Fox's ‘Ben and Kate,' ‘Mindy Project' Get Full-Season Orders

Tuesday comedies receive additional episodes despite soft ratings

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/8/2012 2:00:00 PM

Fox has picked up new Tuesday comedies Ben and Kate and The Mindy Project for full seasons, the network said Monday.

The Mindy Project gets a back-nine order while Ben and Kate's is for a truncated six additional episodes because creator Dana Fox is expecting to give birth later this year.

The comedies have turned in soft ratings in their first two weeks, with Ben and Kate posting a 1.6 rating with adults 18-49 last Tuesday and Mindy Project a 1.9. Both declined more than 20% from their series premieres.

"Ben and Kate and The Mindy Project have everything we want to stand for in comedy: smart writing, hugely appealing casts and comedy that feels contemporary and real -- which is why we're confident they will continue to build on what is already an appointment comedy night for young, influential audiences on Tuesdays," said Kevin Reilly, Fox chairman of entertainment. 

Ben and Kate is produced by 20^th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment; The Mindy Project is from 3 Arts Entertainment in association with Universal Television.

Three NBC freshmen series -- Revolution, Go On and The New Normal -- received full-season orders last week.