HBO renews ‘The Newsroom,’ ‘True Blood’ and ‘Eastbound and Down’

On Monday, HBO renewed a trio of its popular shows, including Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom, which is just two episodes in.

The Newsroom, which was created by the Oscar-winning writer of The Social Network, will be getting a second season. The Jeff Daniels-starring series about a cable news network has garnered mixed reviews, notes Reuters.

However, Deadline reports that The Newsroom has been popular with viewers, drawing 2.1 million viewers for its June 25 premiere at 10pm, which was better than True Blood’s series premiere in 2008.

The vampire drama True Blood was renewed for a sixth season, which will be the first without creator Alan Ball as showrunner. Ball announced in February that he would leave the series following its current fifth season. In May, HBO picked executive producer Mark Hudis to replace him.

HBO also renewed its outrageous baseball comedy Eastbound and Down, which stars Danny McBride. Last season, the Will Ferrell and Adam McKay-produced show recruited Jason Sudeikis and Matthew McConaughey for guest spots and 1.3 million viewers tuned in for February’s season premiere. Another 1.1 million watched the season finale.

Although there were rumors that the third season would be its last, the HBO renewed the series, ordering another eight episodes.

HBO previously renewed hit freshman comedies Veep and Girls.