What do you get when Steve Carell plays a best-selling author who follows his daughter to college and refuses to leave? You get Rooster – HBO’s warm, funny, and surprisingly emotional new comedy series. The show premiered on March 8, 2026, and instantly drew comparisons to Bill Lawrence’s previous hits Ted Lasso and Shrinking. But just like those shows, the music in Rooster is not an afterthought — it is a key part of the storytelling. The show’s creators clearly love music deeply.
Greg Russo, the main character played by Carell, is the kind of guy who drunkenly plays R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” on repeat at a frat party and moans, “This song is how I feel every day.” That one moment tells you everything you need to know about both the show and its soundtrack — melancholy, funny, and deeply rooted in the kind of music that Gen X grew up with. And the cherry on top? The main title theme was co-written by Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and produced by Andrew Watt — two of music’s biggest names coming together for the very first time.
Rooster Soundtrack Overview (2026)
Rooster is a 2026 American comedy series created by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Scrubs) and Matt Tarses (Bad Monkey, Scrubs). It stars Steve Carell as Greg Russo, a successful fiction author who inserts himself into college life to reconnect with his daughter.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Series Name | Rooster |
| Network | HBO / Max |
| Genre | Comedy / Dramedy |
| Premiere Date | March 8, 2026 |
| Air Time | Sundays, 10:00 PM ET/PT on HBO |
| Streaming | Same night on Max |
| Total Episodes | 10 |
| Final Episode | May 10, 2026 |
| Created By | Bill Lawrence & Matt Tarses |
| Production Companies | Doozer Productions, Warner Bros. Television |
| Original Score Composer | Andrew Watt |
| Main Title Theme | “I Played the Fool” – Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt |
| Soundtrack Label | WaterTower Music |
| Theme Song Release | March 8, 2026 (all major digital platforms) |
Who composed Rooster Soundtrack? – Theme Song Details
The music of Rooster is special for two big reasons — a brilliant original score and a once-in-a-lifetime theme song collaboration.
Original Score – Andrew Watt
Andrew Watt serves as the original score composer for Rooster — marking his television scoring debut. Watt is one of the most in-demand music producers and songwriters in the world today, known for his work with artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Elton John, and The Rolling Stones. He also wrote a song for Surviving Summer Season 2. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and is considered one of the defining producers of his generation. Taking on a TV score is a new chapter for him, and Rooster is where it begins.
Main Title Theme – “I Played the Fool”
The opening theme song of Rooster is “I Played the Fool (Main Title Theme)”, co-written by Andrew Watt and Michael Stipe — the legendary lead singer of R.E.M. — and performed by Stipe. The song was released by WaterTower Music on March 8, 2026, and is available to stream and download on all major digital music platforms.
This collaboration brings together two Grammy Award-winning artists for the very first time. It is also notably Michael Stipe’s first new song in three years, making it a major moment for music fans worldwide.
The recording features a remarkable lineup of musicians:
| Role | Musician |
|---|---|
| Vocals | Michael Stipe |
| Producer & Co-Performer | Andrew Watt |
| Drums | Travis Barker (Blink-182) |
| Guitar & Piano | Josh Klinghoffer |
The song is anchored by Travis Barker’s driving percussion and Josh Klinghoffer’s atmospheric instrumentation, creating what Andrew Watt himself described as “the best clapping TV theme song since Friends.” Series co-creator Matt Tarses — a lifelong R.E.M. fan — admitted that when he first heard the demo, he cried.
Rooster Full Episode-Wise Songs List
Here is the complete verified song list from Rooster, organized by episode:
Rooster Episode 1 Soundtrack– Pilot (March 8, 2026)
| Song Number | Song Title | Artist | Scene Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Song title TBC) | New Order | Greg Russo arrives at Ludlow College — the very opening scene at 00:00:01 |
| 2 | (Song title TBC) | Fun Boy Three | Greg hides in bushes, then awkwardly explains his presence at 00:11:20 |
| 3 | (Song title TBC) | Soft Focus | Greg buys beer for Tommy Newton after Tommy forgets his wallet at 00:11:50 |
| 4 | (Song title TBC) | Yaz | A police officer detains Greg and Tommy after a botched beer buy at 00:13:51 |
| 5 | (Song title TBC) | John Moran | Katie hides behind a tree as Archie spots her at 00:14:34 |
| 6 | (Song title TBC) | Wayne Murray | Greg and Dylan drink while discussing isolation and his failed marriage at 00:15:33 |
| 7 | (Song title TBC) | Violent Femmes | Katie accidentally torches her home when she burns a book in the fireplace at 00:30:11 |
| 8 | I Played the Fool (Main Title Theme) | Michael Stipe | End credits at 00:31:55 |
Note: WhatSong has confirmed the artists for all 8 songs in Episode 1. Individual song titles for tracks 1–7 are pending full confirmation and will be updated as verified data becomes available. Track 8 is fully confirmed as “I Played the Fool” by Michael Stipe.
Additional Song Mentioned in Reviews
“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. is mentioned in the RogerEbert.com review of the show as playing during a frat party scene where Greg plays it on repeat while drunkenly saying “This song is how I feel every day.” This appears in the first six episodes screened for critics, though the exact episode number has not been confirmed.
Rooster Episodes 2–10 Soundtrack (March 15 – May 10, 2026)
New episodes air weekly every Sunday on HBO and Max. Song lists for upcoming episodes will be added as verified data becomes available from trusted sources after each episode airs.
Rooster Key Song Highlights – What Plays Where?
New Order kicks off Episode 1 at the very first second — as Greg Russo drives onto the Ludlow College campus. New Order’s synth-heavy post-punk sound immediately sets the show’s tone: a slightly sad, slightly funny, very Gen X vibe.
Violent Femmes play at the 30-minute mark — right as Katie accidentally burns down part of her home. It is a perfectly chaotic musical choice for a perfectly chaotic moment.
“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. — while not in the first episode, this song plays a memorable role later in the season. A drunken Greg plays it on a loop at a frat party, completely unaware of how out of place he looks. It is a funny and heartbreaking scene at the same time, and it connects perfectly to the R.E.M. DNA running through the entire show’s musical identity.
“I Played the Fool” by Michael Stipe closes Episode 1 during the end credits — a brilliant placement that leaves you wanting more. The song is cinematic, emotionally immediate, and immediately unforgettable.
Where to Watch & Listen Rooster Soundtrack?
New episodes of Rooster premiere every Sunday at 10:00 PM ET/PT on HBO and stream the same night on Max. The season runs through May 10, 2026, with a total of 10 episodes.
Soundtrack / Theme Song: The main title theme “I Played the Fool” by Michael Stipe & Andrew Watt is available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. It was released by WaterTower Music on March 8, 2026.
FAQs
Q. Who composed the original score for Rooster?
The original background score was composed by Andrew Watt, one of the most celebrated music producers in the world. This is Watt’s television scoring debut.
Q. What is the theme song of Rooster?
The main title theme is “I Played the Fool (Main Title Theme)”, performed by Michael Stipe (lead singer of R.E.M.) and co-written with Andrew Watt. It was released by WaterTower Music on March 8, 2026, and is available on all major streaming platforms.
Q. Who plays drums on the Rooster theme song?
Travis Barker of Blink-182 plays drums on “I Played the Fool.” Josh Klinghoffer plays guitar and piano on the track.
Q. Is “I Played the Fool” Michael Stipe’s first new song in a long time?
Yes. “I Played the Fool” marks Michael Stipe’s first new song in three years, making it a significant moment for R.E.M. fans worldwide.
Q. Who stars in Rooster?
The main cast includes Steve Carell as Greg Russo, Charly Clive as Katie Russo (his daughter), Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley as Walter Mann (college president), Lauren Tsai, Connie Britton (recurring), and Annie Mumolo (recurring).
Q. How many episodes does Rooster Season 1 have?
Season 1 has 10 episodes, premiering March 8 and concluding May 10, 2026, with new episodes every Sunday.
Q. Is Rooster similar to Ted Lasso or Shrinking?
Yes. Rooster comes from the same creative universe as both shows. Critics have drawn direct comparisons, noting that the show shares the same warm, character-driven comedy style and emotionally grounded storytelling that made both Ted Lasso and Shrinking so beloved.