CBS reups comedies; NBC orders more "Medium"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - CBS has ordered additional episodes of freshman comedies "Gary Unmarried" and "Worst Week."

The network picked up seven episodes of "Gary Unmarried," which stars Jay Mohr as a newly divorced family man. That brings the total order to 20. Although still shy of the standard 22 episodes, CBS is calling the move a full-season order because the network also purchased two scripts.

CBS also ordered three episodes of "Worst Week," an adaptation of a hit British ensemble family comedy.

"Unmarried" has averaged 7.4 million viewers, and "Worst Week" 9.9 million. Although "Week" is higher rated, it has the luxury of a powerful "Two and a Half Men" lead-in, whereas "Unmarried" has a much more modest push from "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

In addition, NBC has ordered a half-dozen additional episodes of "Medium," its veteran supernatural drama starring Patricia Arquette. The order brings the total to 19.

"Medium" producers previously were told to have the show ready to return to air for its fifth season before the first of the year. Given that NBC has canceled "My Own Worst Enemy," which resides in the 10 p.m. Monday slot that housed "Medium" last year, a return to its former home seems likely.

Last season, NBC aired "Medium" without breaks or repeats after the holidays to avoid scheduling disruption of the show. That is the preferred route to maximize viewership, but it's not clear if the network has any option other than to get the show back on the air quickly.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter