ABC’s frosh drama “No Ordinary Family” moved a step closer to a full-season order on Thursday.
The hourlong Michael Chiklis starrer scored an order for an additional four scripts from the network — a good sign that ABC is looking to keep the show going for the remainder of the season.
ABC also gave additional script orders to veteran Sunday-night drama “Brothers and Sisters” — which just got an 18-episode order this year — and midseason Shonda Rhimes entry “Off the Map.”
The “No Ordinary Family” and “Brothers and Sisters” script orders repped a double win for exec producer Greg Berlanti, who’s behind both. Berlanti’s having a good week: “Life as We Know It,” the feature romantic comedy he directed, opened respectably for Warner Bros. last weekend.
In the case of “No Ordinary Family,” the comicbook-esque hour has performed decently for ABC in a tough slot — Tuesdays at 8 p.m., opposite Fox’s young hit “Glee” and CBS’ powerful “NCIS.” After three episodes, the show is averaging a 2.9 rating/8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.8 million viewers.
“No Ordinary Family,” which centers on a family that suddenly develops superpowers, stars Chiklis, Julie Benz, Romany Malco and Autumn Reeser. Berlanti, Jon Harmon Feldman, David Semel and Morgan Wandell exec produce.
“Brothers and Sisters,” which also received an order for four additional scripts, was always expected to return at the end of last season but landed a shortened pickup from the network.
Berlanti, Ken Olin, David Marshall Grant, Sarah Caplan, Michael Morris and Sally Field exec produce the drama, which has averaged 9.7 million viewers and a 3.1/8 in adults 18-49 this season so far.
Then there’s “Off the Map,” which received an order for one more script.
Show is waiting in the wings for midseason — and could wind up in several spots, possibly even the Sunday 10 p.m. slot when “Brothers and Sisters” goes on hiatus.
Show, which centers on six doctors who take a job in the Amazon, is being shot in Hawaii. Rhimes, Jenna Bans and Betsy Beers are exec producers.
All three skeins hail from ABC Studios.
