Denison students made multiple appearances on NBC’s national morning show this week, inspiring fellow improv troupe member Steve Carell ’84 to reflect on his time on The Hill, where he first honed his comedic instincts as a student performer.
He joined TODAY’s Craig Melvin to discuss Rooster, a new HBO comedy series that follows a bestselling author played by Carell, who finds himself immersed in life on a college campus.
Melvin surprised Carell with photos from his years at Denison and a video question from a current member of the Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company, Tionna Wear ’28, that prompted him to reflect on how the student-run improv troupe helped shape his career in entertainment.
“Well, the Burpee’s motto back then, and I think still today, is ‘out on a limb,’ so taking chances, and what I learned there is the idea of ensemble, no one is more important or greater than anybody else. You’re all in it together,” he said. “And so, I actually think those things helped me later as an actor and certainly in life… You just have to be part of the ensemble. It’s not just about you.”
Denison filmed students as they watched the TODAY interview live and published the video to its social media pages, where TODAY aired their reaction and excitement.
Carell’s experience with Burpee’s gave him an early stage to experiment with humor and performance, skills that would later propel him to stardom in television and film.
Carell, also a hockey player and DJ, graduated from Denison with a degree in history and went on to build one of the most respected comedy careers in Hollywood, including his iconic role as Michael Scott on The Office and performances in films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Anchorman, and Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Video of the students’ appearances on TODAY can be viewed and shared on Denison’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, accounts. You can also follow the latest from Denison on X and LinkedIn.
Denison University is a premier, fully residential university that delivers a life-shaping education focused on launching graduates quickly and successfully into lives and careers. Located in Granville, Ohio, a small, quintessential college town, and 25 minutes from Columbus, the nation’s 14th-largest city, Denison is frequently cited among the nation’s best universities. Recently, Denison climbed to #2 for best career services, #4 for best classroom experience, and #2 for happiest students, among all 2,400 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. in the Princeton Review 2026 Best Colleges rankings.
Rooster stars Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai, and debuts March 8, on HBO and HBO Max.