QUICK TAKES - April 24, 2009

ABC, slogging through a tough prime-time season, has renewed a dozen of its existing series, including the ratings-challenged “Ugly Betty” and “Private Practice.”

The network on Thursday announced early pickups as well for the dramas “Brothers & Sisters,” “Lost” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” ABC’s top programs, “Dancing With the Stars” and “Desperate Housewives,” are also headed back, as well as the unscripted series “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (for its 20th season), “The Bachelor,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Supernanny” and “Wife Swap.”

Still unclear is the fate of the Christina Applegate sitcom “Samantha Who?” as well as the midseason crime drama “Castle,” the quirky cop show “The Unusuals” and the comedies “In the Motherhood,” “Better Off Ted” and “Surviving Suburbia.” The low-rated “Cupid” is considered a long shot.

ABC will not reveal its entire fall schedule until next month, when it will present the lineup to advertisers in New York.

-- Scott Collins