question: Who was the director of the first episode of the American drama television series set in and around Times Square, New York in the early 1970s on the premium cable network HBO?
answer: Michelle MacLaren
context: Title: True Detective (season 1)
  Passage: The first season of "True Detective", an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered on January 12, 2014, on the premium cable network HBO.  The principal cast consisted of Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts, and Tory Kittles.  The season comprised eight episodes, and its initial airing concluded on March 9, 2014.  As an anthology, each "True Detective" season has its own self-contained story, following a disparate set of characters in various settings.
  Title: The Deuce (TV series)
  Passage: The Deuce is an American drama television series set in and around Times Square, New York in the early 1970s.  Created and written by author and former police reporter David Simon and his frequent collaborator George Pelecanos, the series pilot began shooting in October 2015.  It was picked up to series in January 2016.  It is broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States.  The first season consists of eight episodes.  HBO made the pilot available through its video on demand services and affiliate portals on August 25, 2017.  The series premiered on September 10, 2017.
  Title: Pilot (The Deuce)
  Passage: "Pilot" is the first episode of the American television drama series "The Deuce".  It premiered on September 10, 2017, on premium cable network HBO; the pilot was released in advance on HBO streaming service HBO Go on August 25.  The episode was written by creators and showrunners George Pelecanos and David Simon, and was directed by Michelle MacLaren.
  Title: Pilot (Six Feet Under)
  Passage: "Pilot" (also called "Six Feet Under") is the pilot episode of the American drama television series "Six Feet Under".  It premiered in the United States on the premium cable network HBO on June 3, 2001.  The episode was written and directed by series creator Alan Ball.
  Title: HBO Go
  Passage: HBO Go is a TV Everywhere service offered by the American premium cable network HBO, owned by Time Warner subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc.  It allows HBO subscribers to stream video on demand selections of HBO content, including current and past series, films, specials, and sporting events, through either the HBO website, or apps on mobile devices, video game consoles, and digital media players.  The service first launched on February 18, 2010.
  Title: Oz (TV series)
  Passage: Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes.  It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by the premium cable network HBO.  "Oz" premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons; the series finale aired February 23, 2003.
  Title: Six Feet Under (TV series)
  Passage: Six Feet Under is an American drama television series created and produced by Alan Ball.  It premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on June 3, 2001, and ended on August 21, 2005, spanning five seasons and 63 episodes.
  Title: True Detective (season 2)
  Passage: The second season of "True Detective", an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto, began airing on June 21, 2015, on the premium cable network HBO.  With a principal cast of Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Reilly, and Vince Vaughn, the season comprises eight episodes and concluded its initial airing on August 9, 2015.
  Title: The Corner
  Passage: The Corner is a 2000 HBO drama television miniseries based on the nonfiction book "" (1997) by David Simon and Ed Burns, and adapted for television by Simon and David Mills.  It premiered on premium cable network HBO in the United States on April 16, 2000 and concluded its six-part run on May 21, 2000.  The series was released on DVD on July 22, 2003.  It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in 2000.
  Title: True Detective
  Passage: True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto.  The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014.  Each season of the series is structured as a disparate, self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles and following various sets of characters and settings.
citations: The Deuce (TV series) Pilot (The Deuce)