After just three episodes, ‘Pretty Little Liars’ is enough of a hit to warrant a full season pickup. (Despite Variety’s memorable diss: “‘Prime Suspect’ as reenacted by Bratz dolls.”)

Mediaweek reports that ABC Family has ordered 12 more episodes of the sexy, soapy drama that stars Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson and Shay Mitchell as four popular small-town girls who receive threatening messages that hint at the dark secret they’re all keeping: Namely, the mysterious disappearance of their best friend, Alison, a year earlier.

“‘Pretty Little Liars’ is a breakout hit for the network,” said Kate Juergens, executive vp, original programming & development, ABC Family. “We’re thrilled that our Millennial viewers have responded so strongly to the show. It’s a perfect fit with the network’s strong slate of original scripted dramas.”

The series, based on the bestselling young-adult novels by Sara Shepard, also stars Laura Leighton, Holly Marie Combs, Chad Lowe and Nia Peeples, who know a thing or two about soaps, having collectively logged time on ‘Melrose Place,’ ‘Charmed’ and ‘The Young and the Restless.’

According to Nielsen, the June 22 episode showed an 11 percent ratings bump from the show’s June 8 premiere, a 20 percent increase in the key 18-49 demo and a 6 percent increase in viewers 12-34.

I’m officially getting old. I know this because Holly Marie Combs has just been cast as the mother of a teenager!

Sources confirm to me exclusively that the ex-Charmed one is joining ABC Family’s upcoming drama, Pretty Little Liars, as the mother of Lucy Hale’s Aria.

Liars, based on the popular series of young adult novels, follows four teen girls — Aria (Hale), Emily (Shay Mitchell), Hanna (Ashley Benson), and Spencer (Trojan Bellisario) — who have been hiding a deep, dark secret since the sixth grade.

Chad Lowe was recently tapped to play Aria’s father (and Combs’ TV hubby). The cast also includes Laura Leighton and Bianca Lawson.

Liars is set to debut on June 8 at 8 pm/ET.

Source: Entertainment Weekly