TV News: ABC Announces Early Pick-Ups Including ‘Castle,’ ‘Modern Family’

CHICAGO – Fans of ABC’s often-struggling “Cougar Town” had to wait until the eleventh hour last year to find out that their favorite show would be given a second chance with a sophomore season. Not so this year. In a surprising move, “Cougar Town” got the nod for an early pick-up for the 2011-12 season. Less surprising were the also-announced renewals of “Castle,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” and “Private Practice.”

ABC can honestly lay claim to one of the few successful network schedules of the 2010-11 season as they have the number one comedy (“Modern Family”), number one drama (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and number one unscripted series (“Dancing With the Stars”) in the coveted 18-49 demo.

The Wednesday night block that includes three of the renewed shows has grown by 15% in total viewers over the same point last season, a HUGE number in a marketplace that is seeing ratings dwindle across the board.

“Cougar Town,” “The Middle,” and “Modern Family” will return for their third seasons while “Castle” will be in its fourth year, “Private Practice” its fifth, and “Grey’s Anatomy” will be starting its eighth season.

[13]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [14] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [13]