4 hours ago
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Here’s a funny thing. When comically gifted actors go “straight”, taking on dramatic roles with zero laughs, the world falls over its feet to give them flowers. You might not realise it from looking at every single acting award ever handed out but comedy is much harder than drama. Both share techniques and aim at truth. But with comedy, rhythm and originality are crucial, and the spotlight is merciless. (Fart noise.)
From Robin Williams to Jim Carrey, Hugh Laurie to Daniel Kaluuya, when an actor gets more admiration keeping the hahas in, they often don’t go back. Which brings me to Rooster, a show that, along with last year’s Four Seasons, marks Steve Carell’s return to TV comedy. Since leaving The Office, Carell has spent 13 years fictionally fathering drug addicts, being an abusive wrestler-philanthropist, and getting fired from his job as a news anchor for sexual misconduct. (That was on The Morning Show, not Anchorman.) Incredible projects, obviously. But don’t they sometimes have the hint of homework?
Rooster (Monday, 10pm, Sky One) is the story of Greg Russo (Carell), a trashy novelist who returns to Ludlow, the liberal arts college where his wife left him 25 years ago. His daughter Katie, who teaches art history there, is going through her own marital strife – her husband Archie has left her to pursue an affair with a student. Greg wants to support Katie through her incipient breakdown, now that she’s a social pariah living in a dead hockey coach’s house. How did he die? asks Greg. “I think he killed himself because his father was focusing on the wrong part of the story,” she replies, tartly.
Greg never went to college, but the plot briskly contrives to keep him there, teaching writing, and he is unexpectedly embraced by students. Soon he’s getting in trouble with the police, hooking up with colleagues, playing beer pong and rolling kegs down boulevards. The frat boys even nickname him after the titular action hero of his lowbrow, bestselling books. Popularity notwithstanding, Greg does not feel cock-of-the-walk, however. His new fame strains his relationship with Katie, too. Is he a rooster or a cuckoo?
It is sweet to centre a father-daughter relationship like this. Charly Clive almost steals the show as Katie, and has lovely repartee with Carell. Rooster’s roster is strong throughout, such as John C McGinley as college president Walter Mann. Walt, who has a sauna for an office like a latterday Fonzie, is obsessed with cold plunges and “activating brown fat”. (Sounds like every WhatsApp group I’ve been in for the past year.) The presence of comics Rory Scovel and Robby Hoffmann indicates a connoisseur’s eye in the casting department, too. The latter is particularly brilliant in a small role, as the acerbic roommate to Archie’s other woman.
Speaking of Archie, he’s played by Phil Dunster, the improbably handsome, Olivier-winning British actor. Given the hardest job in this ensemble, Dunster makes his self-obsessed, pompous, philandering, bad-judgment addict character one of the most charming onscreen. It’s an outrageous magic trick. I’m still looking for the levers.
The pedigree of this show is palpable, like red bricks and rich mahogany. Rooster’s creators are responsible for Scrubs and Ted Lasso. I’m not sure these ivory tower antics will have the same mass appeal, though. There are storylines about regaining control of a literary review and taking over a role as an acting dean. I can hear middle America putting its foot through the screen.
There are odd veers into slapstick. Carell’s character frequently falls over, once landing with his hands on a student’s breasts, like Benny Hill. His character is intended to be unintentionally offensive, repeatedly attending disciplinary hearings. Yet there is such awkward humanity and vulnerability to Carell’s performance, it’s hard for this to really land. Maybe he’s just too good at drama now? I told you this would happen.
Most jokes hit, though, including Carell getting teabagged live on BBC News, Dunster tongue-kissing dogs and abundant one-liners. “Lack of game recognise lack of game,” Greg commiserates with his spurned daughter, attempting to heal both their hearts. Carell can do anything – I’m just delighted that still includes sophisticated, character-driven comedies. Take ’em to school, Steve!
