Andrew Rannells to Exit HBO Comedy GIRLS

TVGuide.com reports that 'Book of Mormon' star Andrew Rannells will be giving up his role on the HBO comedy series GIRLS midway through the current season. In an interview with The Huffington Post, the 'Next to Normal' star revealed that taking on two series at once proved too much for him.

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world that I had this opportunity to do both of these shows, and it does come down to a scheduling thing and a timing thing," Rannells said.

Rannells, who portrays Hannah's roommate Elijah on the show, will only appear in the first four episodes of the second season, but hinted that his character will not exit quietly. He teased, "it felt like a very eventful season for Elijah."

Created by and starring Lena Dunham ("Tiny Furniture"), the Emmy(R)-winning HBO series GIRLS takes a comic look at the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of women in their early 20s. Dunham, Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Ilene S. Landress and Bruce Eric Kaplan executive produce the show, which kicks off its ten-episode second season SUNDAY, JAN. 13 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, followed by the season premiere of the Golden Globe-winning comedy series "Enlightened."

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos