Josh Groban Is Officially A TV Star Now, Thanks To ‘The Good Cop’

There was a time where Josh Groban was mostly known as that singing guy that made middle-aged moms lose their minds, but as of today, with the release of the Netflix original series The Good Cop, Groban is officially a total TV star.

Groban stars as Tony Caruso Jr., or TJ, a total stick in the mud NYPD detective who is too busy playing by the rules to care about all the eye rolls he’s racking up from those around him. And that includes Tony Sr., a former NYPD detective who made some bad choices, served his time for it, and is now back in Brooklyn living with this son. Tony Danza as the dad and Groban as the son is the brilliant odd couple we’ll never know how we lived without before watching the series that’s part police procedural, part comedy, and part family drama.

Groban’s no stranger to television though, as he’s popped up as himself in shows such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and acted in guest starring roles in Ally McBeal, The Office, Life in Pieces, and perhaps you may remember he was Emma Stone’s douchey lawyer boyfriend in Crazy Stupid Love. But The Good Cop is the first time viewers will forget they’re watching Josh Groban. They’ll be too busy rooting for and laughing both with and at TJ.

Because the role of TJ isn’t the simplest: this has to be a guy that’s neurotic and not always fun, and even though he’s right most of the time, you still wish he’d loosen up a bit. The character could’ve been beyond annoying and brought down the fun of those around him, but Groban is the perfect fit for this guy. He holds his own opposite TV legend Danza, creating a father-son relationship that is nowhere near perfect, but is damn fun to observe. TJ’s the kind of guy that’s usually smarter than most others in any room, and certainly most of us watching from home, and while you’re aware of it, you can’t hate him for it. In other words, a character that by all accounts could be a bit boring and even borderline obnoxious is awfully likable due to the controlled charm Groban displays here.

The Good Cop is great for a lot of reasons, but recognizing, and realizing, that Groban is a viable TV star now sure is one of them. Here he’s able to be a goofy yet serious and nerdy yet capable of pulling off action sequences, a feat that very few first-time leading men are granted. He’s bumbling when it comes to human interaction, he’s precise when it comes to his work, and he’s believable throughout. Plus, be sure to look out for episode four where TJ becomes an unlikely bowling star, because with a little help from his spot-on physical comedy, it’s the moment where you’ll understand why all these moms have been so into him this whole time. Groban’s not just The Good Cop, he’s now a damn good actor too.

Where to stream The Good Cop