As we get closer to May, more and more renewal and cancellation decisions are being made. ABC still has a fair few shows on the bubble, but decisions are slowly being made. The fates of two bubble shows were decided on Monday, April 13, and it’s great news.
Will Trent and The Rookie are no longer on the bubble. Their renewals are not that surprising at all, but ABC has made it clear why its decided to run with another season of both.
Will Trent Is Still the Favorite on ABC
While the networks are looking at streaming and delayed viewing figures, the linear ratings are still important. After all, the budgets come from the advertising revenue, so live ratings need to be good. Will Trent is one of the most popular shows on the network, pulling in the most live ratings every single week.
This is also a show that continues to go up in the ratings. It’s rare for a series to do that, but more and more people are finding it and making it a must-watch on Tuesday nights. The renewal wasn’t surprising but a welcome decision.
The Rookie Continues to Gain New Fans
Despite being eight seasons into the show, The Rookie remains a draw for streamers. Sadly, the series did move to Mondays, and we did fear that that would have a negative impact. And yes, it slightly did. That being said, it wasn’t enough for anyone to worry about.
It’s a series that has a low cost to produce, thanks to most of the scenes being on sound stages already built. The series also gets tax breaks by filming in California, and it has a loyal fanbase on streaming. Because it’s been on so long, newer fans are finding it on Hulu and then binging all the way to the current episodes. It’s a win for ABC!
So, with that in mind, The Rookie Season 9 isn’t too surprising. Could it move back to Tuesdays, though? This could depend on RJ Decker, which remains on the bubble.
Will Will Trent and The Rookie Move to the Fall?
The big question now is when the two shows will air. They have both been pushed to the midseason for the last couple of years, but with a strategic plan to air 18 episodes without breaks. Now yes, there have been the odd break due to State of the Union Addresses, but that’s been it.
It certainly helps with consistency, and the linear ratings prove it. So, I could see both shows being held for the midseason again, opting for a January 2027 premiere date for Will Trent Season 5 and The Rookie Season 9. Time will tell, and we’ll learn at the May Upfronts.
For now, The Rookie airs on Mondays at 10/9c and Will Trent airs on Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.
