AceShowbiz - The future of Rooster, the new comedy series starring Steve Carell, has been confirmed as HBO officially renews the show for a second season. After airing only five episodes, the network’s decision to continue the series highlights the strong reception of Rooster.

Rooster has emerged as the highest-rated new HBO comedy in the last decade, boasting an average viewership of 5.8 million U.S. viewers during its first four episodes. This impressive audience size underscores the series’ appeal.

Critics have also responded positively to Rooster, with the show earning an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This critical acclaim notably surpasses that of the first season of The Office, another series featuring Carell, which earned a 71% critic rating for its debut season and averaged an 81% score overall.

Co-showrunner Bill Lawrence expressed his gratitude in a statement, thanking Warner Bros. Television and HBO for their partnership. He described Rooster as a “career highlight” for both himself and Carell, emphasizing the creative satisfaction the show has brought to its creators and cast.

“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,” said Lawrence, highlighting the collaborative spirit behind the series.

Warner Bros. Television’s president of Creative Affairs, Clancy Collins, praised the renewal as “richly deserved.” He also commended Lawrence and co-showrunner Matt Tarses for their expertise, calling them “masters of their craft.” Collins described Rooster as a “heartfelt, endearing series” and expressed excitement about continuing the collaboration with HBO and the production company Doozer.

Bill Lawrence is widely recognized for creating the medical comedy Scrubs, which was recently revived on ABC, and for co-creating the acclaimed Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso, slated to return in the summer. Adding to the creative team’s credentials, Scrubs star Zach Braff directed two episodes of Rooster, further enriching the show’s creative pedigree.

Looking ahead, Amy Gravitt, HBO’s executive vice president of Programming and head of HBO & HBO Max Comedy Series, revealed anticipation for the show's upcoming second season. She teased that the next season would explore “Ludlow’s Spring Semester,” indicating a shift in the series’ timeline from the fall setting of the first season.

“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,” Gravitt said. “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.”

The narrative of Rooster unfolds at Ludlow College, where Carell portrays Greg Russo, a writer-in-residence who works closely with his daughter Katie Russo. The show focuses on their evolving relationship as Katie copes with a challenging separation that deeply affects her life. Supporting cast members include Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai, who bring a diverse range of characters to the ensemble.

Carell gained prominence as a correspondent on The Daily Show before starring in the U.S. adaptation of The Office, which ran for nine seasons. Following his departure in 2011, he lent his voice to the popular Despicable Me and Minions film franchises as Gru, and appeared in notable films such as The Big Short and Vice.

On television, Carell created the sitcom Angie Tribeca and appeared in series like The Morning Show, Space Force, and The Four Seasons. Now, with Rooster, he has added another hit series to his portfolio, which still has five episodes remaining in its first season. These episodes continue to air weekly with the season finale scheduled for May 10. Rooster is broadcast Sundays at 10 p.m. EDT on HBO, maintaining a steady slot for dedicated viewers.