Weeknights just got a whole lot funnier. ABC has some good news for people looking to laugh on Hump Day. The network has ordered additional episodes for its Wednesday comedies, meaning The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and Black-ish will have longer seasons than originally expected. Even better, the extra weeknight laughs are not just limited to Wednesday, as Tuesday’s Fresh off the Boat also received an order for extra episodes.
Currently in its seventh season, The Middle has had its original 22 episode season updated to the 24. The series stars Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn as heads of a working class family, and the show has done well from the beginning as a staple of the Wednesday comedy block. The Middle currently airs at 8 p.m. ET.
Sitcom/mockumentary Modern Family is also in its seventh season and has also had its original 22 episode season updated to 24, according to Deadline. The show has been sweeping the awards circuit for years – although somewhat dubiously as of late as the younger characters begin to outgrow the format – and has remained consistently high in the ratings on Wednesdays since its premiere. Modern Family currently airs at 9 p.m. ET.
Both The Middle and Modern Family have had each of their seven seasons so far bumped up from 22 to the extra 24 episodes, so this isn't a huge shock.
The extra episodes have also taken The Goldbergs up to 24 for the second consecutive season. Originally airing on Tuesdays, the move to Wednesdays to join juggernauts The Middle and Modern Family has helped to boost ratings. The comedy set in the 80s can always be relied upon for at least some laughs at the outdated fashion and hair. The Goldbergs airs at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Black-ish is a sitcom that follows the stories of an upper-middle-class African-American family. The show relies largely and successfully upon the formidable comedy stylings of lead actors Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. The extra episode count for the second season will match the episode count for the first season. Black-ish continues to air at 9:30 p.m. ET.
The extra episodes for Tuesday comedy Fresh off the Boat are particularly encouraging. Originally ordered as a midseason series with 13 episodes, the series following the shenanigans of an Asian-American family was given the order for nine more episodes recently, and these two bonus episodes take the episode count up to the 24. Fresh off the Boat airs at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesdays.
While it comes as no huge surprise that ABC is showing additional faith in these five shows, it’s still something of a relief. ABC has one of the most consistent comedy blocks on primetime television in recent years, and it’s reassuring to know that these series will be on the air to provide laughs even longer this season than expected.
