HBO’s Sunday Lineup Scores Big as ‘The Chair Company’ Debuts Strong and ‘Task’ Builds Momentum.
HBO is celebrating major wins on Sunday nights, with Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company delivering the network’s strongest comedy debut in more than five years and lead-in series Task continuing to build impressive momentum.
According to HBO, The Chair Company drew 1.4 million viewers across HBO and Max in its first three days, marking the network’s biggest comedy premiere since Avenue 5 launched in early 2020.
The series stars and is co-created by Tim Robinson, who previously worked with Zach Kanin on Detroiters and the cult hit I Think You Should Leave. The show follows a man who spirals into chaos after an office mishap.
Beyond ratings, The Chair Company is also earning major critical praise. The show currently holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers highlighting its blend of surreal humor, workplace satire, and mystery.
Critics have noted that the series diverges from Robinson’s sketch roots, offering a more narrative-driven and emotionally layered take on comedy. Early reviews from outlets like The Hollywood Reporter have also commended the show’s originality and Robinson’s performance.
The success didn’t arrive in isolation. Its lead-in, Task, has seen steady audience growth since its September 7 debut. The penultimate episode pulled in 4 million cross-platform viewers over three days, a jump of 32% compared to its premiere, which launched slightly above 3 million.
HBO also reported long-tail growth for Task. The series premiere has accumulated 10 million total viewers over the past six-plus weeks, while the show overall is averaging 6.7 million viewers per episode so far.
That performance is nearly identical to creator Brad Ingelsby’s last HBO hit, Mare of Easttown, which averaged 6.8 million per episode at the same point during its original run.
Critically, Task is being received as a prestige drama in its own right. The series holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, with many reviewers praising its character-driven storytelling and tense pacing.
Although marketed as a limited series, creator Brad Ingelsby has hinted he’s open to a follow-up season if the demand continues to climb, similar to how Mare of Easttown evolved in fan conversation. Mare ultimately reached 13 million viewers per episode within HBO’s 90-day window.
As with most of the network’s modern releases, streaming is driving the numbers.
Only 124,000 viewers watched The Chair Company live on HBO’s cable channel, representing about 9% of its total. Task saw 401,000 live cable viewers, or roughly 10% of its three-day tally. The vast majority of viewers tuned in via HBO Max.
With Task heading into its finale and The Chair Company off to a strong start, HBO’s Sunday slate is shaping up as one of its most successful comedy blocks in recent years.
