Freeform Goes for Kenya Barris Comedy, Pretty Little Liars Spin-Off

Freeform has revealed new programming highlights, including a multi-camera comedy from co-creators Kenya Barris and Ranada Shepard, alongside returning shows such as a second season of Siren.

Besties is a brand-new half-hour comedy from Barris and Shepard, following the success of Barris’s breakout coming-of-age show grown-ish. Produced by ABC Signature Studios, the series explores friendship, identity, race and class as two lifelong best friends use each other to get through some of the toughest challenges that they will ever face: figuring out who they are and who they want to be.

I. Marlene King is expanding the Pretty Little Liars universe with a ten-episode series order for Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. The show will feature returning fan favorites Sasha Pieterse as Alison and Janel Parrish as Mona and star Sofia Carson (Disney’s Descendants) as Ava. The drama also welcomes Sydney Park (The Walking Dead) as Caitlin, newcomer Eli Brown as Dylan, Graeme Thomas King (The Widow) as Jeremy, Kelly Rutherford (Gossip Girl) as Claire and Hayley Erin (General Hospital) in an undisclosed role.

Following Siren’s premiere as the number one new cable drama with young women (18 to 34 and 12 to 34), Freeform have given a second season pickup to the mermaid thriller. The season one finale airs May 24.

Freeform will expand its holiday roster with more than 1,000 hours of themed programming, kicking off with 31 Nights of Halloween on October 1. The network also introduced Freeform Santa and November’s Kick Off to Christmas. Then the 25 Days of Christmas returns to the entire Disney/ABC Television family on December 1.