas City to promote fundraiser, hint at Ted Lasso’s future

The question surprised Jason Sudeikis, who had to consider how he would answer yet another query on whether his Emmy-Award winning TV show, “Ted Lasso,” would continue beyond a third season.

Would Sudeikis announce three more seasons at his charity event next weekend in Kansas City — Thundergong! With Jason Sudeikis & Friends?

“Oh wow. I don’t know if I would have the authority to do that,” Sudeikis said Friday at a press conference at Kansas City’s Uptown Theater to promote the fundraiser for his friend’s foundation, Steps of Faith. “I mean, I guess I could, but it doesn’t mean it would happen.”

But then Sudeikis did say that an offer might spur “Ted Lasso” into additional seasons.

“If someone were to donate $250 million to Steps of Faith, then I would consider announcing that,” Sudeikis said. “We’re looking for a quarter of a billion for the announcement, which does not promise you extra content.”

Sudeikis, 46, who grew up in Overland Park, was back in town to join Steps of Faith founder Billy Brimblecom to promote Thundergong!, set for 7 p.m. Nov. 20. For the second year in a row, the pandemic has forced the show to be online only. Access will be free at thundergong.org.

Now in its fifth year, the fundraiser has steadily grown, but it might have its biggest spotlight now that “Ted Lasso” is a cultural icon. Sudeikis conceived of the show as a three-season arc, with the final season set to debut next summer. But who knows?

Thundergong! performers include Sudeikis’ fellow “Saturday Night Live” alums Will Forte and Fred Armisen, screenwriter Kay Cannon (who is also Sudeikis’ ex-wife), musicians Michael McDonald, Ben Rector, Counting Crows and Summer Breeze, with more artists to be announced.

Last year the show raised nearly $400,000 for the Steps of Faith Foundation, which helps amputees who can’t afford prosthetic limbs.

On Friday, Sudeikis spoke at length about Thundergong! and how it’s grown, sometimes rambling in ways that would make Ted Lasso proud.

On the growth of Thundergong!:

“It feels the same size in a lot of ways from when we did it the first time. I mean, money, I know we’re making more money each time, but we were lucky to get really great acts right off the bat too.”

Brimblecom added: “The reach was, you know, broader than ever last year. Normally, it’s a fundraiser, so we want as many revenue streams for this as possible, from selling merchandise, to people buying tickets, to people just donating, right? Sponsorships is the biggest one. And last year, we didn’t have the revenue stream from ticket sales, but we still did almost $100,000 more than the year before.”

On pride in their efforts:

“It’s similar to a lot of things that worked out for me in my life, where it starts out as just like a small idea just to, you know, do something and do it with friends and then you find out that the bigger spotlight you get, the better platform you get when you keep that kind of intention behind it, and add a sprinkle of attention to detail and then just, you know, good art and good luck that people enjoy being part of such an endeavor.”

On the kind of friend Brimblecom is to Sudeikis:

“He’s persistent. Persistent in the sense of, someone who’s putting together something like this every year has to be with someone who’s, um, he’ll say busy, I’ll own flaky. … Billy has a remarkable ability to carry people through with him and then also be open enough to allow people to carry him too.”

This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 7:16 PM.