ABC Awards Early Renewals: BROTHERS & SISTERS, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Not Among Them

We interrupt your regularly scheduled game of “Penny Can” for some truly exciting news (Cul-De-Sac Crew FTW!). This morning, ABC kicked off the network portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour by officially renewing COUGAR TOWN, MODERN FAMILY, THE MIDDLE, CASTLE, GREY’S ANATOMY and PRIVATE PRACTICE through next season.

Not so lucky were V, BETTER WITH YOU, NO ORDINARY FAMILY, DETROIT 1-8-7, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and BROTHERS & SISTERS. All of which — with the notable exception of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES whose fate is far more contingent on the successful completion of contract negotiations between the studio and the show’s stars including Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria — will more than likely have to wait until May, when their fate will more than likely depend on how ABC’s Fall 2011 pilots panned out. Stay tuned.