Fanatic Feed: Girls Return, Handmaid's Premiere, Grinch's 50th Anniv. & More

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Girls returns for its sixth and final season Sunday, February, 12.

Created by and starring Lena Dunham, the Emmy®-winning comedy series is a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their 20s. 

Girls Season 5 was definitely its best, and we're expecting big things from Lena Dunham and friends for the end run.

The comedy series Crashing premieres Sunday, February 19 at 10:30, following Girls.

The show was created by and stars Pete Holmes as a standup comic who discovers that his wife is unfaithful, leading him to reevaluate his life amidst the New York City comedy scene. 

Holly Hunter will be starring in Alan Ball's straight-to-series multiracial family drama at HBO. It is, as of yet, untitled.

The series is about the Black-Bishop family. Hunter will star as Audrey Black. She and her husband, Greg, are socially conscious idealst with one biological child who had decided to build a family by adopting from overseas.

Once a practicing therapist, Audrey now uses her skills in the corporate world, balancing her progressive personal philosophy with the need to make money.. She's a caring, smart woman who thinks she knows what's best for everyone and has no problem telling them. But with her children mostly grown and her husband fighting depressing, she's adrift.

The Night Shift has been renewed for Season 4.

Thank goodness, because we really need something to hold onto in the summer months, and The Night Shift provides compelling storylines, as well as solid characters that feel like family.

“Week after week The Night Shift tells incredibly engaging and emotional stories that draw us into a unique world,” said NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke. “We are delighted to renew the show for an exciting fourth season and look forward to continue working with such a great cast and executive producing team.”

Set at San Antonio Memorial Hospital and focusing on veteran doctors returning from combat as they reintegrate, the series stars Eoin Macken, Jill Flint, Brendan Fehr, Robert Bailey Jr., JR Lemon, Tanaya Beatty and Scott Wolf. Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah serve as exec producers and writers.

Looks like it was our mistake not to take a more serious look at Epix Network's first foray into scripted programming. Both of their series, drama Berlin Station and comedy Graves, have earned second season renewals.

"We're incredibly proud of the work our creators, executive producers, cast and crew did on the first seasons of Berlin Station and Graves. These ambitious series represent the level of prestigious, cinematic and authentic storytelling we are committed to offering our subscribers," Epix president and CEO Mark S. Greenberg said. "Both series are particularly timely and relevant and quickly found their place in the competitive TV landscape. We couldn't be more excited to continue to tell these unique and compelling stories."

Berlin Station is a spy drama starring Richar Armitage, Richard Jenkins, Rhys Ifans and Michelle Forbes (what an amazing cast!!) that's filmed in Berlin.

Graves stars Nick Nolte as a two-term Republican President who is on a journey to right the wrongs that occurred during his presidency 25 years after he's out of office. Graves also stars Sela Ward and Skylar Astin.

"With the country focused on electing a new president, we’re excited to see that viewers haven't lost their sense of humor and have embraced Graves' fictional, funny and very human past president, as brought vibrantly to life by Nick Nolte and creator Joshua Michael Stern," Lionsgate TV Group chairman Kevin Beggs said. "We are thrilled to extend our partnership for a second season and look forward to the new places Josh will take this memorable former first family next year."

Hulu has announced its midseason slate, including the the premiere of The Handmaid's Tale Season 1 will be in April of 2017. Starring Elizabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, Max Minghella, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd and O-T Fagbenle, it comes from MGM Television.

The drama series, based on the award-winning, best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly part of the United States.

Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world.

In this terrifying society where one wrong word could end her life, Offred navigates between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.

The Path Season 2 will premiere on Wednesday, January 25, The Mindy Project Season 5B will premiere on Tuesday, February 14, Harlots Season 1, about a brothel owner and mother, will premiere on Wednesday, March 29 and Casual Season 3 will premiere on Tuesday, May 3.

Duck Dynasty, the series, has been canceled at A&E.

It will run, with breaks, through April 2017, but don't expect to see the last of the Robertson family on the small screen, as they already have planned a round of holiday specials in the future.

Because, you know, nothing says Christmas like a few rifles and camouflage.

You know what DOES say Christmas? Vintage holiday classics.

For the first time in over ten years, NBC will be showing How the Grinch Stole Christmas in its entirety. No, I don't know what has been cut from the 26 minute presentation in the past, but I'm darn glad every bit will be seen of this Warner Bros. Entertainment special on November 25.

Mark your calendars and get ready to sing in honor of the classic's 50th Anniversary! Fahoo fores dahoo dores, Welcome Christmas, Christmas day!

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.

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