VIDEO: Hit MTV Reality Series AWKWARD Returns Tonight

Get ready for a little pomp and circumstance when MTV's hit comedy series "Awkward" returns with the first half of the highly anticipated fifth season tonight, August 31 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. Check out a sneak peek below!

There are only a few weeks left of high school, and Jenna (series star Ashley Rickards) and her friends must make the most of it. Everyone has already figured out what they are going to do next year, but there is a sense that "anything could happen" lingering in the air. The season is jam-packed with big senior year milestone moments - including senior pranks, prom and graduation, where Jenna will have to decide once and for all: are she and Matty (series star Beau Mirchoff) meant to be?

With high school ending and everyone heading going in different directions, the second half of the fifth season will jump forward to one year later, summertime back in Palos Hills.

"It's finally here! We have been through many of their high school ups and downs and at the end of the first half of season 5 we finally see Jenna and her friends graduate. But the story doesn't end there," said Mina Lefevre, MTV's Senior Vice President, Head of Scripted. "In the second half of season five we pick up with the cast a year later...where they quickly realize those awkward moments don't stop once you leave high school. This opens up endless opportunities to continue telling their story."

Season four of "Awkward" averaged 1.9 million total viewers each week and a 2.0 in L+7D ratings for the P12-34 audience.

*Source: Nielsen, L+7, Season 4 & 4B combined, P12-34 and Live +7D unless noted. FY14 Rankers: 09/30/2013 - 09/28/2014, ranked on 000s, 3+ telecasts, excludes sports and specials.

"Awkward" stars Ashley Rickards as Jenna, Beau Mirchoff as Matty, Molly Tarlov as Sadie, Jillian Rose Reed as Tamara, Brett Davern as Jake, Nikki DeLoach as Lacey, Desi Lydic as Valerie, Greer Grammer as Lissa and Mike Faiola as Kevin.

Mike Chessler and Chris Alberghini are the Executive Producers of "Awkward." The series was created by Lauren Iungerich.

For more ways to connect with "Awkward" follow the show on Twitter @MTVAwkward or like it on Facebook.

About MTV:
MTV is the world's premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV's sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online HUB MTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture.