ABC will not be moving forward with the proposed spinoff of family comedy The Middle revolving around Eden Sher’s Sue Heck character.
The Middle and Modern Family premiered within a week of each other in 2009 and set the template for the next decade of ABC comedies: brightly-colored, well-written, big-hearted family sitcoms that look at the American experience from a particular demographic perspective. But after a strong run, both comedies are winding down. That will leave ABC without the identity-defining sitcoms it’s relied on for ratings for years. So what does that mean for the future of the Alphabet’s comedy brand?
Hecks, yeah. ABC has granted The Middle an early renewal, picking up the stalwart family sitcom for season 9, it was announced today.
ABC is extending its episode orders for six of its comedies. The Middle, American Housewife, Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs, Speechless and Black-ish have all been given marching orders for additional episodes.
Exclusives
The Middle, The Goldbergs, Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat have each received an order for two additional episodes, bringing each of them to 24 for this season.
NEW YORK (AP) — The season finale of ABC’s comedy “The Middle” proved the power of corporate synergy: the network owned by the Walt Disney Co. gave prime-time attention to […]
They don’t get the ratings of American Idol or Big Bang, but they’re still important to their networks, whether winning timeslots or awards.
Hallmark Adds ‘The Middle,’ Sets Primetime Series
Warner Bros. has sold the Patricia Heaton-led sitcom in cash-plus-barter deals for a fall 2013 syndication debut. Among the buyers are 11 of the Tribune Broadcasting stations and 19 Sinclair Broadcast Group outlets.
Frankie Heck settled into the driver’s seat of a new Volkswagen on a recent episode of ABC’s The Middle, caressing the steering wheel as celestial music played. Her face was a mask of such pure pleasure that you almost wanted to avert your eyes. Welcome to the world of product “integration” on prime-time television. Advertising within programs has gone beyond the mere placement of soda bottles on the table in front of American Idol judges. The Passat didn’t just pass by on the street during The Middle, it was a key part of the comedy’s story line.
ABC Picks Six Shows For Early Renewal
The network today that it has renewed Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, Cougar Town, The Middle and Private Practice for the 2011-12 TV season.
