Steve Carell is ‘everyone’s dad’ in new ‘Rooster’ clip

Has Tom Hanks been officially usurped as America’s Dad? The latest installment of HBO’s hit comedy Rooster reveals that Steven Carell might be taking over that title — or, more specifically, his in-show alter ego, Greg Russo. The author-turned-academic is officially recognized as “everyone’s dad” by Ludlow College student and confirmed Russo pal Tommy (Maximo Salas) in this exclusive clip from the sixth episode, which Gold Derby is exclusively premiering ahead of its April 12 debut. (Watch the scene above.)

That news doesn’t necessarily sit well with Greg’s actual kid, Katie (Charly Clive), who comes to her dad seeking his advice. But the guy finds it hard to focus on her problems when he’s got a few of his own, including a budding romance with Cristle (Annie Mumolo), executive assistant to the college’s sauna-loving president — and Greg and Katie’s boss — Walter Mann (John C. McGinley). In a very fatherly move, Greg then exits the conversation to go prepare some “fun snackerooskies” for Tommy and his soon-to-arrive friends. Think Hot Pockets and peanut butter-laden celery sticks.

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It’s good to see Greg in a better mood after the awkward ending to his reunion with ex-wife Elizabeth (Connie Britton) in last week’s episode. And Carell and Rooster co-creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses have to be feeling pretty, pretty good as well. On Thursday, HBO officially renewed the Emmy-contending series for a second season based on the already-strong numbers for the show’s freshman year. The first four episodes alone reached nearly 6 million viewers, making Rooster the most-watched first season of an HBO comedy in over a decade.

Carell has accordingly seen his Emmy nomination odds rise as well; The Office star is now in sixth place on Gold Derby’s Best Comedy Actor leaderboard behind Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), Jason Segel (Shrinking), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), and Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building). It would be Carell’s eighth acting Emmy bid after six Office nominations and a lone Morning Show nod. We’ll raise our “snackerooskies” in a toast if he makes the cut on Emmy nominations morning.