Rooster is one of HBO’s new comedy series of 2026, starring Steve Carell as successful author Greg Russo. Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, the series takes viewers into the unusual world of Ludlow College, where family problems, academic politics, relationships, and personal insecurities collide.
The Rooster TV show premiered on HBO on March 8, 2026, with new episodes released weekly. The first season contains 10 episodes, and HBO has already renewed the comedy for Season 2.
Rather than being a traditional workplace sitcom, Rooster mixes comedy with family and relationship drama. At the center of the story is Greg’s complicated relationship with his adult daughter, Katie. His arrival at Ludlow College forces both of them to confront personal issues while Greg becomes increasingly involved in the strange social world of the college.
What Is the Rooster TV Show About?
Rooster follows Greg Russo, a successful writer played by Steve Carell, who arrives at Ludlow College to support his daughter Katie Russo, played by Charly Clive.
Katie is an art history professor at the college and is dealing with a serious breakdown in her marriage to fellow academic Archie, played by Phil Dunster. Archie has become involved with a graduate student, creating tension within the college community and putting Katie in an increasingly difficult position.
Greg initially comes to Ludlow because he wants to help his daughter. However, his stay becomes much more complicated when he becomes involved with the college itself.
He eventually takes on a role at Ludlow as a writer-in-residence, bringing him into contact with faculty members, students and administrators. The official HBO description characterizes the series as a comedy centered on an author’s complicated relationship with his daughter.
The college setting gives the show plenty of opportunities for comedy, but the story is ultimately about family relationships, emotional baggage and the difficulty of allowing adult children to make their own decisions.
Rooster Cast
One of the biggest attractions of Rooster is its ensemble cast.
Steve Carell as Greg Russo
Steve Carell leads the series as Greg Russo, a successful author who becomes increasingly involved in his daughter’s life and the world of Ludlow College.
Carell is particularly well known for The Office, Foxcatcher, Little Miss Sunshine, The Morning Show and other comedy and drama projects. In Rooster, he plays a character who combines confidence and insecurity while trying to understand his changing relationship with his daughter.
Charly Clive as Katie Russo
Charly Clive plays Katie, Greg’s daughter and an art history professor at Ludlow.
Katie’s relationship with her father is one of the show’s central storylines. Her personal and professional life becomes increasingly complicated as she deals with her marriage, her career and her parents’ involvement in her decisions.
Danielle Deadwyler as Dylan Shepard
Danielle Deadwyler plays Dylan Shepard, the head of Ludlow’s English department.
Dylan becomes an important part of Greg’s new life at the college. Her professional relationship with Greg adds another layer to the show’s campus storyline.
Phil Dunster as Archie
Phil Dunster portrays Archie, Katie’s estranged husband.
Archie’s relationship with Katie becomes a major source of conflict during the first season. Dunster is also known for playing Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso.
Lauren Tsai as Sunny
Lauren Tsai plays Sunny, the graduate student involved with Archie.
Her relationship with Archie creates significant tension for Katie and becomes one of the major interpersonal storylines in the series.
John C. McGinley as Walter Mann
John C. McGinley plays Walter Mann, the president of Ludlow College.
Walter becomes particularly interested in Greg’s presence at the college and helps bring him deeper into campus life.
HBO’s official information lists Steve Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley and Lauren Tsai among the principal cast.
Rooster Release Date
The Rooster TV show premiered on March 8, 2026, on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes were also made available to stream on HBO Max.
The first season contains 10 episodes, with episodes released weekly through May 10, 2026.
For viewers looking to watch the complete first season, the series is currently available through HBO’s streaming ecosystem, with availability also appearing through certain partner platforms depending on region.
How Many Episodes Does Rooster Have?
Rooster Season 1 has 10 episodes.
The episodes are approximately half an hour long, making the series relatively easy to watch compared with longer hour-long dramas.
The first episode is titled “Release the Brown Fat.” The season continues through a series of stories involving Greg, Katie, Archie, Dylan, Sunny and the wider Ludlow College community.
The season finale, “Songs for Raisa,” focuses on Katie making an important decision about her marriage while Greg prepares to leave Ludlow after his semester at the college.
Where to Watch Rooster
Rooster is an HBO original comedy and is available to stream through HBO Max in markets where the service is offered.
