ABC Issues Full Season Orders to ‘Designated Survivor’ and ‘Speechless’

Just two episodes in and optimistic ABC has issued full season episode orders to Kiefer Sutherland drama “Designated Survivor” and sitcom “Speechless.” Both air on Wednesday and both received an order for nine additional episodes, bringing their first season tallies to 22. The news comes two days after NBC issued a full season (five episode) pick-up to Tuesday drama “This Is Us.”

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

“Speechless” this week finished third in the Wednesday 8:30 p.m. half-hour in both total viewers (6.43 million) and adults 18-49 (1.8 rating/ 7 share), with almost full retention out of “The Goldergs.” And “Designated Survivor” won the 10 p.m. hour (opposite “Chicago PD” on NBC and the season-premiere of “Code Black” on CBS) with 7.97 million viewers and a 1.8/ 6 in the demo, which is a double-digit improvement over year-ago occupant “Nashville.”