'Ted Lasso' Just Quietly Connected Itself to Quentin Tarantino's Movie Universe

Published Aug 12, 2026, 12:45 AM EDT

Erin Konrad’s love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she’s not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she’s advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

Editor’s note: The below contains minor spoilers for the Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere.

One of the most popular shows of all time is officially back on Apple TV. ***Ted Lasso ***appeared to wrap up its run for good in 2023 with what was billed as the third and seemingly final season. However, given the show’s enduring popularity, Apple TV has now brought back the Emmy-winning series for another go. Season 4 premiered last week, reuniting many of our favorite characters and reintroducing the show’s signature charm — but a surprising movie reference in the premiere might leave some fans scratching their heads.

When Episode 1 begins, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is back in his hometown of Kansas City three years after leaving England. He’s devoted his life to spending time with his son and being the best dad he can be while working as an assistant manager at a grocery store. Ted might not be totally in his element like he was as a soccer coach, but he’s doing the best he can. While Ted is scanning grocery items for a customer in the checkout line, eagle-eyed fans might notice one product in particular that has actually earned a spot in pop culture lore.

Red Apple is a fictional cigarette brand created by the legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, which first appeared in 1994’s seminal classic, Pulp Fiction**,*** ***when Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) orders a pack at a bar. Other characters, including Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) and Ringo (Tim Roth), can be seen smoking the brand. Tarantino has also included his invented brand in other films like Kill Bill: Volume 1, Death Proof, and The Hateful Eight. In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino even inserts a Red Apple commercial starring Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) into the action, as well as ensuring that Red Apple is Cliff Booth’s (Brad Pitt) brand of choice throughout the movie. While the brand and its recognizable label have become a signature of Tarantino’s, most Ted Lasso viewers might be a tad stumped about why the two worlds have now crossed over.

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