ABC renews 'Castle,' orders two 'Towns'

 By Nellie Andreeva

ABC on Friday picked up three more series, sources said.

The network gave nods to new drama "Happy Town" and the Courteney Cox-starring comedy "Cougar Town," both from ABC Studios.

Additionally, midseason drama "Castle," also from ABC Studios, was renewed for a second season.

ABC wouldn't confirm any pickups until it unveils its fall schedule on Tuesday.

"Happy Town" is a small-town murder mystery from the team behind "October Road," creators Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg and director Gary Fleder.

The cast of the series, which has been an early favorite of the ABC brass, includes Geoff Stults, Lauren German, Dean Winters, Amy Acker, Sam Neill, John Patrick Amedori, Sarah Gadon, Jay Paulson and Robert Wisdom.

The single-camera "Cougar Town," from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence, stars Cox as a newly single mother with a 17-year-old son.

Lawrence is exec producing with Kevin Biegel, Cox and David Arquette.

The cast of the show also includes Dan Byrd, Busy Philipps, Brian Van Holt, Christa Miller, Josh Hopkins and Ian Gomez.

"Happy Town" and "Cougar Town" join previously ordered drama "Flash Forward" and comedy "Modern Family."

The detective dramedy "Castle," which is well-liked at ABC, has been a modest performer in the Monday 10 p.m. hour.

Showing its confidence in the Nathan Fillion-starring series, the network brass recently expanded juggernaut "Dancing With the Stars" to two hours on Monday to give "Castle" a boost.