HBO has renewed the Issa Rae comedy “Insecure” and Sarah Jessica Parker-starring “Divorce” for a second season. The drama “Westworld,” which was co-created and is co-written and co-executive produced by Lisa Joy, was also renewed and included in the announcement.
“I am thrilled to announce the pickup of our three fall series, all of which have distinctive, original voices,” said Casey Bloys, president of HBO Programming.
The half-hour comedy series “Divorce” stars Parker (who also serves as an executive producer on the project) as Frances, “a woman who suddenly begins to reassess her life and her marriage, and finds that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought.” The show also stars Molly Shannon and Talia Balsam (“Mad Men”). The series was created by Sharon Horgan (“Catastrophe”), who also directed the pilot episode.
“Divorce” premiered last month and marked Parker’s return to HBO after 12 years. The network’s comedy “Sex and the City” skyrocketed her fame.
Issa Rae, the “Awkward Black Girl” YouTube breakout, created and stars in the hilarious “Insecure,” an entertaining and insightful look at the relationship between two female friends, and the trials and tribulations they experience alongside one another. Shortly before “Insecure” premiered, Rae signed a first-look deal with HBO. The two-year contract sees Rae developing programming for diverse voices for all of HBO’s platforms, including HBO GO and HBO NOW.
HBO reports that “Divorce” is averaging 4.4 million viewers, while “Insecure” is taking in 3.2 million, putting them on par with the network’s other comedies, “VEEP” and “Girls.”
While “Divorce” and “Insecure” are successes, “Westworld” is a smash success. With 11.7 million viewers, it’s outperforming the network’s hit series “Game of Thrones.” The sci-fi story stars Evan Rachel Wood (“True Blood”) and follows a fantasy adventure park and the dawn of artificial consciousness.
Back in September, HBO renewed another female co-created series as well, “High Maintenance.” The comedy centered a Brooklyn-based pot dealer will return for a second season. The series was co-created by Katja Blichfeld.
