Well here’s something you don’t see everyday on television: Fox’s hit series “9-1-1” was canceled by the network, and just as quickly snapped up by ABC for its next season.
The Details
The move was made possible due to the fact the series is produced by 20th Television, a Disney company. When Fox opted not to renew its highest rated scripted series, ABC, another Disney Entertainment company, was able to pick up the show for its own network.
Now if “9-1-1” is Fox’s most watched series overall, why did they opt not to renew the show? Money.
The series has aired for six seasons, and in the process became the network’s most expensive scripted show, costing about $9-$10 million an episode to produce.
Part of that cost goes for the salaries of the show’s big-name cast, led by Oscar nominee Angela Bassett and Emmy nominee Peter Krause. Plus, over the seasons, storylines featuring major disasters have grown to involve elaborate visual effects and stunts.
Fox also has to pay a licensing fee to Disney to air the series on its network.
Strangely enough, the series spin-off “9-1-1 Lone Star,” which is also produced by 20th Television, was picked up by Fox for a fifth season.
One immediate change to “9-1-1” is this will definitely cut down the crossover episodes between the shows that have happened since the two shows are now on different networks.
It’s not impossible…producer Dick Wolf has had a character cross over from his NBC show “Chicago P.D.” to his CBS show “FBI” for a few episodes. But it will definitely take some negotiations.
“Thanks to the creative drive of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, as well as the talented cast, 9-1-1 has been one of the most defining and original dramas on network television over the last six seasons and we are honored to bring it to the esteemed group of series on ABC,” said Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group.
“It’s a privilege to keep 9-1-1 in the family with 20th Television producing, and we look forward to telling more heart-racing and uplifting stories about these beloved characters on our air.”
The Series
“9-1-1” explorea the high-pressure experiences of first responders, including police officers, firefighters and dispatchers, both on the job and in their personal lives.
The drama stars Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Buckley-Kendall, Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley, Kenneth Choi as Howie “Chimney” Han, Aisha Hinds as Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Ryan Guzman as Eddie Diaz, Corinne Massiah as May Grant, and Gavin McHugh as Christopher Diaz.
“9-1-1” was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear. Alexis Martin Woodall, Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, John J. Gray, Kristen Reidel, and Juan Carlos Coto also serve as executive producers.
It is a top performing drama series on Disney-controlled Hulu, and is also in syndication.
The upcoming Season 6 finale on May 15 will be its last episode on Fox, and the series will join ABC in the 2023-2024 season for Season 7.
Here is a preview trailer for the show’s season 6:
I’m a huge fan of the show, so I’m happy to see it still has a home for another season. Do you watch the series, or will you start when it starts airing on ABC? Let us know in the comments.
I LOVE, LOVE THIS SHOW!! MANY THANKS to Disney/ABC for picking it up!
Comments are closed.