Coming to ABC 2009-2010: Cougar Town, Hank, The Middle

According to reports from the usual suspects, joining last week’s early pickup Modern Family at ABC are the new Courteney Cox (Friends) comedy Cougar Town, the new Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) sitcom Hank, and the new Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Neil Flynn (Scrubs) comedy The Middle. Put a bit differently, ABC is stocking up on sitcoms starring proven comedy veterans from other proven comedies past and present. Smart move, if you ask me.

Cougar Town follows the adventures of a Florida-based single mother (Cox) of a teen son determined to maintain a successful career and a romantic life filled with hot young things at the same time. Dan Byrd, Ian Gomez, Josh Hopkins, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, and Brian Van Holt co-star.

Hank revolves around a former Wall Street bigwig (Grammer) who returns to his small family hometown after he loses his top-dog job and all that goes with it. Macey Cruthird, David Koechner, Melinda McGraw, and Ryan Wynott co-star.

The Middle tells the story of a middle-class, married mother of three (Heaton) who lives in Middle America with her middle-of-the-road family as she steadily approaches middle age. Well, the title certainly fits. Charlie McDermott, Atticus Shaffer, and Eden Sher co-star.

An official ABC announcement about the newcomers is expected on Tuesday, May 19, during the network’s upfront presentation.