What is Rooster about?

Rooster is an HBO comedy series starring Steve Carell as Greg Russo, a bestselling author and professor who takes a teaching position at a small liberal arts college. Created by Bill Lawrence, the mind behind Ted Lasso, and Matt Tarses, the show explores the collision between a celebrity intellectual and the quirky faculty and students of a tight-knit academic community. The series combines warm humor with sharp observations about academia, midlife reinvention, and the gap between public personas and private lives.

How was Rooster received by critics?

Rooster received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, earning an 89 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews at launch. Critics praised Steve Carell's return to comedy form after years of dramatic roles, calling his performance as Greg Russo one of his most nuanced and charming. The writing by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses was highlighted for balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotional depth, drawing favorable comparisons to Ted Lasso's blend of heart and humor.

How did Rooster perform in ratings?

Rooster became the most-watched comedy premiere on HBO in over a decade when it debuted on March 8, 2026. The premiere drew massive viewership numbers across both linear HBO broadcasts and streaming on Max, benefiting from Steve Carell's star power and Bill Lawrence's proven track record with Ted Lasso. The strong debut exceeded HBO's internal projections and prompted discussions about potential award season consideration for the series and its lead actor.

Rooster was created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses. Bill Lawrence is best known as the creator of Scrubs and co-creator of Ted Lasso, which won multiple Emmy Awards during its run on Apple TV Plus. Matt Tarses previously wrote for Scrubs and created the CBS comedy The Unicorn. Together they bring decades of comedy writing experience to the series, with Lawrence serving as showrunner and Tarses co-writing several episodes including the pilot that launched the show to its record-breaking premiere.

Where can I watch Rooster?

Rooster is available exclusively on HBO and the Max streaming platform. New episodes air weekly on HBO on Sunday nights, with episodes available to stream on Max immediately after their linear broadcast. The series premiered on March 8, 2026, and the first season consists of ten episodes. Max subscribers can access all aired episodes on demand, while HBO cable subscribers can watch through their cable provider's on-demand service or the HBO Max app with their cable authentication credentials.

Entertainment

Rooster: Steve Carell’s HBO Hit Comedy of 2026

Published: March 19, 2026

Steve Carell stars in Rooster, an HBO comedy from Ted Lasso creator Bill Lawrence, which became the most-watched comedy premiere on HBO in over a decade.

Rotten Tomatoes

44 reviews

Premiered March 8, 2026

Most-watched comedy premiere on HBO in over a decade

About Rooster

Rooster is HBO’s newest comedy hit, starring Steve Carell as Greg Russo — a famous bestselling author who decides to leave public life behind and take a teaching position at a small liberal arts college. Created by Bill Lawrence, the mind behind Ted Lasso, and Matt Tarses, the show delivers a unique blend of warm humor and sharp observations about college life.

The show explores the humorous collision between a celebrity intellectual and the quirky academic community of a small college. From faculty lounge turf wars to disastrous book readings, Rooster finds humor in the gap between fame and reality.

With Steve Carell’s return to comedy after years of dramatic roles, Rooster has been embraced by both critics and audiences alike. It premiered on March 8, 2026 and immediately became the most-watched comedy premiere on HBO in over a decade.

Steve Carell scene from Rooster — Steve Carell as Greg Russo — Photo: FirstShowing

Featured Cast

The key faces of Rooster season 1.

Steve Carell

Greg Russo

Carell’s first comedy lead since The Morning Show. He spent 5 years doing drama roles exclusively.

Lisa Kudrow

Dean Patricia Whitmore

Reuniting with Bill Lawrence after Scrubs cameos. Kudrow brings her signature deadpan comedic style.

Bo Burnham

Prof. Jake Finley

Burnham’s first major TV acting role. His character serves as Greg’s academic rival and foil.

Rachel Sennott

Mia Chen (Student)

The skeptical grad student character became a fan favorite from episode one.

Official Trailer

Bill Lawrence’s Vision

"I always wanted to do a college comedy, but I wanted it from the perspective of a grown-up trying to find himself again. Steve is the only person who can be both endearing and destructive at the same time."
— Bill Lawrence, Variety interview, March 2026

Lawrence brought a similar formula to what made Ted Lasso work: combining gentle humor with genuine emotional depth. Rooster isn’t just a comedy — it’s a story about midlife reinvention, about finding new purpose when you thought you had it all figured out.

Co-creator Matt Tarses brought his experience from Scrubs and The Unicorn to craft memorable supporting characters. Every professor, every student in Rooster has their own depth, creating a vibrant and funny academic world.