"GETTING ON," AN OFFBEAT, COMEDIC LOOK AT THE DYSFUNCTIONAL STAFF OF A BELEAGUERED HOSPITAL, BEGINS ITS SECOND SEASON NOV. 9, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

At the Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit of Mt. Palms Hospital in Long Beach, Cal., the staff attends to the needs of female patients who are often "getting on" in years, while dealing with the challenges of a health-care bureaucracy in need of an overhaul. Even as they attempt to serve their charges under less-than-ideal circumstances, the lives of this ragtag crew are complicated by conflicting agendas, both professional and personal.

From creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer (co-creators of the acclaimed HBO series "Big Love"), GETTING ON returns for its six-episode second season SUNDAY, NOV. 9 (10:40-11:10 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Blending outrageous humor with unexpected moments of tenderness, the critically-acclaimed show follows the daily lives of nurses and doctors as they struggle with the darkly comic realities of caring for the elderly in an overwhelmed healthcare system, skewering the petty bureaucracies of modern medical practice in America.

Cast regulars on GETTING ON include: Laurie Metcalf (three Emmys(R) for "Roseanne") as Dr. Jenna James, who once hoped to become a medical-research star, but has instead been sentenced to purgatory at the facility; Alex Borstein ("Family Guy") as Nurse Dawn, whose personal shortcomings and obsession with finding a boyfriend undermine her need to excel in her job; Niecy Nash ("Reno 911!") as Nurse DiDi, whose easy rapport with patients should be an example to her superiors, but isn't; and Mel Rodriguez ("Community") as Patsy De La Serda, a reform-minded supervising nurse of ambiguous sexuality.

Season two finds Dr. James on a research binge, measuring anal-genital distances of her geriatric population, as well as of lab rats, while promoting the ward's hospice program to bring in extra cash. Facing new responsibilities and added stress, Nurse Didi wants a raise, which ultimately sweeps her up into Dr. James' mad, mad research world. Nurse Dawn is spinning ever onward toward being the best not-so-good nurse in the history of television as she continues to try and bag co-worker Patsy. Meanwhile, Patsy has a new lean, green program to save money and make the ward more energy-efficient, which is driving everyone crazy.

Guest stars on the second season of GETTING ON include: Betty Buckley ("Pretty Little Liars"), Jayma Mays ("Glee"), Carrie Preston (HBO's "True Blood"), Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development") and Jean Smart ("Designing Women").

November's episodes:

Episode #7: "No Such Thing as Idealized Genitalia"

Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 9 (10:40-11:10 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 9 (1:25 a.m., 4:05 a.m.), 10 (11:30 p.m.), 11 (3:15 p.m.) and 12 (12:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 10 (10:00 p.m.), 12 (7:00 p.m.), 14 (8:00 p.m.) and 16 (10:00 a.m.)

Dr. Jenna James' (Laurie Metcalf) plethora of research projects threatens to take over the ward. A frustrated DiDi (Niecy Nash) asks for a raise; Patsy's (Mel Rodriguez) "Lean & Green" initiative causes problems; Dawn (Alex Borstein) gets a surprising answer to what's been ailing her. Jenna receives unwelcome news that leads her to make an unholy alliance.

Teleplay by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Miguel Arteta.

Episode #8: "Is Soap a Hazardous Substance?" Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 16 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (12:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.), 17 (11:30 p.m.), 18 (5:45 p.m.) and 19 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 17 (10:00 p.m.), 19 (5:30 p.m.), 21 (8:00 p.m.) and 23 (9:30 a.m.)

DiDi takes on greater responsibilities when a hospice program is introduced into the ward. Dawn looks ahead to her future and tries to share her news with Patsy, but inadvertently puts his new initiative in question. Patsy finds himself playing patient when he has a medical emergency. Dottie (Betty Buckley), an alcoholic patient, looks for ways around doctor's orders.

Teleplay by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Miguel Arteta.

Episode #9 "Turnips...North Day...Yes, yes." Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 23 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 23 (12:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.), 24 (midnight), 25 (6:15 p.m.), 26 (midnight) and 28 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 24 (10:00 p.m.), 26 (4:30 p.m.) and 30 (1:30 p.m.)

A server crash forces the staff to go "old school" - with disastrous results. DiDi steps on Dr. Stickley's (Mark Harelik) toes when making a decision about Arlene's (Jean Smart) mother-in-law, while Dr. James has issues getting through to a deaf patient. Dawn buys a cello, and learns that her life-changing news may not be what it seems.

Teleplay by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Becky Martin.

Episode #10: "The 7th Annual Christmas Card Competition" Debut: SUNDAY, NOV. 30 (10:30-11:00 p.m.)

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 30 (12:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m.) and Dec. 1 (11:15 p.m.), 2 (6:00 p.m.), 3 (11:00 p.m.) and 5 (8:00 p.m.)

The staff finds itself in an awkward situation when one of Jenna's "adult" study photos mistakenly makes its way into the Christmas card competition. DiDi is tempted by Parker Owens (LaMonica Garrett), a visiting doctor. Denya (Carrie Preston), a patient with terminal cancer, proposes a "final solution" to a startled Jenna. Patsy and Dawn's relationship comes to a head.

Teleplay by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; directed by Becky Martin.

Based on the BBC series of the same name, GETTING ON concluded its first season in Dec. 2013, inspiring critical raves. The Los Angeles Times called it an "astonishing gem of a show" with a "bravely skillful cast" and "hilarious to watch," while the New York Post hailed the series as "fiercely smart." The San Francisco Chronicle applauded GETTING ON as "terrific and very funny," and the Wall Street Journal praised the show for having "a cast so strong you can't take your eyes off them." Season one guest stars included Molly Shannon, Daniel Stern, Harry Dean Stanton and June Squibb.

GETTING ON is executive produced by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer under their Anima Sola Productions Banner, Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner of BBC Worldwide Productions, and Geoff Atkinson, Jo Brand, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine; co-executive producers, Lisa Bellomo and Courtney Conte; producer, Chrisann Verges.