TV News: ABC Picks Up ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘The Middle,’ ‘Modern Family’ For Sophomore Seasons

CHICAGO – Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment Group, announced early pick-ups of the network’s hit Wednesday night comedies “Cougar Town,” “The Middle” and “Modern Family” for the 2010-2011 Season yesterday during the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour.

ABC’s “Modern Family” stars Rico Rodriguez as Manny, Sofia Vergara as Gloria and Ed O’Neill as Jay. Photo credit: Bob D’Amico/ABC

On “Cougar Town,” recent Golden Globe nominee Courteney Cox stars as Jules, a newly divorced single mother exploring the honest truths about dating and aging in a culture that’s obsessed with youth & beauty. While most women in their twenties go through life experiencing the challenges and often humorous pitfalls of meeting men, Jules took on the responsibilities of marriage and raising a son. Now in her forties, she embarks on a journey to self-discovery.

“The Middle” is a warm and witty single-camera stars comedy starring Patricia Heaton about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Frankie Heck is a superhero. Well, not really, but she is a middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country. She’s a wife and working mother of three uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. Frankie sells cards at the only surviving dealership in her town, while her husband, Mike, is a manager at the local quarry. In between juggling shifts and picking up fast food dinners eaten in front of the TV, Frankie and Mike raise their kids with love and solid Midwestern practicality.

TV’s most-watched new comedy this season is definitely “Modern Family”. During the first season, the show has already been honored with Golden Globe, Writers Guild and SAG nominations. They were also recognized by the AFI as one of the top 10 TV programs of 2010.

“Modern Family” is a series that shows us that today’s American families come in all shapes and sizes. The cookie cutter mold of man + wife + 2.5 kids is a thing of the past, as it becomes quickly apparent in the bird’s eye view of this hilarious comedy series which takes an honest and often hilarious look at the composition and complexity of family life today.

By ANGIE RENTMEESTER
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com