ABC announced today it has given 22-episode full-season orders to both of its new Wednesday series, the drama “Designated Survivor” and the comedy “Speechless,” one day after both aired their second episodes.
“Designated Survivor,” which stars Kiefer Sutherland as the secretary of housing and urban development who succeeds to the presidency following an attack on the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union, has won its 10-11 p.m. Wednesday time slot both times it aired.
Its premiere Sept. 21 averaged 10.04 million viewers, according to live- plus-same day ratings compiled by Nielsen, the most for a scripted program in the time slot for ABC since the September 21, 2011, premiere of “Revenge.”
Wednesday’s episode averaged 7.966 million viewers, retaining 97.7 percent of the audience from the episode of “The Goldbergs” that preceded it.
The Sept. 21 premiere of “Speechless” averaged 7.38 million viewers, ABC’s most in the 8:30-9 p.m. Wednesday time slot with scripted programming since the Sept. 30, 2015 episode of “The Goldbergs.” Wednesday’s episode averaged 6.431 million viewers.
“Speechless” is inspired by creator Scott Silveri’s experiences of having a brother with special needs.
“Designated Survivor” and “Speechless” are the second and third new series to receive full-season orders. NBC announced Wednesday it had given an 18-episode full-season order to the drama “This Is Us.”
