HBO picks up 'Girls' for a third season

By Meredith Blake

Jan. 24, 2013 12 AM PT

Get ready for more “Girls.” The controversial but critically lauded, Golden Globe-winning show will return for a third season. While HBO has not officially confirmed the renewal, the cast and crew of “Girls” have made it abundantly clear the show will be back.

This weekend, Lena Dunham spoke with Alec Baldwin for his podcast, “Here’s the Thing,” and inadvertently confirmed the show’s pick-up. “We’re starting season three at the end of March. I’m so excited,” she said. During the conversation, Dunham also revealed she has a six-year contract with HBO, meaning there may be lots more “Girls” to come.

The pick-up does not come as a huge surprise. In an interview with The Times in December, Dunham said she was already working on scripts for season 3. Executive producer Judd Apatow also let the cat out of the bag in an interview this month when he revealed that “we’re about to shoot the third season of ‘Girls.’”

Although only about 900,000 viewers tune in to watch “Girls” live when it airs Sunday nights, the audience is closer to 4 million when DVR, on-demand and repeat viewings are factored in.

And the accolades keep rolling in, a factor that matters at prestige-friendly HBO. “Girls” was nominated for five Emmys in its freshman season, and also scored a number of surprise wins at the Golden Globes this month. The series was named best TV comedy, and Lena Dunham beat out the likes of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to win the award for best actress in a comedy.

The second season of “Girls” premiered Jan. 13.

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