ABC Orders Full Seasons of ‘Speechless’ and ‘Designated Survivor’

ABC is keeping its new Wednesday night intact—the network has ordered nine additional episodes of the Minnie Driver-led Speechless and the Kiefer Sutherland-led drama Designated Survivor, bringing both freshman shows’ Season 1 episode count to 22.

Speechless

“Designated Survivor and Speechless are two of the most critically acclaimed new shows of the fall season,” said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment, in a statement. “We’re very proud of the creative excellence in front of and behind the camera, and are thrilled to be giving our audience more episodes.”

RELATED: On Designated Survivor, Kiefer Sutherland Plays an Unexpected President

Designated Survivor follows a lower-level cabinet member (Sutherland) who becomes the president after a terror attack targets politicians during the State of the Union. Speechless is about a family with a special-needs child, and their attempt to settle into a new town.

These join NBC’s This Is Us as the first new shows of the season to receive full-season orders.

Speechless, Wednesdays, 8:30/7:30c, ABC.

Designated Survivor, Wednesdays, 10/9c, ABC.

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