LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC has tapped "Modern Family" as its first new comedy for the 2009-10 season.
The series, formerly known as "My American Family," has received a 13-episode order after its pilot tested strongly this week. Here's the network's official description of the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour:
"When the Pritchett, Delgado and Dunphy families agree to be interviewed by a documentary crew, they have no idea just how much they're about to reveal about themselves. Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill) met the stunning Columbian Gloria (Sofia Vergara) when she bartended in a bikini at the pool party he threw for himself the day his wife left him. Now Jay and Gloria are married and Jay tries hard to keep up with his much younger and hotter wife and her passionate teenage son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Claire Delgado (Julie Bowen) is having a hard time raising her own family. Her husband Phil (Ty Burrell) is great, except for the fact that he thinks he's "down" with their teenage kids, much to their embarrassment. Mitchell Dunphy (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his enthusiastic partner Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) have just adopted Lily, a precious little baby girl from Vietnam. This engaging new comedy offers a 'mockumentary' view into the complicated, messy, loving life of three unique families. Steven Levitan (Just Shoot Me) and Christopher Lloyd (Frasier) invite you into the sometimes warm and sometimes twisted embrace of modern day families."
Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter also star in the single-camera project, which Jason Winer helmed from a script by Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd.
In addition, the Alphabet has confirmed new titles for six of its pilots under consideration: "Untitled Kelsey Grammer Project" is now "Awesome Hank"; "Untitled Tad Quill Project" is now "Best Thing Ever"; "Untitled Anita Renfroe Project" is now "Bless This Mess"; "Untitled Lauren Graham Project" is back to "Let It Go"; "Don't Try This at Home" is now "Married Not Dead"; and "Single With Baggage" is now "Romantically Challenged."
Separately, the network will bump "Surviving Suburbia" for the second week in a row. "Dancing With the Stars" will once again expand to two hours on Monday, leading into the season finale of "Castle" at 10:00/9:00c. As previously announced, "Surburbia" will resume its run on Wednesday, May 27 at 9:30/8:30c.
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