ABC’s 2021-22 broadcast schedule is taking form, and many familiar names are set to populate the schedule. On May 14, the Disney-owned broadcast network delivered renewal orders to six of its established scripted series, as reported by Deadline.
The Goldbergs is coming back for season nine, according to Entertainment Weekly. The ninth season of the ’80s-set family sitcom will be the first in which the character of Albert “Pops” Solomon will not appear. Pops’s portrayer, Oscar nominee George Segal (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), passed away in March 2021, USA Today reports.
Black-ish is planning its grand finale, as its newly announced eighth season is allegedly its last, as reported by Deadline. During its time on the air, the half-hour family comedy spawned two spinoffs, Grown-ish, whose fourth season comes to Freeform on July 8, and Mixed-ish, whose fate remains undetermined.
Home Economics may have only debuted in April, but the Topher Grace (That 70’s Show) starrer has already been renewed for season two, according to Deadline. Lionsgate, who co-produces the series alongside ABC Signature, has already launched an Emmy For Your Consideration campaign for Home Economics ahead of July’s nomination announcement date.
The Conners has been picked up for season four, Deadline reports. The Roseanne offshoot still has long way to go before it catches up to the original series’ nine seasons and two hundred-plus episodes. The second half of The Conners‘ season three finale airs on Wednesday, May 19 at 9 P.M. Eastern, according to TV Line.
A Million Little Things has fourth season in store as well, according to TV Line. D.J. Nash (Truth Be Told), who created the ensemble drama, announced via his Twitter that he completed the script for the season three finale on April 14, and that it features a major cliffhanger that he plans to resolve in the next season.
The Rookie, like The Conners and A Million Little Things, is returning for its fourth season on ABC, as reported by Deadline. The final episode of the Los Angeles-set police procedural’s third season, which will feature guest appearance from Jenna Dewan (Witches of East End) is scheduled to air on Sunday, May 16 at 10 P.M. Eastern.
The six series listed above join ABC’s upcoming broadcast season alongside several other returning programs, such as The Good Doctor and Big Sky, whose renewals were confirmed during the first week of May. Additionally, Grey’s Anatomy, which has long been one of ABC’s hugest ratings draws because of its devoted fanbase, was renewed for season eighteen on May 10, as reported by TV Line. Meanwhile, the long-running medical drama’s spinoff series Station 19 was picked up for season five, Deadline reports.
With regard to upcoming new arrivals, the broadcaster is in the midst of preparing pilots for new original series Epic and Promised Land.