Steve Carell is back on television, and audiences are showing up. His new HBO comedy series Rooster has become the most-watched comedy premiere on the network in over a decade, drawing 2.4 million viewers in its first three days. The show follows Carell as Greg Russo, a famous author who lands at a New England college to reconnect with his daughter, only to find himself caught up in campus life.
With two episodes already out and a third arriving this week, viewers are looking ahead to episode 4. Here is everything you need to know about when it drops, where to stream it, and what to expect.
Episode 4 Release Date and Time
Rooster episode 4 is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max. The episode will be available at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 9:00 p.m. Central Time in the United States. For viewers on the West Coast, that means 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
The series follows a weekly release pattern with new episodes every Sunday. The first episode premiered on March 8, with episode 2 arriving March 15 and episode 3 set for March 22.
For audiences in India, the show streams on JioHotstar with new episodes dropping every Monday. Episode 4 will be available on March 30, 2026.
Where to Watch Rooster
In the United States, Rooster airs on HBO and streams simultaneously on HBO Max. Subscribers to either platform can watch new episodes as they release.
International viewers can access the series through regional streaming partners. In India, JioHotstar is the exclusive streaming home for the show. Other regions have distribution agreements through local platforms.
The Full Episode Schedule
Rooster consists of 10 episodes in its first season. The complete release schedule is as follows:
- Episode 1 – “Release the Brown Fat”: March 8, 2026 (HBO) / March 9, 2026 (India)
- Episode 2 – “Trousers”: March 15, 2026 (HBO) / March 16, 2026 (India)
- Episode 3 – Title TBA: March 22, 2026 (HBO) / March 23, 2026 (India)
- Episode 4 – Title TBA: March 29, 2026 (HBO) / March 30, 2026 (India)
- Episode 5 – Title TBA: April 5, 2026 (HBO) / April 6, 2026 (India)
- Episode 6 – Title TBA: April 12, 2026 (HBO) / April 13, 2026 (India)
- Episode 7 – Title TBA: April 19, 2026 (HBO) / April 20, 2026 (India)
- Episode 8 – Title TBA: April 26, 2026 (HBO) / April 27, 2026 (India)
- Episode 9 – Title TBA: May 3, 2026 (HBO) / May 4, 2026 (India)
- Episode 10 – Title TBA: May 10, 2026 (HBO) / May 11, 2026 (India)
What to Expect in Episode 4
While HBO has not yet released official plot details for episode 4, the show’s storyline has been building toward larger conflicts on campus. Greg Russo, played by Steve Carell, arrived at Ludlow College hoping to support his daughter Katie, an art history professor portrayed by Charly Clive.
Katie’s life fell apart after her husband Archie, played by Phil Dunster, left her for a graduate student. An accidental fire at Archie’s house put Katie’s job at risk, forcing Greg to step in and accept a writer-in-residence position to help her keep her position. The students on campus have started calling Greg “Rooster,” after the adventurous hero from his novels.
The series comes from Bill Lawrence, creator of Ted Lasso, and Matt Tarses. The creative team brings the same mix of humor and emotional storytelling that made Lawrence’s previous work popular with audiences.
Also Read:
Critical Response
Rooster holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 45 critic reviews. Critics have pointed to Carell’s performance and the show’s good-natured tone as key strengths. The series marks Carell’s return to television comedy after his legendary run as Michael Scott on The Office.
Speaking about the cast dynamic at a press event in February, Carell said:
“You don’t know what the energy’s going to be like, you don’t know what each of them are going to be like as people. But there was just such a pervasive kindness and generosity. And, honestly, it reminds me of my experience on The Office in terms of that.”
The Cast
The ensemble cast includes Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley, Lauren Tsai, Annie Mumolo, Connie Britton, and Alan Ruck. John C. McGinley, who worked with Lawrence on Scrubs, plays college president Walter Mann, a character who holds Katie’s professional fate in his hands.
Also Read: Logan Paul’s Sarcastic Apology to Tom Brady and NFL Stars After Flag Football Showdown
Stay updated with the newest television releases, streaming schedules, and Hollywood updates on VvipTimes.
