Big Love Renewed; May Episodes

HBO has renewed the hit drama series Big Love for a second season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Filming of new episodes will begin this August, with debut set for 2007.

"Big Love is a unique and remarkable series," said Strauss. "The second season will offer more of the terrific storytelling that has gripped critics and subscribers this year."

Big Love tells the story of Salt Lake City native Bill Henrickson, who balances the needs of his three wives - Barb, Nicki and Margene - their seven kids, three houses and his home improvement stores. Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin and Harry Dean Stanton star in the series, which will be executive produced next season by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, series creators Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer, and David Knoller.

Kicking off its first season March 12, Big Love currently debuts new episodes Sunday nights (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), immediately following new episodes of "The Sopranos." The series has already sparked a host of rave reviews, with People hailing it "the best new show of the year," while the Wall Street Journal called Big Love "sharp, seriously compelling drama." The Washington Post described the series as "adventurously outrageous," and Time termed it "fascinating...first-rate drama."

Big Love is produced by HBO Entertainment in association with Playtone and Anima Sola Productions; created by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer, and David Knoller.

Big Love - May Episodes

Episode #9: "A Barbecue for Betty"
Debut: Sunday, May 7, 2006 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: May 9 (11:00 p.m.), 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 11 (midnight), and June 2 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 8 (9:00 p.m.), 13 (9:00 p.m.) and 20 (8:00 p.m.)
Bill (Bill Paxton) celebrates being "free and clear" from Roman (Harry Dean Stanton), but the Prophet's meddling might not be over. Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) drops a bombshell on Bill, hoping for forgiveness but fearing the worst. Don (Joel McKinnon Miller) falls hard for a woman named Betty (Melinda Allen). Bill vents to Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) after a run-in with the law. A vote-obsessed Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) leaves a "Chad" hanging.

Written by Jill Sprecher & Karen Sprecher; directed by Julian Farino.

Episode #10: "The Baptism"
Debut: Sunday, May 14 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 16 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (8:00 p.m.) and 18 (midnight), and June 2 (9:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 15 (9:00 p.m.), 20 (9:00 p.m.) and 27 (8:00 p.m.)
Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) gets an unwanted visit from her sister Cindy (Judith Hoag), who strongly disapproves of the family's polygamist lifestyle. Meanwhile, as his feud with Roman intensifies, Bill attempts to infiltrate the UEB Priesthood Council. Ben (Douglas Smith) gives his girlfriend Brynn (Sarah Jones) a token of his affection, and is offered a much more significant one in return. A depressed Margene botches her chores, sees a friendship end, and is transformed at Teenie's (Jolean Wejbe) baptism.

Written by Lance Black; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #11: "Where There's a Will"
Debut: Sunday, May 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 23 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (8:00 p.m.) and 25 (midnight), and June 2 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 22 (9:00 p.m.) and 27 (9:00 p.m.), and June 10 (8:00 p.m.)
The Henricksons' public stock is rising, as Barb finds herself a finalist for Mother of the Year, and Bill is asked to become the newest member of the Salt Lake City Leadership League. Meanwhile, the wives mull over custody scenarios in their separate wills, but are chastened for their subterfuge when Hatcher (Lawrence O'Donnell) spills the beans to Bill. Rhonda (Daveigh Chase) arrives from Juniper Creek for a histrionic spring-break stay, prompting sympathy from Sarah and Heather (Tina Majorino). And Holloway (John Ingle) finds that keeping secrets from Roman carries both risks and rewards.

Story by Eileen Myers; teleplay by Mimi Friedman & Jeanette Collins; directed by Alan Poul.

Big Love is produced by HBO Entertainment in association with Playtone and Anima Sola Productions; created by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; producers, Bernie Caulfield and Karen Sprecher & Jill Sprecher; supervising producers, Jeanette Collins & Mimi Friedman; staff writers, Dustin Lance Black and Eileen Myers; casting, Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A. & Libby Goldstein.