Steve Carell quietly stars in one of the year’s best comedies
Steve Carell quietly stars in one of the year’s best comedies
Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses give Steve Carell one of his best comedy roles in years with ‘Rooster.’
HBO Max is packed with great comedies — but not many new ones. That’s why I’m surprised “Rooster” didn’t get more attention. You’ve got Steve Carell in his best pure comedy role since “The Office,” along with a wickedly funny ensemble cast, all from one of the best comedy TV creators in Hollywood. Still, “Rooster” is underrated, and I’m willing to spend 800 words to convince you! Read on to find out why.
Best under-the-radar comedy TV show on HBO Max
Why ‘Rooster’ is the most underrated comedy series on HBO Max
I’m willing to watch Steve Carell in pretty much anything he does. And then you hand me an HBO comedy series where he plays an eccentric, insecure, hugely successful writer whose life is the complete opposite of the ultra-confident, smooth-talking protagonist of his books, aptly named “Rooster”? There was never really any doubt I would love this show.
And don’t get it twisted. Other people loved it too, and it got good ratings and a second season order pretty quickly. But it never really got the love it deserved. Just take a peek at the Emmys, and you’ll see that. Carell was nominated for his role as Greg Russo, but lost for the 12th(!!!) time. No Best Comedy nomination. No writing nominations. No other acting nominations. And it’s a shame because, in my view, this is one of the best feel-good comedies of the year.
Carell is really the straw that stirs this workplace comedy, as Russo heads to Ludlow College, a New England liberal arts school, on the pretense of a speaking engagement. But what he really wants is to spend time with his daughter, Katie, played by Charly Clive, who teaches art history there. I won’t give you much more of the plot than that, but suffice it to say it’s the father-daughter relationship that elevates the show emotionally. And Clive is the breakout for me. She’s funny, vulnerable, and counters Carell perfectly.
The ensemble is also stacked. You get to see Danielle Deadwyler in a much lighter tone than usual, and her arc over the series really works. You also have the quirky John C. McGinley as Walt, the president of Ludlow College, Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt from “Ted Lasso”) as Katie’s love interest (sort of), and Maximo Salas as Tommy Newton — a struggling student Russo takes under his wing. Their relationship is one of the sweetest (and funniest) in the show.
Now, people watched “Rooster,” yes, but it also came out at the same time as the much edgier newcomer “DTF St. Louis,” (which is also a great show but is properly recognized as such) as well as “The Pitt.” And it could never really grab the cultural attention away from those two, despite being the best new comedy HBO Max has produced in a long, long time. Plus, there’s nothing really high concept about the idea. Even the title can be a little confusing because Russo’s book protagonist, “Rooster,” doesn’t have a big, obvious thematic presence in the series.
But don’t let that fool you. The show is everything you want from a heartfelt comedy. It’s warm, touching, funny, packed with great acting and great writing, and comes from creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses. Lawrence created “Scrubs,” and more recently co-created two of the biggest comedies on TV right now in “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking.” So, his pedigree for this kind of comedy is one of the best in Hollywood. Go watch this show, give it a few episodes (it does start slow), and you won’t be disappointed.
Rooster
On a college campus, an author navigates a complicated relationship with his daughter.
Other underappreciated comedy TV shows on HBO Max
There are some great HBO Max comedies that fly under the radar. Start with “The Comeback,” with Lisa Kudrow playing a washed-up sitcom star desperately trying to stay relevant in Hollywood.
“Flight of the Conchords” is a much weirder watch, following a New Zealand folk duo trying to make it in New York, with great musical numbers and hilarious performances from Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, and Rhys Darby.
Finally, watch “Enlightened,” which is co-created by Laura Dern and Mike White. It stars Dern as a corporate executive who returns from treatment, determined to become a better person, and immediately starts making everyone around her miserable.
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