ABC Orders Full Seasons of Three New Comedies

ABC on Thursday handed full-season pickups to three of its four new fall comedies: the single-camera half-hours "Modern Family," "Cougar Town" and "The Middle."

"Modern Family," one of the best received new series, and the Courteney Cox-starring "Cougar Town" have been early ratings standouts.

They dipped in their third airings this week, but the two shows continue to be solid anchors of ABC's all-new two-hour Wednesday comedy block in the 9-10 p.m. hour.

"The Middle," which stars Patricia Heaton, has been less impressive at 8:30 p.m., but has built on its "Hank" lead-in in both airings so far.

As for "Hank," the fourth piece of ABC's comedy block, there is no word on its future. Starring veteran Kelsey Grammer, "Hank" is the only multi-camera comedy among the foursome and has fared much worse than the others in critical response and in ratings. ABC is yet to make a decision on the fifth new Wednesday series, low-performing comedy-drama "Eastwick."