HBO Greenlights the Laura Dern and Mike White Pilot ENLIGHTENED

Continuing in their quest to regain television network preeminence, HBO has given the greenlight to yet another pilot.  “Enlightened”, the tentatively-titled, single camera comedy which stars Laura Dern, was developed by “School of Rock scribe Mike White.  More after the jump.

Unlike Martin Scorsese’s “Boardwalk Empire” (which received an 11 episode order earlier this week) and “Game of Thrones” (which will film its pilot this October) HBO’s newest pilot venture falls firmly into their “comedy” block – currently populated by only “Entourage” and “Hung” in anticipation of the eminent return of Larry David.

Also unlike the new HBO dramas, “Enlightened” was put on a fast development track due mainly to Laura Dern’s much-lauded performance as Katherine Harris in the network’s own “Recount” back in 2008.  White, who had directed Dern in 2007′s “Year of the Dog”, will direct the pilot episode of the series which has Dern playing a “self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening.”

The adorable White, who won America’s heart by taking his Dad on last season’s “The Amazing Race”, told The Hollywood Reporter that he was “totally stoked” to be doing a show at HBO with Laura Dern… see what I mean?  Adorable!