Exploring Reality and Comedy in 'Rooster'
Humankind, as TS Eliot’s bird said in Burnt Norton, cannot bear too much reality. This observation feels particularly relevant today, when the amount of reality we encounter daily far exceeds what previous generations processed in a year.
Simultaneously, unless a show fully commits to high fantasy and complete escapism by immersing audiences in an entirely alternative world, it is increasingly difficult for viewers to suspend disbelief. Programs set in the real world must acknowledge contemporary realities. As a result, producing pure, lighthearted comedy has become more challenging than ever before, though it was never simple. Striking a balance between too much reality and too little remains a complex task.
Steve Carell’s Role in 'Rooster'
Enter Steve Carell, a master of portraying relatable everyman characters whom audiences can root for, empathize with, and believe in. Rooster, a new 10-part dramedy (a term the author dislikes, noting that alternatives like "light drama" or "heavy comedy" are even less appealing), showcases Carell’s exceptional ability to blend cringe humor with moments of laughter and near tears, often catching viewers off guard.
Carell plays Greg Russo, a successful author of genre fiction invited to speak to English students at the college where his daughter, Katie (played by Charly Clive), teaches. Greg receives a warm welcome from the college president, Walter Mann (John C. McGinley), who channels a mix of his Scrubs character Dr. Cox and a gossipy eccentric, a combination that works effectively. Walter is a fan of Greg’s writing—or at least appreciates the commercial appeal of having a recognizable name to lend prestige to the institution. Walter also prefers to be as naked as possible, aiming to challenge stereotypes of college presidents as bookish recluses by presenting himself as physically fit.
The article references a real-life comparison:
"I don’t know if you’ve seen the exercise video put out by two similarly delusional men who don’t have the excuse of a comedy script, but if you have a minute and a large drink to hand, you can Google ‘Robert F Kennedy and Kid Rock’ and wonder anew at our present moment."
Central Themes: Father-Daughter Relationship
The core of Rooster lies in the complex relationship between Greg and his daughter Katie. Katie is coping with the aftermath of her husband Archie’s (Jamie Tartt from Ted Lasso, though noted as miscast here) affair with one of his students. Archie confesses to Greg that he regrets the affair, prompting Greg, who has been practicing a particular phrase, to advise him:
"If he wants to make things right, he had better ‘man the fuck up.’"
Archie responds:
"You really nailed it that time."
To which Greg replies:
"I don’t need your approval. But thank you."
While the story includes minor scenes and characters familiar from other narratives—such as a hostile receptionist with an unusual name and a barista with an untold backstory—the depiction of the father-daughter dynamic feels authentic and tender. A notable moment occurs after a humorous exchange about why Katie’s parents separated:
"She cheated on you." "Oh, good, you’re in the loop."
Following this, Greg advises Katie before she speaks to Archie for the first time:
"Be kind,"
so she avoids saying anything she might regret. This advice reflects Greg’s accumulated wisdom and the complexities of parenting, emphasizing the long-term responsibility to protect one’s child, even when it may appear awkward or unsupportive in the moment.
Additional Relationships and Character Development
Rooster also explores a slowly developing, equally sweet, humorous, and complex relationship between Greg and Dylan, the poetry professor played by Danielle Deadwyler. Deadwyler’s character is given substantial depth and nuance, a rarity for such roles. Their friendship includes a scene marked by genuine awkwardness on Dylan’s doorstep after their first evening out, described as simultaneously artistically compelling and painfully uncomfortable.
Audience and Critical Perspective
Similar to Carell’s previous work in Space Force and Welcome to Flatch (which also co-starred Carell), Rooster is television aimed at mature audiences. Younger viewers might find some of the more predictable jokes about generational divides—often involving student hypersensitivities and mental health topics—less engaging. The article suggests these elements could have been more sharply focused. Nevertheless, acknowledging that younger generations inhabit this world, the show offers ten half-hour episodes to explore these themes.
In conclusion, while Carell may not be the hero everyone needs, he remains a relatable figure for many viewers.
