The return of Steve Carrell to a marquee role on prestige television! It’s as welcome to the HBO-viewing public as spring is to the deeply-wintered. Rooster is HBO’s new 10-episode comedy set on a college campus. Steve Carell plays Greg Russo, a successful fiction author who gets pulled into academia—and deeper into his adult daughter’s life—when he visits her campus. The official logline frames it as a story about Greg’s complicated relationship with his daughter, Katie, played by Charly Clive.
As for when to stream it: Rooster premieres Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, and it will be available to stream the same night on HBO Max. New episodes then roll out weekly on Sundays through May 10.
Rooster notes: Pilot/Episode 1
The project started as a straight-to-series HBO order in May 2024. It comes from Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, with Warner Bros. Television producing. The personal engine of the show seems pretty clear: Lawrence told People the father-daughter core grew out of the very specific relationships he, Tarses, and Carell have with their own adult daughters. Tarses also said Greg was loosely inspired by author Carl Hiaasen, and the title comes from a nickname used for one of Greg’s fictional characters.
Casting-wise, the main ensemble is strong: Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai. There are a couple of built-in creator reunions too—Dunster previously worked with Lawrence on Ted Lasso, and McGinley reunites with Lawrence and Tarses from the Scrubs world. People also notes Connie Britton in the broader cast mix.
Rooster FAQ
What is Rooster about?
It’s an HBO comedy set on a college campus, centered on an author and his complicated relationship with his daughter. Steve Carell plays the author, Greg Russo, and Charly Clive plays his daughter, Katie.
How do I watch it?
It premieres on HBO on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, and it will stream the same night on HBO Max.
How many episodes are there?
Season 1 has 10 episodes. HBO says new episodes will roll out weekly on Sundays through May 10.
Who’s starring?
The official cast list includes Steve Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai. Additional reporting has also linked Connie Britton to the ensemble.
What’s the vibe?
Officially, HBO is positioning it as a comedy, while recent coverage has described it as a warm, feel-good, character-driven comedy with some father-daughter emotional weight.
