HBO Renews Jonathan Groff's LOOKING for Second Season

Deadline reports that HBO has greenlit a second season of its gay-themed freshman comedy LOOKING, starring Broadway vet Jonathan Groff.

The news follows the show's third consecutive week of posting series high ratings, including this past Sunday's episode which delivered 519,000 viewers, up 54% from the series premiere five weeks ago. Including encores, Looking has averaged 749,000 viewers on Sunday, with its episodes attracting gross audience of 2 million viewers season to date.

While the series got off to a slow start, HBO execs were pleased with the media attention it was attracting and deemed that more important than the soft ratings the show was pulling in initially. Airing back to back with the HBO hit Girls, the shows appear to be good companions featuring relatable material and buzz-worthy topics.

About LOOKING:

Patrick, Agustín and Dom are close friends living in the progressive city of San Francisco. Against the backdrop of the Bay Area, they explore the exciting and varied options available to a new generation of gay men, seeking fulfillment in love and life. From collaborators Michael Lannan and Andrew Haigh, the half-hour series LOOKINGtakes a frank look at the experiences of the three men when the show kicked off its eight-episode season on JAN. 19 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

The series stars Jonathan Groff ("Spring Awakening," HBO's upcoming "The Normal Heart") as Patrick, along with Frankie J. Alvarez ("Smash") as Agustín and Murray Bartlett ("August") as Dom.

Friendship may bind the three, but each is at a markedly different point in his journey. Patrick is a 29-year old video game designer getting back into the dating world after his ex's engagement. Though surprised by how challenging it is to find a partner, he knows he always has his friends to rely on should his efforts go astray. Agustín, 31, agrees to move in with his long-term boyfriend in Oakland, but is apprehensive about monogamy and the prospect of choosing domesticity over the energy of city life. At 39, Dom is the oldest of the group and is daunted by the success of an old flame, as well as the approach of middle age with romantic and professional goals still unfulfilled.

San Francisco is the fourth character in LOOKING, its presence intertwined with the stories of the three friends. Shot in more than 40 locations in a variety of neighborhoods, the series delves into the city beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, embracing the real San Francisco, from the expense of city living and cramped apartments to the unique natural light and rides on the Muni.

Recurring guest stars on LOOKING include Scott Bakula (HBO's "Behind the Candelabra"; "Quantum Leap"), Russell Tovey ("The HISTORY Boys"), Lauren Weedman ("Date Night"), O-T Fagbenle ("Breaking and Entering"), Andrew Law and Raúl Castillo.

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