The original comedy series, premiering October 12, takes a look at the dysfunctional staff of a struggling hospital

Miami, FL – October 3, 2014 – HBO announced the premiere of the original series Getting On, which follows the daily lives of overworked nurses and doctors as they struggle with the darkly comic realities of tending compassionately to their elderly patients in the Billy Barnes Extended Care unit of Mt. Palms Hospital in Long Beach, California. Adapted by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer (co-creators of the acclaimed HBO series Big Love) from the BBC series of the same name, the comedy blends outrageous humor with unexpected moments of tenderness. The first two episodes premiere on Sunday, October 12 in the Caribbean, episodes three and four the following week on Oct. 19, and the final two episodes of the season on Oct. 26.

While dealing with the challenges of a health-care bureaucracy in need of an overhaul, this ragtag crew attempts to serve their charges under less-than-ideal circumstances, further complicated by conflicting agendas, both professional and personal. Nurse DiDi (Niecy Nash) is the no-nonsense newbie who spends her first day on the job being reprimanded for cleaning up unidentified feces left in the lounge. Her easy rapport with patients should be an example to her superiors, but isn’t. Unit veteran Nurse Dawn (Alex Borstein) is tasked with training DiDi, but winds up distracted from her job by obsessing over a budding relationship with male Supervising Nurse Patsy (Mel Rodriguez) – a new hire who tries to implement a Disney-inspired, customer-centric work culture, while fending off questions about his sexual orientation.

Disgruntled Dr. Jenna James (Laurie Metcalf), appointed director of the ward after having a meltdown at the hospital proper, once hoped to become a medical-research star but continues her above-it-all temper tantrums, despite being given a fresh start. Dr. James and Nurse Patsy butt heads along the way, particularly when his surveys reveal that the many of the staff are underperforming in this rundown, red-tape-filled hospital offshoot.

Apart from the aforementioned talent, recurring cast members include Molly Shannon (HBO’s Enlightened), Joel Johnstone (HBO’s The Newsroom) and Mark Harelik, with guest stars Daniel Stern, Harry Dean Stanton, June Squibb and Irma P. Hall.

Getting On is executive produced by Mark V. Olsen, Will Scheffer, Jane Tranter (HBO’s Rome), Julie Gardner and Geoff Atkinson, along with Jo Brand, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine, who were the creators and stars of the original BBC version; co-executive produced by Lisa Bellomo and Courtney Conte; and produced by Chrisann Verges.