Steve Carell’s Rooster Breaks 10-Year HBO Comedy Premiere Record

Steve Carell’s new series Rooster drew 2.4 million U.S. cross-platform viewers in its first three days, giving HBO its biggest comedy premiere in the United States in more than a decade. The 10-episode dramedy debuted on March 8 and opened with unusually strong early viewership for a show that blends humor and emotional drama.

Set on a college campus, Rooster is a single-camera comedy about the complicated relationship between an author and his daughter. Carell stars as Greg opposite Charly Clive as Katie, with Phil Dunster, Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley and Lauren Tsai rounding out the principal cast and recurring turns from Connie Britton and Robby Hoffman.

Bill Lawrence — whose orbit includes Ted Lasso and Shrinking — co-wrote the show with Matt Tarses. Critics have generally responded positively, and Rotten Tomatoes places the series in the high 80s, with praise for its warmth, performances and emotional accessibility.

United States

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