Showtime's Free Weekend Counters HBO's 'Girls'

Showtime isn’t afraid of HBO’s new hipster hit “Girls.”

Lena Dunham’s sexually charged series, which returns at 9 p.m. EST tonight, sucks up plenty of oxygen in the press. Showtime counters tonight with fresh episodes of three returning shows to cap its free preview weekend.

• “Shameless” gives versatile character actor William H. Macy (“The Sessions”) the chance to take the lead and engage in some seriously awful behavior along the way. The big news this season? Macy’s Frank Gallagher will soon sport a new, streamlined haircut, and the character’s drinking will have new consequences. The show, which co-stars Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin and Joan Cusack, returns at 9 p.m. EST.
• “House of Lies” kicks off its second season, one promising less corporate bashing and more character interplay. Don Cheadle stars and executive produces the show, which co-stars Kristen Bell, about a team of management consultants who do whatever it takes to solve problems. Season 2 which features a casino as the firm’s big client, begins at 10 p.m. EST.
• “Californication” enters its sixth and likely final season with David Duchovny’s novelist character teaming up with a rock star. The show shares “Shameless’s” bent for personal destruction, so adding a famous musician to the cast can’t help Duchovny’s Hank improve his behavior. “Californication” resumes at 10:30 p.m. EST.