Press release from IFC, Aug. 18, 2015:

IFC has renewed its original comedy series Documentary Now! for two additional seasons. This is the first time the comedy network has picked up additional seasons of a series prior to its network debut. IFC also announced the addition of a surprise seventh episode to season one, up from the initial order of six episodes, which premieres on IFC this Thursday, August 20 at 10 pm ET/PT. Documentary Now! is created, written by and executive produced by the powerhouse comedic trio Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Seth Meyers.

“This two-season renewal ahead of the show’s initial debut is a huge nod to the creative and comedic genius of Fred, Bill and Seth,” said Jennifer Caserta, IFC’s president. “We’re immensely proud of what they’ve created alongside Rhys, and thrilled with the buzz and critical acclaim the show is already receiving.”

IFC is currently pre-premiering the second episode of Documentary Now! on VICE.com, IFC.com, YouTube, VOD, DISH channel 102, iGuide, and on TV Everywhere platforms across IFC’s distribution partners. The episode launched on August 10 and will be available through August 27. To date, it’s garnered more than 250,000 views across all platforms.

Documentary Now! parodies some of the world’s best-known documentaries. Starring Armisen and Hader, each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking and honors some of the most important stories that didn’t actually happen. Paying homage to everyone from the Maysles to Errol Morris the episodes range in topic from an intimate portrait of socialite mother-daughter feral animal hoarders to a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s first documentary, and much more. The finale episode, titled “Gentle & Soft: The Story of the Blue Jean Committee,” chronicles a soft rock Chicago band’s rise to fame with their hit album “Catalina Breeze” which will now air as a two-part episode.

Dame Helen Mirren (The Queen, The Audience) serves as host of the series, lending the gravitas that documentaries of this caliber so rightly deserve. The show also features appearances by Jack Black (The D Train, Tenacious D), John Slattery (Mad Men, Wet Hot American Summer), iconic music manager Irving Azoff and SNL’s Aidy Bryant, Mike O’Brien, Paula Pell, and Tim Robinson.

Documentary Now! is produced by Broadway Video and executive produced by Lorne Michaels. The series is also co-created and executive produced by Rhys Thomas and executive produced by Broadway Video’s Andrew Singer. SNL’s Thomas and Alex Buono serve as the show’s directors. John Mulaney (Mulaney, SNL) serves as consulting producer and Erik Kenward (SNL) is supervising producer.