While Euphoria may be grabbing headlines with its final season, another HBO series is quietly stealing the spotlight—and the streaming crown. Bill Lawrence's Rooster, starring Steve Carell, has officially overtaken the Zendaya-led drama on HBO Max's U.S. charts, proving that sometimes a heartfelt comedy can outshine even the most hyped teen drama.
Since its March debut, Rooster has been a consistent top-three performer on the platform, but it's now climbed to the #2 spot ahead of its Season 1 finale this Sunday. The series has leapfrogged heavy hitters like Hacks, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Pitt, while leaving Euphoria in its rearview mirror. Through its first four episodes, the show averaged 5.8 million U.S. viewers on cable, putting it on track to be the most-watched freshman HBO comedy in over a decade.
What Makes 'Rooster' So Irresistible?
Created by the mastermind behind Scrubs, Ted Lasso, and Shrinking, Bill Lawrence teams up with longtime collaborator Matt Tarses to deliver a comedy-drama that's both cozy and sharp. Carell plays Greg Russo, a successful author who visits his daughter Katie (Charly Clive) at the liberal arts college where she works. What starts as a quick guest lecture turns into an unexpected immersion in campus life, forcing Greg to navigate fatherhood, academia, and his daughter's personal crisis in the claustrophobic bubble of a small college town.
The series has earned a Certified Fresh 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its warm humor and Carell's return to the kind of everyman charm he perfected on The Office. The cast also includes familiar faces from Lawrence's universe, like John C. McGinley (Scrubs) and Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso), alongside Danielle Deadwyler and Lauren Tsai. All main cast members are expected to return for Season 2, which will shift to the spring semester and explore new dynamics.
A Streaming Battle for the Ages
The timing couldn't be more interesting. Euphoria returned for its third and final season after a four-year hiatus, drawing 8.5 million viewers for its premiere. But critical reception has been mixed, with many panning Sam Levinson's latest episodes. Meanwhile, Rooster has quietly built momentum, earning a Season 2 renewal and proving that audiences are hungry for something lighter. It's a classic David vs. Goliath story—except David is a middle-aged author with a dad bod and a knack for awkward silences.
For fans of Lawrence's signature style—think Shrinking meets Ted Lasso with a dash of The Office—Rooster is a must-watch. And if you're looking for another show that captures that same blend of humor and heart, check out Prime Video's 'Catastrophe', which offers a similarly messy but lovable take on relationships.
The Season 1 finale of Rooster airs Sunday, May 10 on HBO. All previous episodes are available to stream on HBO Max. And if you're craving more top-tier HBO content, don't miss our list of Top HBO Episodes with Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Scores.
