Designated Survivor, Speechless Get Full-Season Pickups

BURBANK: Two of ABC’s freshman Wednesday series have been given full-season orders: the Kiefer Sutherland-led Designated Survivor and Speechless, which stars Minnie Driver.

Building on its lead-in by double digits on average, ABC’s Designated Survivor ranks as number one in Wednesday’s 10 p.m. hour with live+same day total viewers (9 million). The show has more than doubled the audience in its time period on its series debut (up 104 percent), delivering ABC’s most-watched scripted telecast in the hour in five years. Designated Survivor is produced by The Mark Gordon Company and ABC Studios.

From Twentieth Century Fox Television and ABC Studios, Speechless debuted as the number two regular new comedy during premiere week among adults 18 to 49. Scott Silveri (Friends) writes and is executive producer of the show, along with Fresh Off the Boat’s Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.

Channing Dungey, the president of ABC Entertainment, said, “Designated Survivor and Speechless are two of the most critically acclaimed new shows of the fall season. 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.”