In ‘Rooster,’ Steve Carell leads a gentle comedy about a father-daughter relationship

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I’m really excited about this new HBO show, “Rooster!” Steve Carell is just perfect as Greg Russo, a successful author whose famous character is named Rooster. He visits Ludlow College for a book reading, but honestly, he’s there for his daughter, Katie. She’s an art history teacher there, and she’s going through a tough time – her husband, Archie, left her for another student, Sunny. It’s a funny show, but at its heart, it’s about a dad trying to support his daughter when she needs him most.

Greg describes his popular books as lighthearted and entertaining – filled with romance for the characters you root for and swift justice for the ones you don’t. This is a contrast to Greg himself, who admits to being shy and introverted. He’s still hurt from his divorce five years ago from Elizabeth, a successful and influential CEO whose name is now prominently displayed on the school’s new student center. Beyond being an author, Greg has a few surprising talents: he’s good at tossing coins, enjoys nuts and cocoa, and even played some minor league hockey, a skill he’ll revisit during this visit.

College president Walter Mann (John C. McGinley) wants to boost his reputation, so he hires Greg, a well-known author, as a visiting artist. He makes a deal Greg can’t refuse: keep Katie employed, even though she accidentally burned down Archie’s house while trying to destroy his copy of “War & Peace.” Mann’s role is similar to his character on “Scrubs,” but more sophisticated and polished – he even holds meetings in his backyard sauna.

And they’re off.

Bill Lawrence, known for shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Scrubs,” co-created this series with Matt Tarses. The story is told from the perspective of older characters looking back on their youth, with college students playing a supporting role. There are some predictable jokes about generational differences, like a misunderstanding involving classic references. However, the show isn’t about the older characters being wise; their own shortcomings are a central theme. They simply have a clearer sense of what they don’t know.

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Greg reminds Archie, quoting Chekhov, that ‘no one must be humiliated’ just as Archie goes to speak with Katie. This quote appears in the show’s opening credits, suggesting it’s a key idea. However, the show isn’t about deliberately hurting anyone’s feelings; that would be mean-spirited, and it’s not the type of comedy the series aims for. While characters often find themselves in awkward or embarrassing situations – a common source of humor, and there’s plenty of physical comedy – the overall tone is kind. At least, that’s true through the first six episodes available for review, with the possible exception of Alan Ruck’s character, the dean of English, who expresses skepticism about Emily Dickinson’s work, saying, ‘There’s no way she wrote all these poems.’

The show features various relationships – current, past, and potential – but the focus isn’t really on whether these couples succeed or fail. Like other projects from the creator, romance takes a backseat to the more important question of how people treat each other. The return of Ted’s wife was never the main goal, just as winning wasn’t; kindness was the priority. Greg’s connection with Dylan, whether it becomes romantic or not, is equal in importance to his friendship with a group of quirky students, led by Tommy. They relate to each other as equals, despite their age differences, sharing life lessons – he shows them how peanut butter can improve celery, and they help him realize he’s more likable than he believes.

Katie still loves Archie, and he feels the same way, though she also describes him as a fairly typical narcissist—one who surprisingly sometimes smells like wildflowers. As for Sunny, she’s practical and dry-witted, and a running joke is that no one understands her humor—even Archie doesn’t get what she sees in him, which might be something you wonder too. But like everyone else, we’re not supposed to simply dismiss him. The show also features hilarious supporting characters, including Rory Scovel as a cop who misplaces his gun, Robby Hoffman as Sunny’s fiercely anti-Archie roommate, and Annie Mumolo (a co-writer of “Bridesmaids”) as Walt’s dedicated assistant.

“Rooster” feels comfortably familiar, with a hint of 1980s nostalgia woven throughout, especially in its music choices. Michael Stipe from R.E.M. even co-wrote and performs the theme song – a song so poignant the character Greg will disrupt a party just to hear it. Created by the director of “Portlandia” and “Baskets,” the show is low-key, kind-hearted, and subtly whimsical. It’s well-acted across the board, offering a gentle and charming experience that’s easy to enjoy.

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2026-03-08 13:31