Brett Goldstein’s Space-Age Misfire That Paved the Way to Ted Lasso
Before Brett Goldstein became universally known as the gruff, foul-mouthed Roy Kent from Ted Lasso , he had another shot at sitcom stardom that very nearly took off—literally. During the ATX TV Festival, Goldstein reflected on a lesser-known project that shaped his career in unexpected ways: the NBC comedy pilot Spaced Out .
Back in 2017, Goldstein was still a relative newcomer to the U.S. television scene. It was only his second pilot season in Los Angeles, and after a promising but ultimately shelved HBO project, he auditioned for a new show being developed by Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence. The kicker? It also starred Donald Faison, a fan favorite from Scrubs . For Goldstein, who admired Lawrence’s work, it was a dream gig.
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The premise of Spaced Out —co-created by Adam Sztykiel—was offbeat and ambitious: a workplace comedy set in a rocket-building facility, where a team of quirky scientists (played by Goldstein, Faison, Miranda Cosgrove, and others) was racing to send a spacecraft to Mars. Goldstein jokingly referred to it as “Space Turk,” a nod to Faison’s iconic role in Scrubs . Despite the excitement and strong chemistry on set, the show never made it past the pilot phase.
The disappointment was real. Goldstein had packed up his life in the UK, fully expecting to stay in LA for the series. “I sold my place,” he said. “Then a month later, it’s not happening. And I was like—where do I live?!”
But this wasn’t the end. Lawrence stayed in touch and, a couple of years later, called Goldstein with an offer to write for a new football-themed comedy. At first, Goldstein declined—he had a stand-up tour and a freshly greenlit show on AMC called Soulmates . It wasn’t until his friend Nish Kumar urged him to “cancel the f--king show” that he reconsidered.
Eventually, Goldstein agreed to join the writers’ room for Ted Lasso , but he had no idea he’d end up starring in it. In a twist worthy of TV fiction, he self-taped an audition for the role of Roy Kent, sent it in quietly, and stunned the producers. That gritty charm, the understated emotion—he was Roy Kent. The role would earn him two Emmys and international recognition.
So while Spaced Out never launched, it propelled Goldstein into the orbit of people who would change his life forever. It’s a story of near-misses, loyalty, and staying open to whatever unexpected path leads you to your breakthrough. Sometimes, even when a rocket never leaves the ground, it still sets you on a journey that takes you farther than you ever imagined.
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