The original post: /r/television by /u/DreadPirateRemy on 2026-05-17 23:49:22+00:00.
Unfortunately, there is no episode 11 coming out today, so I thought to write about this show instead.
Keeping things short:
This show is something special and I’m glad I went back to really give it an honest go. Steve Carrell has yet another endlessly re-watchable series, and this one is filled bursting to the brim with heart, humor, and hot cocoa. Unafraid to play with genre, take risks, and give us great eye and ear candy, Rooster is definitely worth the watch. It takes the best parts of those 90’s to early 2000’s college comedy and Adam Sandler movies and concentrates/weaponizes it to great effect right in your feels.
(If you let it.)
Here’s a tiny bit more, but be warned, ahead there be spoilers:
I did not understand this show at first and mainly gave it a shot because I’ve always loved Steve Carrell’s acting (“Four Seasons” made me cry over him, damn you Tina Fey!) and he’s an absolute delight as this lovable melancholic sad man with a still broken heart that is trying and finding his place in the world.
Rooster is giving me something that has been missing that I did not know was missing and it’s these very slight vignettes, gags, and relationships established through facial acting and cues performed with such delight and I cannot get over, nor understate, how phenomenal an achievement this show might be.
Given its limited runtime and episodes (I wish it was 24+ episodes a season, but alas we settle for a mere 10…) they still somehow find a way to let us know these characters and sit with them and it creates this rich tapestry of people who feel real and endearing and hilarious. Every actor is just firing on all cylinders and helping flesh out this charming picturesque New England college town brimming with beautiful good people. They are all trying their best to find a better way in the face of an increasingly ugly world and they thrive and learn and grow almost in spite of it.
[Author’s Note]: Rooster makes you believe New England were a real place! Gah, what a magical land that would be!
Anyway, it happened in Episode 3. The simple camera gag that made me sit up and really give this show a shot happens early in this episode where Archie (played by the immortal Phil Dunster), Sunny (played by the Mischa Barton of “Terrace House” Lauren Tsai), and Mo (played by the super funny Robby Hoffman) are in their apartment talking and after he inhales this deep measured breath we cut to Archie’s point of view as he blocks Mo from sight entirely with his hand and she peeks out from it while Sunny rolls her eyes and it is done with such panache that I was seriously taken aback at how funny that moment was and could not stop laughing. I think I replayed that scene over a hundred times just to admire the quality of the timing and shot.
(Damn you Zach Braff, you talented bastard!) ((Oz Rodriguez, Jonathan Krisel, and Anu Valia this applies to you lot too!))
Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses have the juice and the entire cast and crew should be proud of the work they’ve done in making this great show. Writers Alain Bala, Tom McDonald, Annie Mebane, David Stassen, Barbie Adler, Genevieve Aniello, Matthew Kerr, and Anthony King are all very funny and talented people and I will be on the look out for more please and thank you.
The opportunity to bring to the forefront that magical something about being alive and existing as a human being is one of the best things about the miracle that is making a moving picture. That human element that adds that special ingredient, drives innovation/inventiveness, and most importantly, moves us and really makes a project sing. It is that thing that reassures me that humanity, and not “AI”, is the future. We are wasting the best of ourselves by investing in and using “AI”, and seeing something like Rooster, which feels so handcrafted and cared for is something special and something to behold and cherish.
Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on it!
In lieu of recent discoveries whilst writing this review, I have now come to realize that Phil Dunster is not Sam Witwer, so calling a young man “immortal” is fairly farcical and for that I apologize. Your performance as this lovable himbo akin to an Gaston with a college education is wickedly funny and you’re really bringing it with the physicality to your humor. (Please practice pratfalls and look up the great Dick Van Dyke on how to stay limber and the importance of falling without hurting yourself. I bet Mr. Carrell could give some good pointers too.)
Now that I really think about it, you don’t really look alike at all. A real Margot Robbie and Emma Mackey situation there. My apologies. I was wrong. Dunster? You handsome bastard, stay winning!
Onwards!
