With renewal/cancelation season in full swing, every network has shows whose futures are more precarious than others. While ABC has only confirmed orders for a handful of their scripted shows, some renewals like9-1-1season 9felt like a waiting game rather than the game of chance awaiting its newer titles. Meanwhile,Shifting Gearsgetting picked up for season 2 seemed a given a couple of months ago became a nail-biting update following reports that it could be canceled. Still, at large, every major network has series teetering on the edge of either longevity or extinction.
Whether it be ahighly-anticipated new show of 2025that failed to impress or a classic whose popularity seems to be waning, no amount of seniority (nor novelty) can offer security.CBS has already canceled beloved shows, with newer titles poised for better (but still unconfirmed) luck. The sad fact is that potential isn’t always compelling enough to warrant renewal, and great shows won’t always get the runway they deserve.
7Doctor Odyssey
ABC, 2024
FromDoctor Odyssey’s premise alone— a medical drama taking place aboard a luxury cruise ship— Ryan Murphy’s newest procedural had significant momentum in its favor prior to its premiere. Anticipation only grew as names like Joshua Jackson, Don Johnson, and Phillipa Soo joined theDoctor Odysseycast of characters. Sadly, the hype has dwindled due to the procedural’s fractured sense of identity.
I’m Afraid Doctor Odyssey Doesn’t Know What To Do With 1 Character & It’s Ruining The Show’s Vibe
Doctor Odyssey’s midseason premiere was full of exciting medical emergencies, but episode 9 only underscores its big issue with its main character.
Although the show is attempting to shift genres,Doctor Odysseysolidified itself as an unintentionally chaotic melodramathat takes itself too seriously more often than not. With the needlessly complicated love triangle, surprise pregnancies, and uncomfortably serious traumatic storylines set against the backdrop of camp, themed weeks,Doctor Odysseybemuses more than it entertains. Luckily, the series also benefits from ABC’s shortlist, meaning it may still have time to find its sea legs.
6Night Court
NBC, 2023
Constructed as a modern continuation of the late 20th-century legal comedy, NBC’sNight Courtseemed promising throughout its first two seasons. The sitcom benefited from guest stars, callbacks, and a healthy dose of nostalgia that appeared to garner a devoted following.Night Courtseason 3 gave every indication of continuing the revival’s success, unfortunately, to no avail.
Night Courtseason 3 has earned the lowest ratings of the entire series, with season 3, episode 14 only garnering 1.66m viewers compared to the pilot’s 7.55m and season 2’s 3.77m peak.
Although cast members seemed hopeful forNight Courtseason 4, the dismal state of season 3’s viewership threatens to end the series before it can truly hit its stride.Night Courtseason 3 has earned the lowest ratings of the entire series, with season 3, episode 14 only garnering 1.66m viewers compared to the pilot’s 7.55m and season 2’s 3.77m peak. Though the plots leave ample room for further development,Night Courtmay soon be adjourned.
5Rescue: HI-Surf
Fox, 2024
Following Fox’s cancelation of9-1-1,Rescue: HI-Surfseemed like the perfect replacement for the long-running procedural. While it was immediately compared to its first-responder predecessor and staples likeBaywatch, the lifeguard drama set on the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawaii had a unique spin that should’ve given it an edge among competing titles. Though the pilot episode received a promising response, the series failed to stay afloat.
Rescue: HI-Surforiginally even had the coveted timeslot following the 2025 Super Bowl, but Fox quickly replaced it following the nosediving ratings.
While many hopedRescue: HI-Surfwould break Arielle Kebbel’s cursed streakof canceled TV shows, viewership has steadily declined since the pilot episode, halving by episode 2 and struggling to crack 2 million ever since.Rescue: HI-Surforiginally even had the coveted timeslot following the 2025 Super Bowl, but Fox quickly replaced it following the nosediving ratings. Though the concept is original, the execution may leave Rescue: HI-Surf dead in the water.
4Brilliant Minds
NBC, 2024
Brilliant Mindsmay be NBC’s most critically acclaimed title in recent years, due in no small part to Zachary Quinto’s commendable performance as Dr. Oliver Wolf. The main character and overall premise, intriguingly, were inspired by the true case studies of neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks. The procedural structure turned each episode into a case study of its own, with high-stakes emergencies softened by heartwarming (and sometimes tear-jerking) overarching explorations into the human condition.
Brilliant Minds Episode 9’s Case Is Based On Real-Life: Oliver Sacks' True Story Explained
Brilliant Minds episode 9 is based on the real-life Oliver Sacks case study of a colorblind painter, but the show takes a few creative liberties.
ThoughBrilliant Mindsseason 1 concluded after 13 episodes, Oliver Sacks’ life’s work— and a few admittedly gauche interoffice romances— leaves the door open for further exploration. Unfortunately, the critical response may not be enough to excuse the dip in ratings the drama experienced throughout its pilot season. Yet,Brilliant Minds’ unfortunate viewership drop was still a successful showing for NBC, all things considered.
3Law & Order
NBC, 1990
Indisputably one of the most well-known shows of all time,Law & Orderhas a 35-year legacy— but the legal drama has already“ended”its run before. From 2010 to 2021,Law & Orderaired no new episodes, meaning it was revived after more than a decade (and slotted betwixt spinoffs with stronger staying power). Though the modern era ofLaw & Orderhas new cast members and cases, renewal isn’t a guarantee.
Rather,the“new” Law & Orderpales in comparison to its past self. Whether it be disappointment with resolutions or lack thereof (likeLaw & Orderseason 24’s Luigi Mangione-inspired case) or a vague sense of plateaued storytelling, there seems to be a growing consensus that the iconic drama has once again run its course. It’s still possibleLaw & Orderwill continue for a few more seasons, but I wouldn’t be surprised if NBC let it fizzle out instead.
2Found
With such a compelling premise— a former kidnapping victim leveraging her past to solve missing persons cases— I’m shocked thatFoundis fighting such an uphill battle. Granted, season 2 hasn’t performed as well as the pilot showing on critical or commercial fronts, but Shanola Hampton’s thriller is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, many ofNBC’s dramas seem to be fighting for dwindling spots on the 2025-26 schedule.
Given that the series originally debuted duringthe 2023 Writers’ Strike, the early success ofFoundis all the more impressive and deserving of a closer look. While Hampton’s notoriety as series regular Veronica inShamelessmay contribute to some ofFound’s viewership, the collective work of the procedural’s cast is what truly sells the high stakes. Yet, with so many NBC titles on the bubble, it’s hard to ascertain what will make the cut.
1Suits LA
NBC, 2025
Arguably the biggest upset of the 2024-25 season has been the devastating downfall ofSuits LA. Initially one of the most anticipated new titles of the year, the pilot episode inspired downright virulentearly reviews forSuits LA. Following in the footsteps of one of the most beloved legal dramas of all time was already a tall order, butSuits LAhas failed to distinguish itself from its predecessor for any positive reason.
Hang On, Did Suits LA Solve All Of Its Major Conflicts Just Like That?
Suits LA episode 6 is somehow able to solve all of the major conflicts it’s dealing with within the hour, and that’s both impressive and concerning.
Though each episode ofSuits LAseems to be marginally better than the last— and the main cast are doing their best to salvage the disastrous plots— the spinoff seems like a complete failure compared to the original series. Upcoming cameos from formerSuitsstars may help sway public opinion, butSuits LAwill need to fight to earn a renewal. It’s hard to imagine thatSuits LAwill beat out the multiple other NBC dramas on the bubble for the 2025-26 season, but anything is possible (until, of course, it isn’t).
