Anna Daniels
ABC Renews Eight Series While Axing Four Other Shows
As many networks begin solidifying their plans for the 2021 season, it also becomes the time in which they begin deciding the fates of numerous series and ABC has greenlit renewals for eight of its scripted series including hit sitcom Black-ish and police procedural The Rookie, as well as axing four other series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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The full list of series currently renewed for new seasons include American Housewife, which was picked up for a fifth season, Black-ish picked up for a seventh and its freshman prequel series Mixed-ish for a sophomore outing, The Conners for a third season, The Goldbergs for an eighth season, A Million Little Things and The Rookie for third seasons and freshman drama Stumptown for a second season.
Those who didn’t make the cut include sophomore comedies Bless This Mess starring Lake Bell and Dax Shepard, The Goldbergs spin-off Schooled and Taran Killam and Leighton Meester-led Single Parents, as well as rookie mystery drama Emergence led by Allison Tolman.
The network’s shows who are currently on the bubble include The Baker and the Beauty and For Life, both of which recently began their first seasons, as well as United We Fall, which is still awaiting a premiere date on the primetime network.
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Alongside the renewals and cancellations, ABC has confirmed ordering David E. Kelley’s The Big Sky to series starring Kylie Bunbury (Game Night) and Katheryn Winnick (Wu Assassins), as well as the multicamera comedy Call Your Mother starring Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) as an empty nester mom. With the future of Hollywood productions currently in limbo given the global health crisis, it’s currently unclear as to whether the network will elect to pick up more series during what would normally be pilot season.
“At a time when we are physically apart and shared experiences matter more than ever, these shows will build on the strategy that has made us No. 1 this season — bringing people together, creating cultural moments and making content that entertains and inspires across generations and demographics,” Karey Burke, who serves as ABC Entertainment president, said in a statement. “Our top priority now is to work with our studio partners to ensure a safe return to production so that we can build on the strong momentum of a winning lineup with measured bets on new series that will invigorate our air and continue to deliver the quality programming that our viewers have come to expect and love.”
The latest string of renewals join previously announced returning series The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, while this season saying goodbye to Modern Family, Fresh Off the Boat and How to Get Away With Murder, with next week marking the start of the final season of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD.
Written by: CS
