Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company: HBO’s Funniest and Weirdest Show of 2025

Tim Robinson has done it again—and this time, he’s taken his volcanic comedy to HBO. The Chair Company, the latest creation from Tim Robinson and writing partner Zach Kanin, premiered on October 12, 2025, and immediately became HBO’s most-watched comedy debut in over five years. If you thought I Think You Should Leave was weird, buckle up—Tim Robinson just raised the stakes.

Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company: Essential Info

What Makes Tim Robinson’s Show Historic

Tim’s The Chair Company averaged 1.4 million cross-platform viewers across its first three days, making it HBO’s biggest comedy series debut since Avenue 5 in 2020. It ranks among the top three comedy premieres in HBO Max history, alongside And Just Like That and Our Flag Means Death—impressive company for a show about a broken office chair.

The series earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “one of the best shows of the year” and “by far the funniest show of the year.” Metacritic’s weighted score of 82/100 indicates “universal acclaim”—rarified air for any comedy, let alone one as uncompromisingly weird as anything Tim creates.

The Premise Tim Built

After an embarrassing workplace incident (HBO insists reviewers keep the exact details secret), Tim’s character, Ron Trosper, begins investigating the chair company that manufactured the offending furniture. What starts as a simple complaint spirals into a far-reaching conspiracy that takes Ron—and viewers—into increasingly surreal territory.

Tim plays Ron as a middle-aged man with a nebulous office job at architectural firm Fisher Robay, which designs malls. When his chair fails during an important presentation, Ron’s quest for answers about Tecca Chairs becomes an obsession that threatens to consume his entire life. It’s Office Space meets Mulholland Drive, filtered through Tim’s uniquely uncomfortable comedic lens.

Robinson’s Evolution from SNL to HBO

Tim first gained attention as an SNL cast member and writer, where many unused sketch ideas would later appear on Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave. That sketch show, co-created with Zach Kanin, established Tim Robinson’s signature style: deeply earnest yet maladjusted characters prone to crudely phrased but instantly memorable proclamations.

The Chair Company marks Tim’s evolution into long-form storytelling. After the A24 film Friendship (also directed by Andrew DeYoung), this eight-episode series proves Tim can sustain his volcanic comedic ethos beyond sketch format. The show maintains Tim’s trademark awkwardness while building actual narrative momentum—no small feat.

Why Tim Robinson’s Comedy Polarizes

Tim’s humor isn’t for everyone, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. His comedy lives in deeply uncomfortable places, forcing viewers to sit with excruciating anxiety until it becomes “perversely fascinating, almost a solid object hovering in the air.” Critics note that if you’re looking to Tim for a chill evening, “you’ve already made a mistake.”

What distinguishes The Chair Company from previous Tim‘s projects is that Ron isn’t alone in his eccentricity. The entire fictional world vibrates on Tim Robinson’s bizarre frequency. There’s a shirt salesman who uses a basketball to demonstrate belly strain on buttons, a man with an unexplained head dent, and a co-worker who “can’t stop thinking there’s metal in my body.”

The Tim Robinson Universe

Tim Robinson’s collaborations with Zach Kanin stretch back to their SNL days. Together, they created the short-lived cult sitcom Detroiters before striking gold with I Think You Should Leave. Executive producer Adam McKay (of The Big Short and Don’t Look Up fame) helped bring Tim’s vision to HBO, recognizing the comedian’s singular voice deserves a premium platform.

Director Andrew DeYoung, who helmed Friendship and the first episode of The Chair Company, understands Tim’s comic sensibility intimately. The show features “paranoid electronic burbles” in its score that contrast with easygoing 1970s rock—including a tearjerking Jim Croce needle drop that shows Tim can deliver emotion alongside anxiety.

Tim Robinson’s Supporting Cast

Tim Robinson assembled a stellar ensemble for The Chair Company. Lake Bell plays his wife Barb, whose breast pump redesign business is thriving while Ron’s off-road Jeep touring company failed. Sophia Lillis and Will Price portray his children, while Lou Diamond Phillips recurs as Ron’s glad-handing boss.

Intentionally, many supporting roles went to unknown actors to add realism. The strategy works—even seasoned pros seem “coached to act as if they don’t know how to act,” creating an off-kilter atmosphere that makes Tim Robinson’s paranoia feel contagious rather than isolated.

Where to Watch Tim Robinson’s Latest

The Chair Company streams exclusively on Max (formerly HBO Max), with new episodes dropping weekly through November 30, 2025. Plans start at $10.99/month, and the series is available in Full HD with options for 4K on premium tiers.

For fans catching up on Tim’s work, I Think You Should Leave (three seasons) and Friendship are also streaming on Max, offering a complete Tim viewing experience under one subscription.

Why Tim Robinson Matters

Tim represents comedy that refuses to compromise. In an era of algorithm-friendly content designed for maximum appeal, Tim creates polarizing, challenging work that rewards viewers willing to embrace discomfort. His characters—loudly entitled yet brittle, prone to immediate collapse when challenged—reflect anxieties many feel but few articulate so viscerally.

The critical acclaim and viewership numbers prove there’s a hunger for Tim’s brand of uncomfortable comedy. The Chair Company isn’t just HBO’s biggest comedy debut in years—it’s validation that weird, challenging, uncompromising comedy can find massive audiences when executed this brilliantly.

The Bottom Line on Tim Robinson

Tim’s The Chair Company is essential viewing for anyone who appreciates comedy that takes risks. With perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores, record-breaking viewership, and Tim delivering his most sustained character work yet, this HBO series cements his status as one of comedy’s most important voices.

Is it weird? Absolutely. Uncomfortable? Definitely. But Tim wouldn’t have it any other way—and neither should you.

Ready to spiral down the conspiracy rabbit hole with Tim Robinson? Stream The Chair Company now on Max!

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