Finally, the most obvious “The Office” reference in the entire “Ted Lasso” Season 3 finale – which fans of both versions of “The Office” should catch. Richmond’s Nathan Shelley returns to the clubhouse in the final episode, but in a move that might surprise some, he has resumed his position at the bottom of the totem. In fact, when beloved man Will reintroduces Nick Mohammed’s Nate as “assistant clubhouse attendant”, the former West Ham United manager happily replies that he is actually “assistant For the clubhouse attendant.”
The exchange is a nod to a running gag from the original UK version of “The Office”, which also made its way into the US version. In the BBC series, branch manager David Brent (Michael Scott’s counterpart) has a loyal lieutenant in Gareth Keenan (on whom Dwight Schrute’s character was based). Gareth insists on calling himself an ‘assistant regional manager’, which David always corrects to a more junior ‘assistant’. For the regional manager”, and the dispute lived through Michael and Dwight. The fact that Nate is the one who gives himself the lowest ranked title in “Ted Lasso” is an indication of the character’s newfound humility.