• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, July 16, 2013

A pair of ABC hits are launching this season with super-sized versions. “Modern Family” will debut Sept. 25 with a one-hour episode, followed by “Grey’s Anatomy” the next night with a two-hour season premiere.

Both shows are returning during premiere week. “Dancing with the Stars” will launch the week before. So will Friday shows “Last Man Standing,” “The Neighbors” and “Shark Tank.” The series that will follow them on Fridays, “20/20,” will debut Sept. 6.

With “Modern Family” running a full hour, its companion in the Wednesday 9 p.m. hour, “Super Fun Night” won’t launch until Oct. 2. A similar dynamic applies with “Scandal.” With the “Grey’s” premiere taking its spot, the emerging hit will debut in the Thursday 10 p.m. slot on Oct. 3.

The “Modern Family” premiere could give a lift to the “Nashville” debut, as the second-year drama will follow it. The two-hour “Grey’s” premiere shows ABC’s confidence in “Scandal,” since the network isn’t going with the medical drama as a lead-in to get the season going.

ABC is looking to reclaim momentum after a difficult 2012-13 season, where it finished in fourth place in the 18-to-49 demo by one measure with an 8% ratings drop .