ABC Family continues to ramp up its original programming lineup, announcing Friday it has greenlit four more series pilots and is ordering new episodes for its hit comedy series Melissa & Joey.
The new pilots include an untitled one-hour scripted drama project from The Secret Life of the American Teenager producer Brenda Hampton that will focus on the lives and families of four ethnically-diverse teenage girls at a private school in California.
Other pilots include What Would Jane Do, a one-hour scripted drama that follows a 16year-old high school student who lands a job at a hip retail company after being mistaken for as an adult; The Great State of Georgia, a half-hour comedy series about an plus-sized performer from the south and her science geek best friend who try to make it in New York City; and The Lying Game, a one-hour drama based on the upcoming book series of the same name about a sister who sets out to find her missing identical twin.
The pilots follow the last week's announcement of three more series pilots scheduled to begin production this fall.
The new episodes of Melissa & Joey, starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, will bring the show's total freshman season order to 30 episodes, according to the network.
"The addition of these four pilots to the network's existing order, coupled with the breakout success of Melissa & Joey, reflects the incredible momentum of ABC Family," said Michael Riley, president of ABC Family in a statement. "This is the most aggressive development slate in the network's history. It shows the network's commitment to offering viewers a great mix of brand-defining original series."
