When deciding a TV show has performed well enough to deserve more episodes being broadcast in the current television season, a network will usually make a formal announcement as such relating to the lucky show (or at a push, 2 shows) that are getting the treatment. ABC, though, have this weekend chosen a single announcement to confirm the renewal of no less than 8 pieces of their programming.
The season extensions will have a positive effect on the episode counts of medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and sitcoms Modern Family and The Middle with two new installments each, whilst new sitcom Black-ish and newly-moved show The Goldbergs have also been cleared for two more, all of which are taking their seasons up to 24.
In addition, crime drama Castle has received one more episode to go up to a 23-episode 6th season, whilst fantasy drama Resurrection takes likewise to go to a 14-part 2nd run.
It was also confirmed by Adam Horowitz, the co-creator of Once Upon a Time, that his fairy tale-based drama is to show an extra hour of content this year too, with the broadcast scheduled for 16 November becoming a double-bill, with the chain effect from the network’s request giving the show an extra 23rd episode to its 4th season.
Whilst no formal statement on the matter has been made by ABC themselves, it is fairly clear that the shows they have chosen to extend are amongst their best-performing when it comes to ratings and critics, so will their move to capitalise on that success be vindicated. Any new content has to be better than re-runs at least…
