In March 2026, Steve Carell returns to weekly television comedy as the lead of Rooster, a new half-hour series coming to HBO and its streaming platform. Announced as part of HBO’s 2026 lineup teaser, the show blends character-driven humor with an intimate look at a complicated parent–child relationship set against a college campus backdrop.
What is the new Steve Carell HBO comedy about?
Rooster centers on a writer and his adult daughter navigating a relationship that is anything but simple. The series follows their attempts to reconnect while dealing with long-standing misunderstandings, emotional friction, and uneasy moments of honesty.
Steve Carell plays the writer, a man confronted with his own contradictions, while Charly Clive portrays his daughter. Their scenes move between sharp comedic exchanges and more grounded, observational moments focused on family dynamics.
A college campus as the emotional playground
The show is set on a university campus, using the academic world as the environment where these personal tensions play out. The college setting provides the backdrop for the father–daughter story, but the core of the series stays firmly rooted in their evolving relationship and how they deal with one another in everyday life.
Previewed in HBO’s 2026 lineup trailer, the series positions itself as part of a long tradition of comedies that explore human relationships through dialogue, awkward situations, and small, revealing moments rather than broad spectacle.
Watch a preview from HBO’s 2026 slate here:
Episode format and creative team
Rooster is structured as a 30-minute comedy, with its first season consisting of ten episodes. The show is produced by Warner Bros. Television.
The series is created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, who serve as co-showrunners. They also co-wrote the pilot episode, shaping the tone and narrative focus of the show. Steve Carell is involved behind the scenes as well, taking on the role of executive producer in addition to starring.
Steve Carell and Charly Clive headline a strong ensemble
While the emotional core of the show is the duo formed by Steve Carell and Charly Clive, Rooster also brings together a cast of established screen talents to round out its world.
- Steve Carell in the lead role as the writer.
- Charly Clive as his daughter.
- Danielle Deadwyler.
- Phil Dunster.
- John C. McGinley.
- Lauren Tsai.
Charly Clive landed the role after an extensive casting process involving multiple candidates, with the goal of finding a performer who could match Carell in both comedic timing and more subtle, observational scenes focused on family relationships.
Get another look at the show in this video:
How the series fits into Bill Lawrence’s recent work
With Rooster, Bill Lawrence continues a particularly active creative period. The writer and producer is also behind Shrinking, whose third season is expected in early 2026 on Apple TV+, and he is simultaneously working on the continuation of Bad Monkey.
Across these projects, Lawrence frequently explores family, work, and emotional life through grounded, everyday situations rather than high-concept premises. Rooster continues in that vein, focusing on the messiness of personal relationships and the humor that emerges from them.
Why Steve Carell’s new HBO role matters
For Steve Carell, this series marks a fresh regular role on television after several recent appearances in projects for HBO and Netflix. It also represents a return to a comedy structure built around sharp dialogue and situational humor, rather than purely broad or physical comedy.
By pairing Carell with a college environment, an adult daughter, and a compact 30-minute format, Rooster aims to deliver a character-driven comedy that leans on conversation, emotional beats, and specific, relatable moments.
FAQ
What is the main focus of the HBO series Rooster?
The series focuses on the complicated relationship between a writer and his adult daughter, using a university campus setting as the backdrop for their attempts to reconnect and work through long-standing tensions.
Who stars alongside Steve Carell in Rooster?
Charly Clive plays the writer’s daughter opposite Steve Carell. The ensemble cast also includes Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai.
How many episodes are in season 1 of Rooster and how long are they?
Season 1 includes ten episodes, each with a runtime of about 30 minutes, following a half-hour comedy format.
Who are the creators and producers behind Rooster?
The show is created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, who act as co-showrunners and co-wrote the pilot. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television, and Steve Carell also serves as an executive producer.
