EMMY(R)-WINNING COMEDY SERIES "GIRLS," CREATED BY AND STARRING LENA DUNHAM, RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON JAN. 12, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Lena Dunham And Ilene S. Landress Executive Produce

Hannah has settled into newfound domesticity with Adam, and is rehabilitating her writing career. Marnie is recovering from her traumatic breakup with Charlie and working to achieve the life she feels she deserves. Nearing graduation, the newly single Shoshanna is trying to strike a healthy balance between partying and school. And Jessa continues to disrupt the lives of everyone around her.

Created by and starring Lena Dunham, the Emmy(R)-winning HBO series GIRLS takes a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of women in their 20s. Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Lena Dunham and Ilene S. Landress executive produce the show, which kicks off its 12-episode third season with a special presentation of two episodes back-to-back SUNDAY, JAN. 12 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), followed by other half-hour episodes on subsequent Sundays at the same time. The drama series "True Detective" debuts at 9:00 p.m., immediately before the season premiere of GIRLS.

In addition to Dunham, who stars as Hannah, the cast of GIRLS includes Allison Williams as Marnie; Jemima Kirke as Jessa; Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna; Alex Karpovsky as Ray; and Adam Driver as Adam.

Guest stars on the third season of GIRLS include: Richard E. Grant ("Doctor Who") as Jessa's new friend; Rita Wilson ("It's Complicated") as Marnie's mother; John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch") as Hannah's editor; Gaby Hoffman ("You Can Count on Me") as Adam's sister; Debra Monk ("Damages") as Dr. Sterns; Shiri Appleby ("Chicago Fire") as Natalia, Adam's ex; Danielle Brooks ("Orange Is the New Black") as Laura; Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer") as Angie; Bob Balaban (HBO's "Family Tree") as Dr. Rice; Colin Quinn (HBO's "Colin Quinn Long Story Short") as Hermie; and Andrew Rannells ("The New Normal") as Elijah.

Upcoming episodes:

Episode #21: "Females Only"

Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 12 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 12 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.), 13 (11:15 p.m.), 14 (10:00 p.m.), 15 (9:00 p.m., midnight), 16 (8:00 p.m.) and 17 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 13 (10:00 p.m.), 15 (10:00 p.m.) and 18 (8:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.)

Reeling after a nasty run-in with Natalia (Shiri Appleby) at Ray's (Alex Karpovsky) new coffee and pizza place, Hannah (Lena Dunham) and a reluctant Adam (Adam Driver) host dinner at their apartment with Marnie (Allison Williams), who is living at home in New Jersey and still raw from her breakup with Charlie, and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet), who is alternating nights of sexual freedom with academia after her breakup with Ray. Meanwhile, Jessa (Jemima Kirke) pushes buttons, and new friend Jasper (Richard E. Grant) illuminates her daddy issues.

Written by Lena Dunham; directed by Lena Dunham.

Episode #22: "Truth or Dare"

Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 12 (12:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.), 13 (11:45 p.m.), 14 (10:30 p.m.), 15 (9:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 16 (8:30 p.m.) and 17 (12:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 13 (10:30 p.m.), 15 (10:30 p.m.) and 18 (8:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.)

Hannah, Shoshanna and Adam take a road trip to reunite with Jessa, leaving Marnie feeling left out as she moves into her own place. On the trip, Hannah looks futilely for writing inspiration in order to meet her editor's deadline.

Written by Jenni Konner; directed by Lena Dunham.

Episode #23: "She Said OK" Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 19 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 19 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.), 20 (11:45 p.m.), 21 (9:00 p.m.), 22 (9:30 p.m., midnight), 23 (8:00 p.m.) and 24 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 20 (10:00 p.m.), 22 (10:00 p.m.) and 25 (8:30 p.m., 11:00 p.m.)

When Caroline (Gaby Hoffman), Adam's eccentric and emotionally toxic sister, shows up unannounced, Hannah offers her a place to stay, despite Adam's protests. Marnie's control-freak tendencies reach full tilt at Hannah's 25th birthday party. Ray settles into his role as manager at the new restaurant, but has a harder time keeping cool around Shoshanna.

Written by Lena Dunham & Jenni Konner; directed by Jesse Peretz.

Episode #24: "Deep Inside" Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 26 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 26 (midnight, 2:00 a.m.), 27 (11:15 p.m.), 28 (10:00 p.m.), 29 (9:30 p.m., midnight), 30 (8:00 p.m.) and 31 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 27 (10:00 p.m.) and 29 (10:00 p.m.), and Feb. 1 (8:30 p.m., 11:00 p.m.)

Hannah tries to process an untimely death, but seems more concerned about its impact on her eBook deal. Jessa tracks down an old friend she thought was dead. Marnie is horrified to discover a video Charlie posted online.

Written by Judd Apatow & Lena Dunham; directed by Jesse Peretz.

Earlier this year, the series received five Emmy(R) nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Adam Driver) and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Lena Dunham). In Sept. 2012, GIRLS won an Emmy(R) for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series

In Jan. 2013, GIRLS was the only HBO series to be honored at the Golden Globe Awards, received awards for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical (Lena Dunham). The show was recently nominated for 2014 Golden Globe Awards in the same two categories.

GIRLS is executive produced by Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Lena Dunham and Ilene S. Landress; co-executive producers, Murray Miller and Paul Simms; producer, Jesse Peretz; consulting producer, Bruce Eric Kaplan.