ABC has revealed that acclaimed freshman comedy Speechless has been renewed for a second season. Though the series hasn’t (yet) generated the same level of buzz that fellow ABC comedies Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat have, it’s been a rather solid performer for the network and allowed ABC to thoughtfully and admirably explore a different avenue of representation, one that broadcast television rarely goes down.
From Scott Silveri (Friends), Speechless follows the DiMeo family, a ragtag group of misfits who rally around oldest son JJ (Micah Fowler), a high schooler with cerebral palsy, whenever he needs them. Having moved multiple times looking for the perfect situation for JJ, the DiMeos have learned to shed their self-consciousness and concern for how others perceive them and embrace what makes them different from other families. Even if they sometimes want to tear each other’s hair out.
In addition to Fowler, Speechless stars Minnie Driver (About a Boy), John Ross Bowie (The Big Bang Theory), Mason Cook (The Lone Ranger), Kyle Kenedy (The Walking Dead), and Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911!). The series joins a comedy slate that includes the likes of American Housewife, Modern Family, and The Middle, among others.
Speechless airs Wednesdays at 8:30 on ABC. The network will announce its fall 2017 schedule on Tuesday, May 16th.
