ABC Picks Up Modern Family, Cougar Town And The Middle

ABC has picked up freshman comedies Modern Family, Cougar Town and The Middle for full seasons. The shows have performed strong against significant competition during the latter hour of ABC’s comedy block.

No word yet on back-nine pickups for fellow shows FlashForward, Hank, Eastwick, and The Forgotten.

Modern Family came into the fall schedule as a critical favorite and audiences appear to agree. The premiere episode garnered 12.6 million viewers plus a 4.2 rating/11 share in the 18-49 demo. The show has been averaging 10.5 million and 3.8/10 over three episodes.

Courteney Cox’s Cougar Town came out strong too. More than 11.2 million viewers tuned in to the September 23 premiere, which earned a 4.4 rating/11 share in 18-49. Through three airings, the show is averaging a 3.8/10 in the demo and solid 9.5 million viewers overall.

ABC is showing faith in The Middle. The sitcom, which garnered mostly favorable reviews, is averaging a 2.4/7 in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall in the 8:30 p.m. slot, building in its two airings by half a ratings point over Hank, the new Kelsey Grammer series.