Age of The Nerd
Following the recent season premieres of both shows, HBO has renewed the freshman comedy series Barry and returning fan favorite Silicon Valley. The announcement was made by Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, HBO Programming.
“While Barry has delighted audiences with its deft interplay of comedy and drama, Silicon Valley remains as brilliantly and frighteningly prescient as ever,” noted Gravitt. “We’re thrilled that these two smart, funny shows are returning for another season.”
Created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader, Barry launched its eight-episode first season March 25. Hader stars in the title role as a depressed, low-rent hitman from the Midwest who finds himself drawn into a community of acting students while on a hit job in LA. He wants to start a new life, but his criminal past won’t let him walk away. Can he find a way to balance the two worlds?
The current season of Barry, which concludes May 13, was hailed by TV Guide as “wildly original and sensationally entertaining,” while NPR termed it “the best new comedy on television”; the Washington Post described the series as “terrific” and Entertainment Weekly called Hader “phenomenal.”
Season one credits: Barry was created by Alec Berg & Bill Hader; executive produced by Alec Berg and Bill Hader; produced by Aida Rodgers; consulting producer, Liz Sarnoff; producer, Emily Heller.
A collaboration between Mike Judge and Alec Berg, the Emmy®-winning and Golden Globe-nominated Silicon Valley returned for its eight-episode fifth season March 25. The show takes a comic look at the modern-day epicenter of the high-tech gold rush, where the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success.
Among the critical raves for the current season, which concludes May 13, the Atlantic called the show “exciting” and “hilarious,” while the A.V. Club said Silicon Valley has “one of the best comedic ensembles on television”; Slant Magazine hailed the show for “gut-busting comedy,” and Vulture described the new season as “a very smartly designed software upgrade.”
Season five credits: Silicon Valley was created by Mike Judge & John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky; executive producers, Mike Judge, Alec Berg, Clay Tarver, Michael Rotenberg, Tom Lassally, Jim Kleverweis, Jamie Babbit; co-executive producers, Anthony King, Graham Wagner and Ron Weiner; consulting producers, Carrie Kemper, Carson Mell, Jonathan Dotan, Todd Silverstein and Josh Lieb.
