ABC picks up 'Modern Family,' 'Cougar' New comedies given full-season orders
By STUART LEVINE
After years of struggling with sitcoms, it looks as though ABC has a couple of hot laffers on its hands.
Alphabet gave back-nine orders to ratings hits "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" Thursday and, in what can be considered a move to give the show a jolt of confidence, to Patricia Heaton starrer "The Middle" as well.
"Modern Family" came into the fall schedule as a critical fave and auds appear to agree. Premiere episode garnered 12.6 million viewers plus a 4.2 rating/11 share in the 18-49 demo. Show has been averaging 10.5 million and 3.8/10 over three episodes.
Courteney Cox's "Cougar Town," which like "Modern Family" has aired three times, came out strong too. More than 11.2 million viewers tuned in to the Sept. 23 premiere, which earned a 4.4 rating/11 share. "Cougar Town" slipped slightly last night but is averaging a solid 9.5 million viewers and a 3.8/10.
Despite middling ratings, ABC is showing faith in "The Middle." Sitcom is averaging 7.8 million, with a 2.4/7, but has built on its "Hank" lead-in by half a ratings point both weeks.
All three shows air on Wednesdays and make up three-quarters of ABC's 8-10 p.m. comedy block and ABC is repeating "Modern Family" and "The Middle" this Friday from 9-10 for additional exposure.
Net wasn't as kind to "Hank." Kelsey Grammer vehicle was the weak link in ABC's lineup last night with a 1.6/5 and 6.4 million viewers and may not make it past the original 13 episodes ordered if numbers don't improve.
Net has often had a difficult time gaining traction with its sitcoms -- "Notes From the Underbelly" and "Miss Guided" are two skeins well reviewed but short-lived -- and the early success of "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" are allowing execs to breathe easy.
Combining their ratings, "The Middle, "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" are outperforming the net's average in the timeslot last year with "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice."
