From ‘Rooster’ to ‘Running Point’: How Hollywood Is Rethinking Its Comedy Hits
Hollywood is rethinking its approach to comedy as it faces mixed results in the genre. HBO's 'Rooster' has emerged as a significant success, becoming the network's most-watched comedy debut in 15 years. Meanwhile, other comedies like Netflix's 'Running Point' are struggling to maintain viewership momentum, indicating a shift in audience preferences.
- ▪HBO's 'Rooster' wrapped its first season as the network's most-watched comedy debut in 15 years, averaging 6.5 million viewers.
- ▪Netflix's 'Running Point' Season 2 debuted with 5.3 million views, a drop from its Season 1 debut of 9.3 million views.
- ▪Hollywood's comedy landscape is shifting as broader appeal series gain traction over niche offerings.
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Home > Commentary & Analysis > Columns From ‘Rooster’ to ‘Running Point’: How Hollywood Is Rethinking Its Comedy Hits Plus, live events keep scoring for Netflix and “The Rookie” ends Season 8 on a high note Loree Seitz May 21, 2026 @ 11:30 AM Share on Social Media Share on Facebook Share on X (formerly Twitter) Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Steve Carell in "Rooster," Zach Braff and Donald Faison in "Scrubs" and Kate Hudson in "Running Point" (HBO, ABC, Netflix) Comedy has been a mixed bag for TV of late, with Hollywood embracing varying strategies as they rethink their approach to the genre. One big win so far this year is Bill Lawrence’s “Rooster,” which wrapped its freshman season on May 10 as HBO’s most-watched comedy debut in 15 years.
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