Steve Carell is great in ‘Rooster,’ the best thing I streamed this week
Steve Carell is great in ‘Rooster,’ the best thing I streamed this week
The new HBO comedy series has plenty of laughs, but also tries to stay grounded.
When I heard that Bill Lawrence, creator or co-creator of time-tested comedies like “Scrubs” and “Shrinking,” was at work on a comedy series for HBO starring Steve Carell, I was of two minds. I was incredibly excited to see one of my favorite showrunners working with an actor of Carell’s caliber, but wary that, any time in life that the stars align seem to align so perfectly, there can be clouds ahead.
After watching the first episode of Lawrence and Carell’s new series “Rooster,” I can safely say the pair are still doing what they do best. While it may not be my favorite comedy of 2026 so far, “Rooster” is very well executed, and it was definitely my favorite stream of the week.
“Rooster” stars Carell as Greg Russo, the author of a series of beach mystery novels that have made him something of a literary celebrity. He accepts an invitation to speak at Ludlow College, where his daughter Katie works, as an excuse to be near her and support her following the revelation that her husband cheated on her.
Carell’s comedic chops are on full display in Rooster, and anyone who has ever seen “The Office” or “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” knows what he can do. He’s delightfully clumsy and awkward, but unlike Michael Scott, Russo is charming because he has no pretensions to confidence. When given the opportunity to salvage a disastrous end-of-date scenario with Ludlow professor Dylan Shepard, Carell’s Russo predictably makes things worse, fully aware of what he’s doing but unable to stop himself.
Where Carell really gets to show his abilities, however, is when he gets a quiet moment to express some sincerity. It’s at these moments that the show shows its potential; yes, Carell and a supporting cast of Charly Clive as Katie, Danielle Deadwyler as Dylan, John C. McGinley as Ludlow president Walter Mann, and Phil Dunster as Katie’s estranged husband Archie all know how to infuse humor into a scene. But comedies are a dime a dozen, and “Rooster” has the chance to more deeply explore the dynamics of human relationships if it follows the path it started on in its first episode.
It’s especially hilarious to see McGinley, who essentially portrays a slightly exaggerated version of himself in the show, interact with the more reserved Carell. McGinley has been a Lawrence favorite ever since “Scrubs” first hit the air, and while the show will probably shift away from his character somewhat as the series progresses, he’s an especially welcome addition to the cast.
“Rooster” didn’t blow me away, but its heart and laughs were more than enough to make it my favorite stream of the week. Viewers can watch the series with a subscription to HBO Max, which has plans starting at $11 per month for an ad-supported subscription.
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