Let’s face it: Network TV is about to end its season. And as the finale approaches, the dreaded decisions about which shows will continue and which will be canceled arrive. A lot of these series are still “on the bubble,” stuck in that frustrating limbo where they’re neither renewed nor canceled. Most of them will get their fate sealed in later May, but we’re not waiting that long.
We’re getting into it now and making some calls on which stories still have life left in them. Is it an exact science? Not even close. It depends of ratings, streaming numbers, network vibes, gut feelings… and yeah, a little bit of guessing. It’s enough to get a sense of where things are heading—but remember that sometimes there are exceptions to the rule.
ABC
While ABC renewed quite a few shows for the next season, not all of them are safe. See the details below:
Renewed: 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, Abbott Elementary, High Potential, Grey’s Anatomy, The Rookie, Will Trent, Shifting Gears, Scrubs, and RJ Decker.
Canceled: None.
On the Bubble
RJ Decker
Updated: RJ Decker was renewed for a Season 2 on May 8
Previously: Scott Speedman’s new detective drama only just hit screens in early March, so yeah—don’t hold your breath for renewal news anytime soon. ABC has zero reason to rush this one and could easily wait until after the May Upfronts, once they actually know what their schedule is doing.
That said… the numbers are hard to ignore. RJ Decker pulled in ABC’s biggest 10 p.m. drama premiere in over five years, and the streaming debut? Also strong. Like, quietly impressive in a way that makes you pay attention. So is this already a done deal? Not officially—but it’s definitely leaning that way.
Shifting Gears
Updated: Shifting Gears was renewed for a Season 3 on April 30.
Previously: Shifting Gears quietly pulled off something no one really saw coming: it was the top-rated ABC scripted show in the key 18–49 demo (before the Scrubs revival). Yeah, you read that right—even outperforming Abbott Elementary that airs right after it on Wednesdays.
Which honestly makes this feel like a no-brainer. When a show is doing that well in the demo that actually matters to networks, you don’t overthink it—you keep it going. So unless ABC decides to get in its own way (which, fair, has happened before), Shifting Gears should absolutely be cruising toward a third season.
Scrubs
Updated: Scrubs was renewed for a Season 2 on April 30.
Previously: Since Scrubs came in as a midseason entry with that late February premiere, ABC isn’t in any rush to decide its fate. This is another one of those shows they’ll want to sit with a little longer, especially as they figure out what their schedule needs to look like moving forward.
But honestly? The signs are already there. Critics were into it, the reviews landed, and the premiere numbers were more than solid—they were promising in a way that feels sustainable, not just curiosity-driven. So if we’re calling it now? Yeah, Scrubs is probably sticking around.
CBS
CBS didn’t want to take any risks and renewed most of its shows quite early. Some weren’t so lucky, though. The best part? There’s no show on the bubble. See the details below:
Renewed: Boston Blue, CIA, Elsbeth, FBI, Fire Country, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Ghosts, Marshals, Matlock, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, Sheriff Country, and Tracker.
Canceled: The Neighborhood, DMV, and Watson.
NBC
While NBC renewed some of its most popular franchises for a new season, but also canceled some. And the future of some shows remains uncertain. See details below:
Renewed: Happy’s Place, St. Denis Medical, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Law and Order: SVU, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, and Law & Order.
Canceled: Law and Order: Organized Crime (Peacock), Brilliant Minds, and Stumble.
On the Bubble
Brilliant Minds
Updated: Brilliant Minds was canceled on May 1. The show will return with its final six episodes in May 27 at 8pm ET.
Previously: Brilliant Minds was very much on the bubble last season, but it got lucky. NBC didn’t have a ton in development and the schedule had space, so it managed to squeak its way into a Season 2 renewal. This time? It’s a completely different story—and not a good one.
Ratings are down, viewership has dropped hard, and it’s now sitting as NBC’s lowest-rated show. And if that wasn’t enough, the network quietly pulled it from the schedule back in February, which is never a great sign. At this point, if we have to guess, the show won’t be coming back for a Season 3.
The Hunting Party
The Hunting Party basically did the impossible last season being renewed when nobody was entirely sure it would make it. And this year? It’s still not exactly thriving on the linear charts, sitting outside NBC’s top 10–out of 13 shows—, which is… not ideal. But here’s where things get interesting. Because even if the live numbers aren’t great, the show has something working in its favor: Netflix.
