TVLine's Performer Of The Week: Annette Badland

THE PERFORMER | Annette Badland

THE SHOW | "Ted Lasso"

THE EPISODE | "Mae Rides the Bus" (September 30, 2026)

THE PERFORMANCE | In the famous words of Dani Rojas, "football is life," and Apple TV's heartfelt comedy has always excelled at showing us the myriad ways the beautiful game seeps into and enriches the lives of the people who play it — and who watch it. That saying took on new meaning this week when "Ted Lasso" turned its attention to die-hard fan and pub owner Mae Green, with Annette Badland getting a gorgeous swan song as Mae opened up about her special passion for the game... before passing onto the great beyond.

The episode opened like any other, with Mae posted up at her usual spot at The Crown & Anchor and teasing Ted about his son's outrageous pinball tab. (Yeah, six thousand pounds did sound like a lot.) But we got to spend more time with Mae when Ted invited her to join the Lady Greyhounds on the team bus for a road match at Bristol City, and Badland's face lit up at the news — before settling into a stony stare when Mae strongly advised Ted not to lose this one. The players gave Mae a warm welcome on the bus, and Mae delighted at being around "so much energy and estrogen." But it was when they arrived for the match that Mae (and Badland) really stepped up: Mae addressed the team, telling them she always wanted to play football herself... despite having "a right foot like a rosebush." Badland infused Mae's words with decades of spurned dreams and desires as she told the players to "go out there and make an old lady happy." (Sure, she then followed that up with multiple expletives directed at the opposing team, but it was still a sweet moment.)

The Lady Greyhounds did pull out a win, and Mae had the time of her life, bouncing to House of Pain's "Jump Around" in the stands — but then she collapsed, and Rebecca had to deliver the sad news to Ted. It was a bittersweet reminder that as much as we enjoy the victories on the pitch, it's really the people like Mae that make "Ted Lasso" special, and though we won't see more of Mae, the team did make that old lady happy... and Badland made us happy, too. — Dave Nemetz

Scroll down to see who got an Honorable Mention shout-out this week...

We named John C. McGinley our Performer of the Week for the penultimate episode of the "Scrubs" revival's first season, sharing the honor with Zach Braff for their beautiful exchange at Cox's bedside. And Cox's autoimmune illness continued to give McGinley an extraordinary showcase as Season 2 got underway, this time opposite fellow legacy cast member Judy Reyes.

Cox and Carla's friendship predates J.D., Elliot, and Turk's arrival at Sacred Heart 25 years ago — and it remains one of the show's purest (and most beloved) relationships. But the revival simply didn't have time to explore it during last spring's nine-episode run. Here, though, the pair were at their absolute best as the former chief opened up to the seasoned nurse about just how fragile he feels being back at the hospital as a patient. Carla, in return, took his hand and promised she'll get him through this, so long as he lets her.

The emotion was all there in the writing, but the scene wouldn't have worked without these characters' history. Just as crucial is the decades-long familiarity between McGinley and Reyes, and the gravitas it allowed them to bring to the moment. — Ryan Schwartz

Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!