Rooster

HBO's new comedy series, "Rooster," created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, stars Steve Carell as Greg Russo, a best-selling author recovering from infidelity in his marriage. Greg accepts a Writer in Residence position at the fictional Ludlow College to be closer to his adult daughter, Katie (Charly Clive), an art history professor at the college, who is also experiencing marital difficulties. The series was reportedly intended to examine a father-daughter bond.

The review states that "Rooster" presents a narrative described as uninspired, with jokes and plot points that have been previously explored in other productions such as "Father of the Bride" and "Fatherhood."

Series Overview

Greg's initial motivation for visiting Ludlow College is to check on Katie, who is struggling after her husband, Archie (Phil Dunster), reportedly left her for a graduate student, Sunny (Lauren Tsai). Ludlow President Walter Mann (John C. McGinley) offers Greg a semester-long position, which he accepts.

Over the course of its 10-episode first season (with six episodes provided for review), Greg engages in a college experience he did not have in his youth. He develops a relationship with Professor Dylan Shepard (Danielle Deadwyler), explores a new romance, and attempts to support Katie without being overbearing. Greg reportedly tries to embody his book character, Rooster, by engaging more actively in life at Ludlow.

Critical Assessment

Criticisms highlighted in the review include predictable characters and situations, describing the narrative as lackluster. The dynamic between Archie and Katie is characterized as exhausting, and the portrayal of academia politics, including budget changes and faculty turnover, is described as dull.

Specific gags in the series were also noted:

• Greg refers to a student as a "white whale," leading to an accusation of body-shaming.
• In Episode 3, Greg trips in class and reportedly uses another student's breasts to break his fall. The review suggests these comedic elements feel recycled and indecorous.

While the series reportedly aimed to explore the relationship between fathers and adult daughters, the review indicates this dynamic is minimally developed.

Greg is portrayed as the more sensitive parent, while his ex-wife Elizabeth (Connie Britton) takes on a less emotional role with Katie. The review also mentions a focus on what it describes as dull supporting characters and Archie's point of view, which it characterizes as narcissistic.

Despite the involvement of notable actors and creators known for series like "Ted Lasso" and "Shrinking," the review concludes that "Rooster" rehashes previously explored themes and character types portrayed by Carell.

"Rooster" premiered on March 8 on HBO, with new episodes scheduled to release weekly on Sundays.