Steve Carell Returns to the Small Screen in HBO’s Hilarious New Comedy ‘Rooster’

HBO is gearing up for its latest comedy gem, Rooster, starring the beloved Steve Carell in a fresh role that blends father-daughter drama with campus chaos. Created by Bill Lawrence—known for hits like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and the classic Scrubs—and co-created with longtime collaborator Matt Tarses, the 10-episode series premieres Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET on HBO, with episodes streaming weekly on HBO Max through May 10.

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Rooster on HBO Max with Steve Carell debuts 9 March – TV Central

In the recently released official trailer, Carell plays Greg Russo, a bestselling author whose popular novel series features the charismatic, larger-than-life protagonist “Rooster”—a studly hero far removed from Greg’s own reserved, post-divorce reality. When his daughter Katie, portrayed by Charly Clive (The Lazarus Project), faces a personal meltdown at her liberal arts college, Greg steps in to support her.

Katie, a professor, has accidentally burned down a faculty house and purposefully punched her husband—also a professor—who left her for a graduate student. To keep Katie from being fired, Greg strikes a deal with the eager dean (John C. McGinley, reuniting with Lawrence from Scrubs) to serve as a guest lecturer. What follows is a fish-out-of-water story: the middle-aged author navigates frat parties, befriends irreverent students, and grapples with living up to his fictional alter ego’s swagger.

The trailer teases plenty of laughs, from awkward generational clashes to Greg’s attempts to “reinvent” himself on campus. “This is college. You can be the Rooster if you want,” one character quips, highlighting the show’s theme of second chances and self-discovery.

Carell, an executive producer alongside Lawrence and Tarses, praised the pilot script as “one of the best comedy pilots I’ve read—period.” He instantly committed after reading it, drawn to the sharp humor and heartfelt exploration of family ties amid academia’s absurdities.

The ensemble cast is stacked with talent. Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) plays Archie, Katie’s ex-husband and colleague, while Lauren Tsai portrays the grad student involved in the affair. Danielle Deadwyler adds depth in a key supporting role, and familiar faces like Connie Britton, Alan Ruck, Annie Mumolo, Rory Scovel, and Robby Hoffman round out the recurring lineup. The series draws on Lawrence’s knack for blending heartfelt moments with sharp comedy, much like his previous successes.

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Set against a picturesque college backdrop—filming highlights include campus scenes evoking fall vibes—Rooster promises to explore themes of fatherhood, reinvention, and the generational divide with warmth and wit. Early buzz suggests it could become a comfort-watch favorite, with fans already praising Carell’s return to TV comedy and Lawrence’s hot streak in 2026.

As HBO positions Rooster as an anchor for its comedy slate, expectations are high for the show to deliver the same feel-good energy that made Ted Lasso a phenomenon. With Carell’s impeccable timing and a script full of clever observations about aging, ambition, and family, Rooster looks poised to strut onto screens this spring.

Don’t miss the premiere—mark your calendars for March 8. Whether you’re a longtime Carell fan or new to Lawrence’s world, this series offers a fresh, laugh-out-loud take on starting over when life throws you back to school.