It was a tale of endings and beginnings at ABC on Friday, as the network renewed sibling comedy Home Economics for a second season while giving acclaimed veteran Black-ish an eighth and final season.
Home Economics debuted this spring to solid reviews, acknowledging the show’s creative potential while noting that it wasn’t all the way there just yet. Starring Topher Grace (That ’70s Show), Caitlin McGee (Bluff City Law), and Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal), the series follows three adult siblings occupying three different socioeconomic situations – one in the one percent, one firmly middle-class, and one barely hanging on.
Black-ish has been a major part of ABC’s comedy brand since its debut in 2014. It’s garnered consistent acclaim for its performances (particularly Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross) and the way it addresses issues of race, social justice, and inequality. In addition to litany of award wins and nominations, including a Golden Globe for Ross, a ton of NAACP Image Awards, and its first Emmy win last year, the series has fathered two spinoffs – college-set Grown-ish, still one of Freeform’s biggest shows, and ’80s-set Mixed-ish.
The Black-ish renewal with no Mixed-ish to accompany it likely means the latter won’t be returning. Neither Black-ish nor Mixed-ish has been strong in L+SD, but Black-ish has a lucrative syndication deal that ABC wants to cash in on one more time and there’s a Wonder Years reboot pilot that will likely push Mixed-ish off the schedule.
The Home Economics and Black-ish renewals join The Goldbergs, The Conners, A Million Little Things, and The Rookie in getting their 2021-22 go-aheads today. ABC is set to unveil their fall 2021 schedule on Tuesday.
