Rooster
Rooster is a comedy-drama series created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, starring Steve Carell. It premiered on HBO on 8 March 2026.
The series revolves around a best-selling author of the Rooster books, navigating a complicated relationship with his daughter, all set against the quietly chaotic backdrop of a college campus.
The Good
Steve Carell doing what he does best. Carell carries the show with his signature blend of awkward comedy and emotional depth. His character, Greg Russo, a writer-in-residence teaching a creative writing class, anchors the series with a performance that feels both familiar and grounded.
The father–daughter relationship between Greg and Katy (played by Charly Clive) is where Rooster finds its heart. Their dynamic balances absurd humour with genuine emotional weight. Charly Clive is a breakout gem, portraying a lecturer dealing with an unraveling personal life, including an estranged husband entangled with one of her students.
This is an easy show to settle into. Between the laughs, the characters grow on you, and by the end, you find yourself wanting to spend more time with them, which makes its renewal for another season feel earned.
The Bad
The show can be jarring in how it swings between absurd comedy and heavier emotional themes. The transitions aren’t always smooth, and take-away some the pay-off the show builds upto.
Some of the attempts at exploring generational differences fall flat, leaning into dated jokes and familiar clichés rather than sharp or insightful commentary.
If you’ve watched previous work from Carell or anything in Bill Lawrence’s catalogue, Rooster can feel like a remix, comfortable but not particularly new.
The Ugly
Characters often make questionable decisions with little to no fallout. The lack of real consequences dulls the emotional impact and makes certain storylines feel weightless.
The show leans into a frictionless formula, favouring neat resolutions over risk. It settles into being comfort TV instead of pushing toward something more must-watch.
Final Thoughts
Rooster is a warm, slightly uneven dramedy, charming, watchable, and occasionally insightful. The show is a palate cleanser, something you can return to without emotional exhaustion.
Have you watched Rooster, or does it sound like something you’d pick up?
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