Good news for fans of Sharon Horgan’s latest comedy: HBO has given “Youth” a second-season order. The renewal was announced on Monday, November 2, while the first season is still streaming on HBO Max.

Here is what we know about the series, the renewal and what else arrived on television this week, based on reporting from Variety and the TV Insider daily newsletter.

What “Youth” is about

Horgan, a Peabody and BAFTA winner, plays Alex, a 50-year-old divorcee who is trying to juggle new relationships, her ailing parents and her troubled son, who is struggling to settle in at his new college.

The cast includes Rupert Friend as Patrick, Sharlene Whyte as Sam, Aran Murphy as Ruari and Robbie Gee as Frank. The first season ran for eight episodes.

Why HBO is bringing it back

HBO says “Youth” ranks among the top five HBO comedy launches globally. The series also holds a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Variety’s review praised Horgan for her “magnetic screen presence” and called her “a sharp comic writer.”

HBO has not shared a release date, a number of episodes or any story details for season two in the reporting we have seen. We will leave out any guesses until the network confirms more.

A busy night for television

The renewal landed on a day packed with premieres. According to TV Insider’s daily guide for Monday, November 2, viewers could catch:

  • “St. Denis Medical” season 3 on NBC at 8/7c, with Damon Wayans guest starring as Dr. Highland, a relentlessly upbeat temporary replacement for emergency doctor Ron, who is recovering from heart surgery.
  • “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” season 2 on NBC at 8:30/7:30c, with Tracy Morgan’s disgraced former football star still pursuing his dream of making the Hall of Fame.
  • “Foul Play with Anthony Davis” season 2 on TBS at 9/8c, a hidden-camera prank show.
  • “Holiday Baking Championship” season 13 on Food Network at 8/7c, with eight bakers showing off their traditions and skills.
  • “Friday Night Dinner” arriving for streaming on BritBox.
  • “The Holiday Spark,” a movie premiere on The Roku Channel.

NBC’s fall schedule notes that both of its Monday comedies are also available the next day on Peacock.

More from NBC’s Monday comedy block

NBC’s fall schedule notes that “St. Denis Medical” returns for its third season and that Love Island USA’s Ariana Madix is back in her guest role as Dr. Brooke Emerson. The hospital mockumentary stars an ensemble that includes David Alan Grier, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman and Josh Lawson.

“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” returns after a first season that starred Tracy Morgan alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Erika Alexander. NBC says the season one finale revealed a big secret about the character Carmelo, which sets up the new episodes.

Renewal watch: other shows on the bubble

Renewals and cancellations are also being discussed elsewhere. The TV Ratings Guide’s weekly ABC Renew/Cancel column, which is the writer’s own forecast and not an official decision, rates “RJ Decker” as a likely cancellation after a short seven-episode season and expects “Shark Tank” to lose its current time slot in January. It also expects shows such as “Abbott Elementary,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “9-1-1” to be renewed. Treat these as predictions until ABC says otherwise.

What the renewal says about comedy on streaming

Comedy renewals can be hard to come by, and a top-five finish among a network’s launches is a strong argument for a second round. A second season gives the show room to follow Alex and her family further.

How to catch up

If you have not seen “Youth” yet, season one is available to stream on HBO Max. Because the episodes are short in number, it is an easy series to finish in a weekend.

Wrap-up

A renewal is the best reward a new show can get, and Horgan’s fans now have more to look forward to. We will update this story when HBO shares a premiere date or cast news for season two.

Image: Cptvdisplay by Wags05 at English Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain Mark 1.0