ROOSTER feels like what youโd get if Bill Lawrence and Alexander Payne teamed up to make a college TV show. It has the uplifting moments you find in TED LASSO or SHRINKING, mixed with the sharp humor and observational comedy for which Payne is known. I enjoyed ROOSTER as empty-calorie feel-good TV, but itโs one of those I’ll instantly forget after watching the first season.
Still, the show has lots of memorable one-liners and some fantastic performances. Steve Carell is awkward and funny as Russo, Danielle Deadwyler is fierce as Dylan, Annie Mumolo brings the laughs as Cristie, Maximo Salas is a likable underdog, and John C. McGinley steals every scene as Walter. Honestly, Iโd love to hang out with him for a cold plunge or a steam any day.
Even with such a strong cast, the Lawrence show has a problem thatโs also bugging me about SHRINKING lately: all the characters talk the same. The jokes are funny, but sometimes it feels more like clever writing than real people talking. As he branches out into more show genres, Iโd love to see his characters sound more like real people.
Final Thought: I hope ROOSTER can avoid always having โspinach in its teethโ and grow into a great show. The first season set a solid foundation, and Iโm optimistic it could become another hit for Lawrence and his team.
Itโs available on HBO Max.
