Steve Carell’s Rooster Already Looks Like Another HBO Comedy Winner In Its First Trailer

To create a character and to be them are two different things. Actors and authors alike know that, and in the new dramedy series Rooster, Steve Carell is about to walk the line between those worlds. Seeing as this is a show co-created by TV powerhouse Bill Lawrence, viewers excited for this entry on HBO’s promising 2026 schedule should expect plenty of heart paired with the punchlines.

Freshly debuting thanks to HBO, we now have our first look at the charming mayhem that is Mr. Carell’s latest TV project. As author Greg Russo, the Mountainhead star navigates college life, while trying to help his daughter (played by Charly Clive) manage with some personal campus fallout of her own.

As you see in the trailer above, Rooster is pretty much the sort of show you’d expect with Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence in the mix. Absurdly funny scenarios clash with very personal drama, and some snarky humor to tie it all together. That sort of territory is prime territory for Steve Carell, as well as fellow castmates Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley, and Connie Britton. 

HBO is a network that’s never afraid to play the spectrum of genre. With previous standouts like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Barry all highlighting that range, the network can pretty much pitch anything to viewers. Rooster doesn’t seem to abuse that reality, as the comedy and the drama both feel grounded in a sort of reality that viewers already know and love.

Audiences will discover more life lessons from one of the minds behind Ted Lasso soon enough, when Rooster premieres on HBO and HBO Max. The series premiere is set to run on Sunday, March 8th, at 10 PM ET ; on both HBO’s broadcast and streaming platforms. As we wait for the sun to rise on Mr. Carell’s collegiate persona, let’s keep in THS’ TV News archives as a font of knowledge it truly is.

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