Saagar Kote
HBO’s ‘Rooster’ revolves around the life of Greg Russo (Steve Carell), a popular author who has a complex relationship with his daughter, Katie (Charly Clive). Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, the comedy series follows Greg as he takes up a job at Ludlow College, where Katie is a professor. As the latter deals with the aftermath of her husband leaving her for a grad student, Greg hopes to provide her with the emotional support she needs to keep her job intact.
With Greg becoming popular among the students, he runs into hilarious situations, while Katie displays chaotic behavior by burning down the faculty house. The father and daughter attempt to improve their relationship while seeking a purpose to start the next phase of their lives. However, what challenges them more than the wild students and faculty members are the insecurities of their own souls and their confusing romantic lives. If you are looking for more shows similar to ‘Rooster,’ this list will be of interest to you.
8. Somebody Somewhere (2022-2024)
Created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, HBO’s ‘Somebody Somewhere’ follows Sam Miller (Bridget Everett), a woman in her 40s who struggles with the expectations of her hometown in Kansas. Dealing with personal loss, she finds comfort and purpose in singing. This pursuit guides her toward self-discovery and a supportive group of outsiders who become integral parts of her life. As Sam seeks meaning, she must also come to terms with certain truths about herself and with the unpredictability of her connection to her family and friends. The comedy-drama show, like ‘Rooster,’ is about a middle-aged character facing familial and personal struggles while also developing unlikely bonds and a sense of community.
7. Mr. Corman (2021)
Apple TV+’s ‘Mr. Corman’ is a comedy-drama show that delves into the experiences of Josh Corman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a fifth-grade teacher in a public school in the San Fernando Valley, California. He often thinks about the past and everything that he could have achieved in his life with his talent. However, he now finds himself lacking purpose and leading an ordinary life that he can’t seem to accept. As those close to him try to support him to get better by helping him forget the past, he also struggles with mixed emotions about his job as he develops a bond with his students. The Joseph Gordon-Levitt creation complements ‘Rooster’ with its grounded take on the life of teachers, the pursuit of meaning, and the convergence of past and present in deeply personal situations.
6. Better Things (2016-2022)
FX’s ‘Better Things’ focuses on Samantha “Sam” Fox (Pamela Adlon), a working actor and single mother in LA. She faces every difficulty, whether it involves maintaining a close bond with her three children or encouraging them toward independence. While doing this, she also has to care for her mother, Phyllis “Phil” Darby (Celia Imrie), who has physical and mental health issues. As she navigates the vulnerable phases of her daughters’ lives, she must also learn to rediscover her own passions, along with the struggles of her professional life. Created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., the comedy-drama series captures the essence of ‘Rooster’ with its commentary on the parent-child relationship and the nuances of self-discovery.
5. English Teacher (2024-2025)
‘English Teacher’ is the tale of Evan Marquez (Brian Jordan Alvarez), a high school English teacher at Morrison-Hensley High School in Austin, who is often challenged by the overlap of his personal life and the politics within the school environment. Evan is a principled gay man who defends his beliefs while striving to manage his students’ chaotic behavior. As he struggles to understand the younger generation and their demands, he must also manage his relationship with his mother. While he hopes to inspire students to improve at expressing themselves, he also struggles to communicate with them in their own style, leading to hilarious moments. Created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, the FX sitcom is spiritually and thematically connected to ‘Rooster’ as it highlights the struggles of a teacher experiencing a midlife crisis and hoping to redeem himself.
4. Lucky Hank (2023)
AMC’s ‘Lucky Hank’ follows an English department chairman at the financially struggling West Central Pennsylvania University named William Henry “Hank” Devereaux, Jr. (Bob Odenkirk), who finds himself on the verge of a professional and personal breakdown. During one complex week in his life, Hank suspects his wife of having an affair with the dean, and faces many chaotic situations. Through all this uncertainty, he must also have a difficult conversation with his father about troubling truths from the past. As his life goes through unexpected challenges, he must find the strength to survive against overwhelming odds. The comedy-drama series is created by Paul Lieberstein and Aaron Zelman, and is based on the novel ‘Straight Man’ by Richard Russo. Hank’s character arc and the crisis he goes through resemble the struggles of Greg in ‘Rooster.’
3. The Chair (2021)
‘The Chair,’ a Netflix drama series created by Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman, centers on Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh), the first woman of color to head the English department at the prestigious Pembroke University. The story delves into the multiple challenges Kim faces as she struggles to earn the respect of her more traditional academic colleagues, to secure tenure for a young Black colleague, and to navigate her complicated relationship with Bill Dobson (Jay Duplass), a colleague she has a crush on. Beyond fighting gender and racial stereotypes in her workplace, Kim must also confront and overcome her own uncertainties about her self-worth and identity. The show, like ‘Rooster,’ is set in academic spaces, and comments on midlife crisis through the experiences of a teacher facing insecurity and communication issues.
2. Ted Lasso (2020-)
Apple TV+’s ‘Ted Lasso’ chronicles the trials and tribulations of Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), a friendly American football coach who unexpectedly gets a coaching offer from a British soccer team named AFC Richmond. He arrives in the UK without any knowledge of soccer and runs into hilarious situations with his new team’s players. As he lives away from home, he hopes to mend his relationship with his estranged wife and also find meaning in life again.
On this journey, he develops complex professional relationships with Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), the owner of AFC Richmond, and others he meets. Created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, the comedy-drama show is based on fictional characters from NBC Sports’ coverage of England’s soccer Premier League. Ted’s rib-tickling encounters with younger characters, his character motivations, and his attempt to redeem himself spiritually connect him to Greg’s journey in ‘Rooster.’
1. Shrinking (2023-)
In Apple TV+’s ‘Shrinking,’ therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), following his wife’s passing, struggles with profound grief. His already difficult life becomes even more complicated as he has to manage his complex relationship with his teenage daughter, Alice Laird (Lukita Maxwell), while also meeting professional expectations. Jimmy has difficult conversations with Dr. Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), his senior colleague at the clinic, who tries to help him get back on his feet. The single father begins to ignore ethical guidelines and starts communicating with his patients with complete, unreserved honesty.
This radical shift in approach leads to significant, unpredictable consequences that may change his views forever. Created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein, the comedy-drama series is a heartwarming depiction of crisis and hope. The grounded storytelling, Jimmy’s character arc, the midlife crisis element, and the father-daughter bond in the narrative connect it to ‘Rooster’ and its unique characters.
Read More: Where is HBO’s Rooster Filmed?
