Girls (TV series)

Girls
GenreComedy drama
Cringe comedy
Created byLena Dunham
ShowrunnerLena Dunham
Starring
ComposerMichael Penn
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes62 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Editors
  • Robert Franzen
  • Catherine Haight
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time26–41 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseApril 15, 2012 (2012-04-15) –
April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Girls is an American comedy-drama television series created by and starring Lena Dunham, executive-produced by Judd Apatow. The series depicts four young women living in New York City. The show's premise was drawn from Dunham's own life, as were major aspects of the main character, including financial isolation from her parents, becoming a writer, and making unfortunate decisions.[1] The series is known for its post-feminist commentary and conversation around body politics and female sexual subjecthood.[2]

Lena Dunham created Girls with the intention of offering a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of the lives of young women in their twenties. The show, which premiered on HBO in 2012,[3] revolves around a group of friends played by Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet, navigating the challenges of relationships, work, and self-discovery in New York City. The first season of Girls was filmed between April and August 2011. The first three episodes were screened at the 2012 SXSW Festival and the series premiered on HBO on April 15, 2012.[3] The series ran for six seasons until April 16, 2017. There were a total of 62 episodes.[4][5]

Dunham, who both created and starred in the series, aimed to provide an authentic representation of the experiences, struggles, and relationships of young women.[6] She wanted to present a narrative that went beyond the glamorous or idealized portrayals often seen in mainstream media. Girls received attention for its frank and sometimes controversial depictions of sex, relationships, and personal growth. The show was seen as a departure from traditional television narratives, offering a more unfiltered and honest exploration of the complexities of adulthood, particularly from a female perspective.[7]

The show has received critical praise and numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference tca was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Ford, Jessica (2016). "The "smart" body politics of Lena Dunham's Girls". Feminist Media Studies. 16 (6): 1029–1042. doi:10.1080/14680777.2016.1162826. S2CID 147052673 – via Abingdon: Routledge.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Puente, Marie (January 6, 2016). "Lena Dunham's 'Girls' renewed for sixth and final season". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Pederson, Erik (November 17, 2016). "HBO Sets Premiere Dates For 'Girls,' 'Last Week Tonight' & New Comedy 'Crashing". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).