Season 1 performed well there, and NBC is clearly hoping that kind of streaming life can translate into real viewership—either bringing people back to watch it live or catching up on Peacock. So while the ratings alone wouldn’t scream “renew me,” the bigger picture might just be enough to tip it over the line again.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
Updated: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins was renewed for a Season 2 on May 5.
Previously: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins got a strong start thanks to that post-football sneak preview boost, but once that faded, so did the numbers. Now it’s hovering right alongside NBC’s other new comedy, Stumble—and that one is in danger. Not exactly the company you want to be keeping.
That said, there’s still some runway here. Reggie Dinkins only properly launched in late February, so NBC isn’t going to rush this call. They’ll want to see more data, more weeks, more stability—or lack of it—before making a decision. So while the trajectory isn’t great, this one’s still very much a wait-and-see situation.
Law & Order: SVU
Updated: Law & Order: SVU was renewed for a Season 28 on April 16.
Previously: Law & Order: SVU isn’t just a long-running show at this point—it’s the record-holder for the longest-running live-action scripted primetime series in American TV history! And spoiler alert: it’s not giving that title up anytime soon. When NBC renews it for Season 28 this spring—because, let’s be real, that’s happening—, it’ll just keep extending its own legacy without breaking a sweat. Unless something truly, wildly unexpected happens—and TV history suggests it won’t—SVU isn’t going anywhere. It’s basically part of the furniture at NBC at this point.
Law & Order
Updated: Law & Order was renewed for a Season 26 on May 7.
Previously: Law & Order might get canceled… eventually. But if we’re being honest, that day feels really far far away. So yeah—this one isn’t going anywhere. Expect it back for Season 26, business as usual. The only real question isn’t if it returns, but how much cast juggling NBC does to keep the budget in check this time around. Because if there’s one thing more reliable than the show itself, it’s NBC finding new ways to make it slightly cheaper without actually stopping it.
Stumble
Updated: Stumble was canceled on May 1.
Previously: NBC executives like Stumble. Like, really like it. Enough that it’s clearly still in the conversation despite everything else. The bad news? The ratings have absolutely not cooperated. And for a network sitcom, that’s kind of a problem. It doesn’t help that Peacock data is hard to pin down, so there’s this weird gap between what NBC might be seeing internally and what we can actually track publicly.
And when you stack it up against the competition—The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins still finding its footing, plus already-renewed comedies like St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place—things start looking pretty bad. So yeah, even with some internal love, Stumble is in a tough spot right now.
FOX
While some FOX animated shows and a couple of dramas got to know their fate early, there are still some series waiting to find out. See the details below:
Renewed: American Dad!, Animal Control, Best Medicine, Bob’s Burgers, Doc, Family Guy, Krapopolis, The Simpsons, Universal Basic Guys, and Memory of a Killer.
Canceled: The Faithful: Women of the Bible (miniseries).
On the Bubble
Murder in a Small Town
Updated: Murder in a Small Town was renewed for a Season 3 on May 7.
Previously: Murder in a Small Town feels like it should already be done. It’s sitting near the bottom of Fox’s ratings chart, which is usually a death sentence. But this is where things get interesting. Because Fox isn’t just looking at ratings, they’re looking at the money. And this show? It’s made on a budget that actually makes sense for them. It’s a Canadian co-production, which means lower costs and a better return on investment compared to something produced entirely in-house.
And then there’s the audience. Sure, the 18–49 demo isn’t exactly strong, but total viewership is up nearly 13% from Season 1. That’s not nothing—that’s growth. In fact, it’s now Fox’s fourth most-watched series overall. So yeah, the ratings might look rough at first glance, but the bigger picture tells a different story. If we’re calling it? This one’s probably coming back for Season 3.
Going Dutch
Updated: Going Dutch was canceled for on May 4.
Previously: Denis Leary’s Going Dutch is, unfortunately, not in a great spot right now. It’s been sitting at the bottom of Fox’s lineup in both ratings and total viewers, which makes it the only live-action scripted series on the network that really feels in danger.
Could it still any chance, through? Sure, there’s always hope. But Fox doesn’t exactly have a ton of room to play with, which means space is tight and something has to give if new shows are coming in. And right now, Going Dutch feels like the easiest cut.
No one is saying anything about Law & Order: Organized Crime. Was this show just quietly cancelled?
Hi! Thank you for your comment! Organized Crime is on the bubble. Peacock hasn’t said a word yet about its renewal or cancellation. We’ll probably know something in May…🤞