Welcome back to another series of mini-reviews! This go-around is a bit of a “Oops, all comedy” situation, which was more of a happy accident than anything intentional on my part. We’ve got Steve Carell going back to school, Riz Ahmed trying out for James Bond, and Dan Levy entering the world of crime. Let’s get into it.
Rooster
2026 may end up being the year of Bill Lawrence. The prolific comedy writer/producer has overseen the revival of Scrubs as well as continued work on Shrinking. You can also see his name in the credits of Ted Lasso, even though he isn’t directly involved in the return of that show. With Rooster, Lawrence dives into the waters of HBO comedy.
Steve Carell is Greg Russo, the titular Rooster, a nickname he gets from students who are fans of his series of male-fantasy crime novels. In typical Carell style, Russo is an awkward guy who is just self-effacing enough to be bearable. After a convoluted situation involving his daughter Katie (Charly Clive) and her estranged husband Archie (Phil Dunster), both college professors, Russo takes a gig as writer-in-residence for the semester.
Rooster’s thoughts on academia are stale and easily the worst part of the series. Thankfully, the show mostly uses its setting as a backdrop for the antics of a cast of oddballs. Carell proves to be the perfect lead for a series that thrives on character interactions. His charming persona creates a chemistry with just about everyone he shares the screen with. In particular, his dynamic with college president Walter Mann (John C. McGinley) and Tommy, a student with a potential gift for writing (Maximo Salas) are the most endearing. Not everything lands. The aforementioned daughter and husband relationship takes up too much time with little payoff, but the show finds new ways to win you back. You could do worse than spending a couple hours hanging out with this group.
Rooster is currently streaming on HBO Max.
Final Verdict: Tune In
Bait
The possibility of James Bond being played by a person of color has been discussed for so long that it almost feels old hat to even bring it up. Maybe that’s part of what makes Bait so engaging. There’s a novelty to using the actual franchise name and likeness for this story, especially after its purchase by a billionaire with Bond villain tendencies. Created by and starring Riz Ahmed, the series follows Shah Latif, a struggling actor who finds himself in the running to be the fresh face of Britain’s favorite spy. What follows is less worried about the particulars of casting and more focused on examining Latif’s insecurities and the public backlash he and his family must endure.
While there’s plenty of dramatic heft to go around, Bait is primarily a comedy. Ahmed proves to be a fantastic straight man for the chaos that surrounds him each episode. The show is at its best when it allows Shah’s family dynamics to boil over into his career. His interactions with his cousin Zulfi (Guz Khan) are a particular highlight. The two make a terrific comedic duo, as Zulfi shamelessly tries to hustle his way into the same fame and fortune that Shah is chasing. Ultimately, Bait’s heartfelt satire is too irresistible to miss.
Bait is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Final Verdict: Tune In
Big Mistakes
After being one of the creative forces behind the great Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy hasn’t done a lot behind the scenes. Outside of a mildly received Netflix film, Levy has mainly stuck to building his comedic persona on screen. That changes with Big Mistakes, a crime comedy that is light on both.
The series follows Levy as Nicky, an openly gay pastor who, along with his sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega) gets involved in the world of organized crime. The show takes its time setting up that premise, banking on your enjoyment of the dysfunctional family dynamics and constant bickering that goes on when the family is together.
As you might tell, I was not won over. Levy and Ortega have great comic chemistry, and Laurie Metcalf is a treat as their demanding mother, Linda, but these characters are never funny enough to overcome their inherently unlikable personalities. Add to that a crime plot that takes too long getting to the point, and you have a show that is less than the sum of its parts. I wanted better for Levy’s return to TV, but Big Mistakes ends up as directionless as its characters.
Big Mistakes is currently streaming on Netflix.