The series also appears through some third-party streaming platforms and channel bundles depending on the viewer’s country. For example, Hulu lists Rooster as a 2026 comedy series starring Steve Carell, Danielle Deadwyler and Phil Dunster, while Prime Video listings can provide access through an HBO Max subscription or related availability.
Because streaming rights can vary by country, viewers should check their local HBO Max or authorized streaming provider for availability.
Rooster Season 2: Has It Been Renewed?
Yes. HBO renewed Rooster for Season 2 on April 9, 2026.
The renewal was announced while the first season was still airing. According to HBO’s Warner Bros. Discovery press release, the first four episodes averaged 5.8 million U.S. viewers, and HBO described the series as pacing to become its most-watched freshman comedy in more than a decade.
Warner Bros. Discovery subsequently described Rooster as the most-watched HBO comedy in more than ten years in its first-quarter 2026 shareholder communication and confirmed that the show had already been renewed for another season.
At present, HBO has confirmed the renewal, but a specific Season 2 premiere date has not been officially announced in the sources reviewed for this article.
That means viewers can expect the story to continue, but details about the exact release schedule, episode count and Season 2 storyline should be treated as unconfirmed until HBO announces them.
Who Created Rooster?
Rooster was created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses.
Bill Lawrence is known for creating or developing several successful television comedies, including Scrubs and Ted Lasso, as well as Shrinking. Matt Tarses has writing and producing credits on shows including Scrubs and The Goldbergs.
The combination gives Rooster a recognizable comedy pedigree, but the series has its own setting and characters rather than being a continuation of any previous Lawrence project.
The show is produced by Warner Bros. Television, with Lawrence, Tarses and Steve Carell among the executive producers.
What Makes Rooster Different?
At first glance, Rooster might appear to be another Steve Carell comedy. However, the series spends considerable time exploring the relationship between Greg and Katie.
The college setting also creates a second storyline involving academic careers, faculty relationships and campus politics.
The result is a comedy that combines:
- Family relationships
- Workplace and academic comedy
- Father-daughter conflict
- Marriage and relationship drama
- College-campus stories
- Character-driven humor
- Personal and professional reinvention
The official description emphasizes the father-daughter relationship, while the show’s episode descriptions show how Greg gradually becomes more deeply connected to Ludlow College.
Rooster Reviews and Reception
The series has received generally positive critical attention.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Rooster Season 1 at 88% from critics, while its audience score is listed at 76%. These figures can change as additional ratings are added.
The reception has also been reflected in HBO’s decision to renew the series. HBO announced the second-season renewal during Season 1, citing both audience performance and critical recognition.
Rather than relying only on its comedy, the series has attracted attention for its character relationships and the chemistry among its ensemble cast.
Is Rooster Worth Watching?
Whether Rooster is right for a particular viewer depends largely on what they want from a comedy series.
The show is particularly centered on character relationships rather than a single high-concept premise. Viewers interested in Steve Carell, Bill Lawrence’s television work, workplace comedies, family stories and college settings may find the premise appealing.
The series also provides a different type of role for Carell, placing him at the center of a story that balances humor with more personal father-daughter material.
For viewers who prefer fast-paced action, fantasy or heavily serialized thrillers, Rooster is a very different type of show. Its main focus is interpersonal conflict and comedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rooster about?
Rooster is an HBO comedy about successful author Greg Russo, played by Steve Carell, who goes to Ludlow College to support his daughter Katie. The story follows their complicated father-daughter relationship alongside the personal and professional problems surrounding the college.
Who stars in Rooster?
The main cast includes Steve Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley and Lauren Tsai.
When did Rooster premiere?
Rooster premiered on March 8, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.
How many episodes are in Rooster Season 1?
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, released weekly.
Where can I watch Rooster?
The series is available to stream through HBO Max, with availability through additional authorized platforms varying by country.
Is Rooster renewed for Season 2?
Yes. HBO officially renewed Rooster for a second season on April 9, 2026.
When will Rooster Season 2 be released?
HBO has confirmed Season 2, but an official Season 2 premiere date has not been announced in the sources reviewed here. Viewers should wait for HBO’s official release announcement rather than relying on unconfirmed dates.
Who created Rooster?
The series was created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses.
Is Rooster a comedy?
Yes. HBO classifies Rooster as a comedy series. The show combines comedy with family, relationship and workplace storylines.