Two ABC comedies have received full season orders after a month of airing. According to Deadline, freshman comedy, The Wonder Years, and Home Economics both have been given nine additional episodes for their seasons. Both series premiered their respective seasons on September 22nd of this year.
The Wonder Years is the latest in the trend of reboots as it reimagines the 1988 sitcom from the perspective of an African American family during the late 1960s. Newcomer Elisha “EJ” Williams stars as Dean, a curious 12-year-old coming up in a middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama. As he hits his pre-teen years, Dean is etching his place in the world. Following the scenario of the original series, the show is narrated by adult Dean, voiced by Don Cheadle (No Sudden Move, Space Jam: A New Legacy).
According to Deadline, the series has had the strongest debut for a comedy at ABC in two years, tying with The Conners as the #1 comedy of the season for adults 18-49. The premiere episode averaged 4.8 million viewers across seven days of viewership on both linear and streaming platforms. And it boasts 6.4 million total views for the Disney-owned network.
Home Economics is a midseason series in its season season, averaging 3.6 million total viewers and a 0.9 in ratings for adults 18-49, according to Deadline. Premiering in April, the series follows three adult siblings whose love for each other can get messy being they all live in different economic classes. Series creator, Michael Colton (Best Week Ever, Zoolander: Super Model) wrote the show loosely based on his own life experiences. He is joined by frequent writing collaborator, John Aboud (The Fake News with Ted Nelms, Penguins of Madagascar).
The series stars Topher Grace (That 70s Show, Black Mirror) as the eldest sibling and narrator, via Deadline. He is joined by Caitlin McGee (Bluff City Law, Modern Love), and Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal, Life According to Jimmy) who play the middle and youngest siblings, respectively. The cast is rounded out by Karla Souza (How to Get Away With Murder, Don’t Blame the Kid) who plays Grace’s wife, and Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live, The Weekend) as McGee’s partner.
Watch The Wonder Years and Home Economics Wednesdays at 8:30 & 9:30 p.m. ET, respectively on ABC.