Nicholas Gonzalez will be doing rounds for another year…
ABC has given an early second-season renewal to its hit rookie The Good Doctor, starring the 42-year-old Mexican American actor.
The news should come as no surprise, as the drama hails as the network’s most-watched freshman series in 13 years.
The number of episodes hasn’t been disclosed but star Freddie Highmore’s contract calls for 18-episode seasons at most.
In the series, created/executive produced by David Shore based on a Korean format and executive produced by Daniel Dae Kim, Highmore stars as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who relocates from a quiet country life to join the prestigious St. Bonaventure hospital’s surgical unit. His only advocate, Dr. Aaron Glassman (Richard Schiff), challenges the skepticism and prejudices of the hospital’s board and staff when he brings him in to join the team.
In addition to Gonzalez and Highmore, the series also stars
Antonia Thomas, Chuku Modu, Beau Garrett, Hill Harper and Tamlyn Tomita.
The pilot episode of the series, from Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios, won a Humanitas Prize this year. The drama, whose hopefulness clicked with the audiences, airs Mondays at 10:00 pm ET.
“The Good Doctor’s message of inclusiveness resonates with our viewers and is a hallmark of what we aim to accomplish here at ABC,” ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said in announcing the renewal. “This series has quickly joined the zeitgeist and broken records in the competitive television landscape. We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Shaun Murphy will be back for another season.”
