Tim Cook and John Ternus transition takes the Ted Lasso spotlight
At the Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere, Cook praised Ternus, talked Apple TV’s Emmy surge and said he is saving the new episodes for the crowd.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Tim Cook John Ternus transition had a very Apple kind of red carpet moment Monday night: two executives, near-matching navy suits, open white shirts and “Believe” pins at the Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere in Los Angeles.
Deadline reported that Cook, who is stepping down as Apple CEO on September 1, attended the Apple TV event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alongside Ternus, the hardware engineering executive set to succeed him. For Cook, it was his final Apple TV premiere as CEO. For Ternus, it was his first since Apple’s leadership change was announced.
How is the Apple CEO transition going?
Cook told Deadline the handoff is going “over the top great,” calling Ternus “the perfect person” for the job. He said the employee and investor sides of the move had gone well and that Apple “deserves the best.”
Ternus, who said he has been at Apple for 25 years, described the incoming role as an extraordinary opportunity and said he loves the company. Asked what he plans to do first on September 1, he did not give away the playbook, telling Deadline viewers would have to wait and see.
Cook announced in April that he would leave the CEO role and become executive chairman, according to Deadline. The outlet also reported that Apple shares closed at a record high earlier Monday, days before Cook’s 90th and final earnings call as chief executive.
Cook looks back at Apple TV’s run
Apple TV launched on November 1, 2019, during Cook’s tenure. At the premiere, he pointed to the streamer’s latest awards showing, telling Deadline that Apple TV had reached 89 Emmy nominations and saying the service had “hit our stride.”
Deadline reported that the nominations included drama and comedy recognition for Pluribus, Your Friends & Neighbors, Slow Horses, Shrinking, Widow’s Bay and Margo’s Got Money Problems. Cook joked to Deadline that the timing of the Emmy haul, near the end of his CEO run, was good.
Ted Lasso has been one of Apple TV’s signature hits, and Deadline noted that Cook has followed the show closely through premieres, events and posts on X. Asked whether he had helped bring the Jason Sudeikis comedy back after its original three-season arc, Cook said he should not be thanked, but that he had been “praying for it.”
Cook also said he had not watched the first two Season 4 episodes early, choosing instead to see them with the premiere audience. He added that he expects to watch the season again on Apple Vision Pro, as he had discussed doing with Season 3.
What did Ternus say about Apple TV?
Ternus did not lay out a new programming plan for Apple TV. Asked by Deadline about the service’s future, and whether his interest in racing could mean more racing alongside Apple TV’s Formula 1 coverage, he said he was excited by the current momentum and wanted to keep bringing in strong storytellers and creative talent.
He also kept quiet when asked whether Apple should put more films in theaters, steering the answer back to the Ted Lasso premiere. Deadline noted that his previous Apple TV red carpet was for F1 in June 2025.
Both executives named other Apple TV favorites. Ternus cited Pluribus, Widow’s Bay, Silo and Lucky. Cook mentioned Severance, Widow’s Bay, Pluribus and Silo.
Cook also shut down the idea of a Ted Lasso cameo, despite appearing in a Severance Season 2 promo as a Lumon Industries employee. His reason, as he put it to Deadline: he is not an actor.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.