I love how Steve Carrell convinced everyone to have hockey be a central part to Rooster’s interests because when he skates you can see the sheer joy written all over his face. His reverence for the ice and sport is truly in the man’s heart and I respect it.
I’ve always been on the lookout for more Carrell family jokes/bits within their projects and the recurring awkwardness happening in Rooster makes me laugh so hard. (“Do you want to hold his other hand?” & “Mm. Smell so good.”) My favorite bits are the ones where Nancy Carell is his jilting lover. (Happens more often than you think and is hilarious EVERY. DAMN. TIME.) It must be so funny to play those roles since they are so obviously in love in real life and it is super sweet and makes me smile every time I see her pop up on screen.
Everyone on this show is an especially fantastic face actor. The expressions you see on this show will win you over, steal your hearts, and make you laugh really, really hard.
Here is a list of some standout performances for me and some brief thoughts:
Tommy the townie (played by uber affable Maximo Salas from the underrated “The Runarounds”) is the trickster imp with a heart of gold and a kid with a bright future that helped Rooster find what might be his truest calling as supportive teacher and mentor. An embodiment of a cross between the hedonistic Bluto (played by the late great John Belushi) from “National Lampoon’s: Animal House” and the good natured naivety of Kal Pen’s somewhat problematic Taj Mahal (From “National Lampoon’s: Van Wilder”) I can’t wait to see what new hijinks this young man gets up to with Rooster, Greg, Grg, can I just go back to calling you Rooster?
Cristle, Tommy’s Mother and Administrative Assistant with the naughty naughty bedroom eyes (played by the gorgeous and always funny Annie Mumolo from so many things, notably, “Brides Maids” & “About a Boy”) finds her fire again, and though it may not be end game with Rooster, they did help each other get to a better place and will be great as friends. She is more than the fun trope of the hot mom (think Stifler’s Mom from ”American Pie” played by the iconic Jennifer Coolidge) and I hope she continues to grow and reinvent herself as “Crissle” because frankly it is kind of a fun name to say out loud. Excited about her new romance blooming with our struggling hockey coach, whom I am rooting for in his recovery.
Coach Jake (played by the intimidating yet hilarious Scott MacArthur from “The Mick” & “The Righteous Gemstones”) is a welcome agent of chaos and destruction. Everyone on this show has a unique set of vocals, but Coach Jake still manages to stand out with his ultra raspy and unhinged tirades. I really hope he gets the help he needs, but doesn’t lose his fighting spirit. Do you believe in him too?
Donnie the bumbling local police officer (played by the best mustache in the business Rory Scovel from “Physical”) gives Barney Fife a run for his money. I did not think this character would grow on me as much as he has, but Rory Scovel plays things perfectly and I think would make Don Knotts blush. May the Rooster and his Bucket Boyz continue to get into many more altercations with the worlds best and smartest police officer Donnie Mullins. Now, has anyone seen his gun? Please check under your tables.
The Bucket Boyz AKA Spooner, George, and Pig Ti J.D. (Newcomers, whom I hope have long and great careers, Evan Jachelski, Xavier Beloved, and Noah Grismer) all bounce off each other so well and are a great friend group for Tommy. Each of them have their moments and I love their interactions with both sober and intoxicated Rooster.
Ronni the best killjoy in the business (played by the intense/intensely funny Sophia Macy, also a fresh face) is a fierce foe-to-friend for Rooster and I sort of hope she continues to be a thorn in everyone’s side and never loses her moral clarity/compass. Perhaps after the reckoning of liking his new book, Ronni does a deep dive and becomes a massive Rooster booster alongside Tommy?
Maya the horse girl (played by the understatedly funny Cece Abby, also at the start of a very promising career) is one of many talented students within Rooster’s class and she unapologetically loves horses and we should all be so brave as to openly love what we love and share it with the world!
Liv and Gina (played by two more very funny up-and-comers Tate Moore and Shelby Holihan) the almost problematic, but sort of interesting, and altogether funny, take on the male gaze collapsing in on itself. I hope Archie is afraid of them by the end of season five. (If he isn’t already.)
Eli and Eva (played by the respecta…
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