Bill Lawrence, the creator of Rooster, explains his decision to cast actors from his earlier series, Ted Lasso and Scrubs: It’s Crazy Not To…
Bill Lawrence on Rooster’s casting and why he loves working with some actors again (Images credit: HBO)
Since its launch on March 8 globally, Rooster has emerged as HBO’s most-viewed American comedy in ten years, attracting 2.4 million viewers. A significant portion of this success is attributed to the talent both in front of and behind the camera. Co-created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, Rooster features Steve Carell in the lead role, alongside Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, Charly Clive, Lauren Tsai, and John C. McGinley. Lawrence, known for several successful series like Spin City, Scrubs, Ted Lasso, and Shrinking, shared his thoughts on why he enjoys collaborating with familiar actors. The seasoned director expressed that it would be foolish not to work with them again.
Bill Lawrence on the casting of HBO’s Rooster
John C. McGinley attends the premiere of HBO’s “Rooster” at 787 Seventh Avenue on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
During a press event we attended prior to the premiere of Rooster, Lawrence, who boasts decades of industry experience, noted that, unlike in the past, creators no longer have 26 episodes each year to develop cast chemistry. In the realm of streaming, that chemistry must be established right from the start. The producer-writer-director also elaborated on his preference for reuniting with past collaborators.
Alan Ruck attends the premiere of HBO’s “Rooster” at 787 Seventh Avenue on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
He remarked, “I’ve collaborated with John C. McGinley on Scrubs. I’ve partnered with Phil [Dunster] on Ted Lasso. Connie Britton and Alan Ruck were both part of Spin City. For me, the privilege of our work is that if you’re fortunate enough to create something and there are incredibly talented individuals whose voices resonate in your mind, you can potentially bypass some steps. There are individuals you genuinely want to spend time with in real life. I think it’s crazy not to pursue that. I believe part of the chemistry in Rooster is about quickly establishing authentic relationships. Matt graciously allowed me to cast some familiar faces from my previous projects while also being instrumental in discovering new talent for the show.
His co-creator Matt Tarses added, “It was fantastic to cast these individuals we knew were exceptional actors, as long as we were mindful to ensure they portrayed characters distinct from those they had previously played.”
More about the series Rooster
(HBO via AP)
In the HBO series, Steve Carell portrays author Greg Russo, who pens a series of bestselling novels centered around a character named Rooster. He visits Ludlow College to support his daughter Katie (Charly Clive), who is facing challenges in her marriage. While Greg aims to provide assistance, he inadvertently becomes entangled in her complex life and develops new relationships of his own.
The ten-episode series will debut a new episode every Monday, culminating in the finale on May 11. The inaugural episode of Rooster is currently available for streaming on JioHotstar.
