NEW YORK — HBO’s latest prestige comedy, “Rooster,” starring Steve Carell as Greg Russo, is being celebrated as television’s bravest effort yet to chronicle the harrowing journey of a slightly wealthy, recently divorced author struggling to find meaning in a world that continues to book him on morning talk shows.

Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, “Rooster” follows Russo—critically acclaimed for his novels “Sunburned Cheeks” and “Malibu Intrigue: A Towel Mystery”—as he grapples with the fallout of a failed marriage and the horror of being recognized at the local Whole Foods. “We wanted to break new ground by depicting the psychological toll of upper-middle-class ennui,” said Lawrence at a press junket, pausing only to check his watch. “It’s time to tell the stories of relatable men who can’t figure out how their Peloton works.”

The show has reportedly tested well among focus groups composed entirely of Stanleys from Connecticut. “It’s like watching my dad, but with slightly better hair,” said test audience member Tyler Hunt, 28. “I felt represented and slightly bored.”

Critics have applauded Carell for his nuanced portrayal of a man whose greatest risk is wearing socks with sandals in public. “Carell’s character arc—buying a kayak on impulse, struggling to install a Brita filter, learning how online dating works—pushes the boundaries of television monotony,” noted TV historian Janet Plimpton. “At one point, he microwaves oatmeal for 11 minutes. I wept.”

Sources confirm HBO is already in talks for a spin-off series featuring Russo’s neighbor, played by Greg Kinnear, titled “Leafblower.”