HBO has announced that the second seasons of the original comedy series Girls and Enlightened will debut in January of 2013.  The first seasons of Girls and Enlightened began airing in April and October, respectively, but the network now has a hole to fill in January after the unexpected cancellation of Luck.  I’ve yet to catch Enlightened, but I was a big fan of Lena Dunham’s Girls.  At once raw, hilarious, candid, and sweet, Girls proved to be one of the most entertaining offerings of the 2011-2012 TV season.For those keeping score at home, next up on HBO’s original programming docket after True Blood and The Newsroom wrap up their current seasons is Boardwalk Empire and Treme, which both premiere in September.  Hit the jump to read the full press release.girls-tv-showHere’s the press release:

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2012 – HBO has confirmed the second-season debuts of the acclaimed series ENLIGHTENED and GIRLS, with both shows scheduled to kick off ten-episode second seasons in Jan. 2013.

ENLIGHTENED tells the story of an ambitious executive at a global conglomerate, who returns to her fractured life after a humiliating public breakdown, determined to lead a more enlightened existence.  But her newfound noble intentions only ratchet up the drama, wreaking unexpected havoc on those around her. Laura Dern stars in the series, which she executive produces along with Mike White, who also co-stars, writes and directs. The show concluded its first season in Dec. 2011, with Dern receiving a 2012 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical.

The Los Angeles Times called ENLIGHTENED “the most interesting and ambitious series of the fall season,” while the Hollywood Reporter hailed it as “very funny” and “emotionally resonant.” TheNew York Times described the show as “funny, sardonic,” and the Washington Post termed it “wonderfully realized” and “unique.”

Created by and starring Lena Dunham, GIRLS takes a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their early 20s.  Dunham, Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner executive produce the show, which concluded its first season in June.  Bruce Eric Kaplan and Ilene S. Landress co-executive produce. The cast also includes Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver and Alex Karpovsky.

The series recently received five Emmy® nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham), Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham) and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham).

GIRLS was called “smart, funny” and “groundbreaking” by the San Francisco Chronicle, while New York Magazine hailed it as  “the ballsiest show on TV.” People described the show as “brilliant,” and TV Guide said it was “brilliantly raw” and a “true breakthrough.”