Tue Jun 03 04:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Bill Lawrence’s Lost Sitcom: Brett Goldstein Reminisces on “Spaced Out” at ATX TV Festival
**Austin, TX** – Before his Emmy-winning turn as Roy Kent in the hit Apple TV+ series *Ted Lasso*, Brett Goldstein almost starred in another Bill Lawrence project: a workplace sitcom called *Spaced Out*, set in a rocket factory.
Goldstein shared memories of the unaired NBC pilot during the “Bill Lawrence & Friends” panel at the ATX TV Festival on Saturday, moderated by [Author’s Name]. The panel also featured Zach Braff (*Scrubs*), Josh Hopkins (*Cougar Town*), Phil Dunster (*Ted Lasso*) and Charly Clive (Lawrence’s upcoming HBO show).
*Spaced Out*, written by Adam Sztykiel, starred Matt Shively as a genius struggling to fit in with a team of scientists building a rocket to Mars. The cast included Goldstein, Donald Faison, Miranda Cosgrove, Christine Woods, and Ken Kirby. Goldstein described it as “basically *Scrubs* set in a rocket factory,” jokingly calling it “Space Turk.”
According to Goldstein, the cast and crew felt they had created something special with the pilot. He even sold his home in England after Lawrence’s producing partner, Jeff Ingold, told him, “See you in August!” However, the series never materialized, leaving Goldstein temporarily without a place to live.
Despite *Spaced Out’s* failure to launch, Lawrence kept in touch with Goldstein. Years later, he offered him a writing role on *Ted Lasso*. Goldstein initially declined, citing stand-up commitments and his own show, *Soulmates*. Ultimately, he relented at the urging of comedian Nish Kumar and joined the *Ted Lasso* team.
Lawrence revealed that while Goldstein was writing for *Ted Lasso* and running *Soulmates*, he also independently auditioned for the role of Roy Kent, submitting a self-taped performance that “absolutely killed it,” solidifying his place in the show’s cast.
The rest, as they say, is history, as Goldstein has won two Emmys for his role in *Ted Lasso*.
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