FREEFORM SENDS ZOEY OFF TO SOPHOMORE YEAR WITH SEASON 2 ORDER OF 'GROWN-ISH' NETWORK ORDERS 20-EPISODES OF CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED SERIES

At today's inaugural Freeform Summit, during kickoff panel conversation featuring Kenya Barris and Yara Shahidi, among others, "grown-ish" executive producer alongside executive vice president, programming & development, Karey Burke, surprised series lead, Shahidi, with the news that the network has ordered a second season of the critically-acclaimed breakout comedy. The premiere, which boasted Freeform's highest debut for a comedy in nearly six years, also earned critical praise from Deadline, which called the series "straight up good, no -ish required," and BuzzFeed declared, "glows from the inside out."

Freeform's "grown-ish," a half-hour comedy tackling current social issues and complexities facing both students and administrators, follows Zoey (Yara Shahidi), Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active 17-year-old daughter from ABC's Emmy(R)-nominated comedy "black-ish," as she heads into her freshman year of college at Cal U.

The series is produced by ABC Signature Studios and is executive produced by Kenya Barris, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne and Julie Bean. "grown-ish" airs Wednesday nights at 8/7c on Freeform.

About Freeform

Part of Disney|ABC Television, Freeform connects to audiences and goes beyond entertainment with bold, original programming and immersive social engagement. As Disney's young adult television and streaming network, it delivers a unique mix of quality original and acquired series, plus fan-favorite movies and the holiday events "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." The Freeform app allows viewers access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on-demand access via a wide array of devices.

About ABC Signature Studios

ABC Signature Studios is a division of ABC Studios spearheading development and production in premium and basic cable, as well as streaming platforms. The artist-driven arm provides a year-round destination for development and production across the cable and streaming landscape. Most recently, their critically acclaimed comedy "SMILF," created by Frankie Shaw, who also stars and directs, has been renewed for a second season by Showtime. Signature is currently airing the half-hour "black-ish" spinoff, "grown-ish," from creator/executive producer Kenya Barris and starring Yara Shahidi, on Freeform. Additionally, Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios "Marvel's Runaways" is streaming on Hulu and was recently renewed for a second season, and "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" is set to premiere on Freeform this year. Netflix recently ordered Amblin TV and ABC Signature's "Rev Run" straight to series which will go into production this year. Signature's previous series include "Guerrilla," "Dead of Summer," "Blood & Oil," "Benched" and the Emmy(R)-nominated HBO film "Confirmation," starring Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce.