Enlightened Season Two Preview

Laura Dern in Enlightened
Laura Dern in 'Enlightened' - © HBO
HBO’s bringing back Enlightened for an eight episode season #2 on January 13, 2013 at 9:30pm. Laura Dern and Mike White return in starring roles in the comedy/drama created by White and Dern. White will also return as writer and director.
 
The Details:
 
Season one of Enlightened told the story of self-destructive corporate executive Amy Jellicoe (Dern), who had a spiritual awakening after a career-destroying meltdown. Though determined to live a more enlightened existence, her new outlook only wreaked more havoc, both at home and at work.
 
In season two, Amy redoubles her efforts to gather evidence against Abaddonn with the support of Tyler (White), her meek IT ally, and enlists journalist Jeff Flender in her cause. Meanwhile, Amy’s ex, Levi, continues to struggle with rehab, and it remains to be seen if he will embrace recovery and return as the man she always wanted him to be.
 
Other returning cast members include Luke Wilson as Levi and Diane Ladd, Dern’s real-life mother, as Amy’s disapproving mother Helen. Also returning are Sarah Burns as Krista, the former assistant who has taken Amy’s old job, and Timm Sharp as Amy’s sleazy boss, Dougie.
 
Guest stars on the second season include Dermot Mulroney as journalist Jeff Flender; Michaela Watkins as snooty colleague Janis; Amy Hill as Judy, the no-nonsense HR rep who won’t give Amy a break; and Molly Shannon as the executive assistant to Abaddonn’s CEO.
 
January’s episodes:
Episode #11: “The Key”
Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Jan. 13 (10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), 16 (midnight) and 17 (10:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 14 (9:30 p.m.), 15 (11:00 p.m.) and 19 (8:00 p.m.)
Looking for “the key” to ruin Abaddonn and “free” its employees, Amy (Laura Dern) orchestrates a meeting with Jeff Flender (Dermot Mulroney), a charming whistle-blowing journalist, sharing incriminating e-mails she printed out at work with Tyler’s (Mike White) IT password. Though he doesn’t find a story in the e-mails, Jeff encourages Amy to dig deeper and find more explosive evidence that could help bring down the company.
Written by Mike White; directed by Nicole Holofcener.
 
Episode #12: “Revenge Play”
Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 20 (9:30-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Jan. 20 (10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), 23 (midnight) and 24 (10:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 21 (9:30 p.m.), 22 (11:00 p.m.) and 26 (8:00 p.m.)
Amy and a still-reluctant Tyler meet Jeff at a jazz club, where he reveals he’s already been working on a story about Abaddonn but needs proof of bribery, leading Amy to revel in her fantasies. When several top execs can’t log onto their accounts, Abaddonn’s breach of security is exposed, leaving Tyler scrambling to find a solution that won’t lead investigators to him or Amy. Suspecting foul play, Dougie (Timm Sharp) vows to root out the true perps, while Krista (Sarah Burns) is rushed to the hospital with a pregnancy complication.
Written by Mike White; directed by Mike White.
 
Episode #13: “Higher Power”
Debut: SUNDAY, JAN. 27 (9:30-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Jan. 27 (10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), 30 (midnight) and 31 (10:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 28 (9:30 p.m.) and 29 (11:00 p.m.)
Amy receives a letter from Levi (Luke Wilson), who’s still in Hawaii and has been bristling under theconstraints of Open Air, its holistic philosophy and his bodily-function obsessed roommate Tony (Christopher Douglas Reed). To cope, Levi escapes with a pair of fellow malcontents, Travis (Christopher Abbott) and Danielle (Ashley Hinshaw), for a night of drugs, alcohol and debauchery at a nearby hotel. After pushing himself to his hard-partying limits, Levi decides he’s ready to return to Open Air and give rehab one more chance.
Written by Mike White; directed by Mike White.
 
Source: HBO

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