ABC has given full-season pickups to two freshman shows: the Kiefer Sutherland drama “Designated Survivor” and Minnie Driver comedy “Speechless.”
Both shows received back-nine orders to bring their total first season episode tallies to 22. “Designated Survivor,” about a cabinet member thrust into the presidency after an attack, hails from Mark Gordon Co. and ABC Studios. “Speechless,” which revolves around a family with a special needs child,
Designated Survivor” was created by David Guggenheim, who exec produces with Sutherland, Simon Kinberg, Mark Gordon, Jon Harmon Feldman, Nick Pepper, Suzan Bymel and Aditya Sood. “Speechless” was created by Scott Silveri who exec produces with Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar.