Andrew Rannells Leaving "Girls" for "The New Normal"
01/09/2013


Andrew Rannells has had a busy couple of years. He went from a Tony-nominated Broadway performance in The Book Of Mormon to being cast in the recurring role of Hannah's (Lena Dunham) gay ex-boyfriend on Season 1 of "Girls" to nabbing a lead role on Ryan Murphy's "The New Normal", which premiered in the fall.

As "Girls" kicks off its second season, his character Elijah is right in the middle of things after moving into the newly-vacant second bedroom in Hannah's apartment.



But in a conversation with HuffPost TV, Rannells revealed that his busy schedule finally caught up with him this summer, when both "Girls" and "The New Normal" were shooting their new seasons on opposite coasts.

As a result, he's leaving "Girls" mid-way through the season, but not before taking Elijah on a roller-coaster ride in Season 2.


Full Interview Here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/andrew-rannells-leaving-girls_n_2441327.html?

Andrew Rannells Says "Yes!" to Season 3 of "Girls"
By: Leanne Aguilera
2/28/13


Did you really think that a cocaine-fueled fight and sexual indiscretion with a best friend would be enough to keep the incredible Andrew Rannells from returning to "Girls" next season?

No way! Ladies and gays of the world rejoice: Hollywood.com has learned that Rannells will be back to reprise his snarky role of Elijah Krantz during Season 3 of "Girls".

During Wednesday night's PayleyFest celebration honoring "The New Normal" creator Ryan Murphy, Rannells told Hollywood.com he will start shooting for Season 3 of "Girls" in April: "Yes! It’s very exciting."





Rannell’s exit this season marked a truly memorable moment for the series:

After a friendship-shattering fight with his ex-girlfriend/roomie Hannah (Lena Dunham), Elijah left the apartment with two very serious yet giggle-inducing words: "Butt plug!"



What sort of dynamic can we expect between Dunham and Elijah in Season 3?

"I’ll be honest with you," he said. "I don’t know what’s in store, I’m really not sure. But my fingers are crossed that I’ll come back at least for a little bit more. I’m super excited for that, I’m looking forward to it."

http://www.hollywood.com/news/tv/55002695/andrew-rannells-returns-to-girls-season-three-scoop

Andrew Rannells Returning to HBO’s "Girls", Poised To Become Regular in Season 4
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
October 28, 2013


There will be more of Andrew Rannells on Lena Dunham’s HBO comedy series "Girls".

The Tony-nominated actor is set to reprise his role as Elijah, Hannah’s (Dunham) gay ex-boyfriend on the series’ upcoming third season after appearing in eight episodes of the first two seasons.‎

He is slated to become a regular on the show if it is picked up for a fourth season.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/andrew-rannells-to-return-to-hbos-girls-poised-to-become-regular-in-season-4/

http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/oh-thank-god-lena-dunham-found-a-way-to-fix-the-problems-with-girls.php

And this is nothing but excellent news for the HBO show which had a bumpy second season. Even those of us who have staunchly defended the show had to give some of Season 2 the side-eye. Here’s what I think Rannells will bring to the table. Let’s leave aside our righteous indignation over the idea that a show called Girls “needs” a male character to make it better. The show has always had strong male characters, most significantly Adam and Ray. It’s never been just the four girls. What Rannells’ Elijah provides that the other characters cannot is a funny and low stakes proxy for the audience frustration with Hannah and her issues. Though the show sometimes has characters call Dunham’s flawed lead out on her sh*t, it’s often done in an uncomfortable, highly-dramatic way that actually makes us feel sorry for Hannah rather than allows us to laugh together at her human and relatable foibles. So when Adam, Hannah’s parents or Marnie tell Hannah she’s wrong/bad/frustrating, it doesn’t provide us with any satisfaction. Elijah, however, has always been able to lightly hold up a mirror to Hannah and her issues and we need that outlet if we’re going to root for Hannah. And in order to enjoy this show, we need to root for Hannah. We don’t have to like her, but we have to want her to get her life together and succeed. Otherwise, the whole thing collapses under a dark tone that doesn’t at all blend with the show’s sharper comedic bits. Rannells brings the light. He brings the fun. I can’t wait to have him back.

Read more at http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/oh-thank-god-lena-dunham-found-a-way-to-fix-the-problems-with-girls.php#rB4GT7Gqstvjsst4.99

Andrew Rannells Returns to "Girls"
Feb 14, 2014
by Elizabeth Wagmeister


Hannah's (Lena Dunham) gay ex-boyfriend and ex-roommate, Elijah (Andrew Rannells), ousted himself from the group at the end of Season 2, and now he's back, making his return to "Girls" on Sunday, Feb. 16 (10/9c, HBO). But he's not back in Brooklyn yet.

"We shot in the North Fork of Long Island," Rannells told TV Guide Magazine at the show's red carpet premiere earlier this year. "Everybody goes to this beach weekend. Things sure do get weird."





Despite the weirdness — think synchronized dance parties and skinny-dipping — Elijah makes an effort to achieve normalcy with the quirky female foursome after he was shunned for sleeping with Marnie (Allison Williams) last season.

"He's on pretty good behavior for the most part," says Rannells, who was upped to a series regular for Season 4 and will also appear in the remainder of Season 3. "Elijah is trying very hard to get back into the circle of friends because he did not leave on the best of terms with everyone."





He is, however, on great terms with somebody else — a new boyfriend. Danny Strong (Mad Men) who happens to be the real-life beau of Zosia Mamet (Shoshanna), joins the cast in a recurring role.

"Danny is fantastic. He's very, very funny and a fantastic writer," raves Rannells of his on-screen love interest, joking, "He's a very good boyfriend!"





Strong isn't the only guest star to stop through New York. "The Blacklist's" Amir Arison, who was introduced in last week's episode as Hannah's head-butting co-worker at GQ, will return for two more episodes later this season.

"Deep down inside of messy Hannah is an incredible light and wit and talent and sharpness so that all comes through," Arison admits of Dunham's character, who overshadowed him in last week's hostile office meeting scene.



As for Dunham, herself, there's no bad blood between the two on set.

"It is not a mistake she is where she is. She's got the speed brain of Robin Williams, the directorial awareness of Woody Allen and the heart of an adorable 25 year girl," says Arison. "All mixed together, she's a focused leader and the best scene partner. She's an absolute dream."



With all of the girl fighting that goes down in North Fork, we're not so sure Marnie, Shoshanna or Jessa (Jemima Kirke) would agree.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Girls-Andrew-Rannells-1077770.aspx