Steve Carell’s ‘Rooster’ Gets Picked Up for a Second Season by HBO
HBO’s comedy series Rooster, featuring Steve Carell, has officially been renewed for a second season, halfway through its inaugural run. The upcoming season will continue the narrative in spring at the fictional Ludlow College, following the fall set in the first installment.
The announcement, which follows the show’s successful premiere, underscores the collaboration of co-creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses alongside Warner Bros. Television. This renewal marks yet another achievement in Lawrence’s career, as every half-hour comedy he has created or co-created has run for multiple seasons.
This renewal comes as no surprise; Rooster secured a $21 million California tax credit for its second season and debuted to impressive numbers, drawing 2.4 million U.S. cross-platform viewers within its first three days. This figure represents the largest audience for an HBO comedy debut in nearly 11 years.
As the series progresses, it has maintained its popularity, frequently ranking in HBO Max’s Daily Top 3. The initial four episodes are averaging 5.8 million U.S. viewers, making it the most-watched freshman HBO comedy in over a decade, according to network reports.
HBO Programming EVP Amy Gravitt expressed enthusiasm over the audience’s embrace of Rooster, noting, “It’s been heartening to feel the audience embrace Rooster, as we did when we first saw Steve, Bill and Matt bring this character to life. Along with our partners at WBTV and Doozer, we’re looking forward to seeing what Ludlow’s Spring Semester has in store for this incredible comedy ensemble.”
Clancy Collins White, President of Creative Affairs at Warner Bros. Television, also praised the series, stating, “Rooster is a heartfelt, endearing series, and its second-season renewal is richly deserved. Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses are masters of their craft, bringing their signature heart and humor to life through an incredible cast led by Steve Carell. We’re thrilled to continue this creative journey with HBO and Doozer.”
With its May 2024 straight-to-series order, Rooster marks Warner Bros. Television’s first series for HBO since the acclaimed Westworld. The studio remains a key supplier to HBO Max, as several of its shows, including Harry Potter and IT: Welcome To Derry, transition to HBO.
Set on a college campus, Rooster explores the complex relationship between an author, played by Carell, and his daughter, portrayed by Charly Clive. The main cast also includes Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai.
Lawrence conveyed gratitude to Warner Bros. Television and HBO, saying, “We are so grateful to Warner Bros. Television and HBO for being such great partners and to Casey, Amy and Channing for giving us the opportunity to keep making this show with Steve and our amazing cast. It’s been a career highlight for both of us, but more for Matt than me.”
Executive producers include Lawrence, Jeff Ingold, and Liza Katzer from Lawrence’s Doozer banner, alongside Tarses and others. Lawrence and Tarses serve as showrunners. The ten-episode season releases new episodes every Sunday, available for streaming on HBO Max.
