ABC Renew/Cancel 2025-26 Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts on The Rookie, RJ Decker, Shifting Gears, Grey’s Anatomy & More!

The 2025-26 broadcast season has come to an end, and that means it's time to look back on the season that was, as I recount my hits and misses from this year on ABC.

First Week Peak: Predictions for Not Suitable for Work, The Witness, Cape Fear

The Bullpen: 1876 Season 1 Episode 1 of 8: Dratted Umpire

What’s Trending on Streaming: The Top Shows on Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from May 24-May 30

It was a busy week on streaming, with several debuts of high-profile hits and multiple shows closing out their seasons after strong runs. Keep reading to see the top performers on Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from the last week!

Tuesday TV Ratings 5/26/26: Summer House Soars, NBA Playoffs Decline, Running Wild and Farmer Wants a Wife Hit Lows [+ Analysis]

NBC's NBA playoffs broadcast (2.07) was the top program on Tuesday night, giving the network an effortless win. ABC aired repeats of RJ Decker (0.16/0.11/0.08), while CBS went with encores of NCIS (0.24), NCIS: Origins (0.19), and NCIS: Sydney (0.13). Farmer Wants a Wife (0.13, -0.01) and Bear Grylls Is Running Wild (0.11, -0.01) inched down on Fox. The CW's WWE NXT (0.05, -0.03) also declined. Key: (R) = repeat.

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 11 - The Twilight Zone

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 11

The Twilight Zone

Monday TV Ratings 5/25/26: American Music Awards Down a Third from 2025, NBA Playoffs Dip Slightly as Knicks Sweep Cavaliers, Top Chef Jumps [+ Analysis]

The CBS showing of the American Music Awards (0.49) experienced a 35% decline in the Adults 18-49 demographic when compared to last year (0.75), but this rating put it above all other broadcast network offerings on Monday night. NBC aired repeats of American Ninja Warrior (0.19) and Password (0.12), while ABC aired encores of Dirty Talk (0.16/0.13/0.10). Reruns of The 1% Club (0.13) and The Quiz with Balls (0.14) aired on Fox. Sullivan's Crossing (0.05, 0.00) was steady on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Sunday TV Ratings 5/24/26: Tracker Builds on Marshals on Finale Night, NBA Playoffs Jump from Last Thunder/Spurs Game, Real Housewives of Rhode Island Steady as Real Housewives of Atlanta Dips [+ Analysis]

CBS drama Marshals (0.33, -0.02) dipped on finale night, but Tracker (0.37, +0.07) surged for its own season closer. On NBC, an NBA playoffs game (2.12) was able to put a two before the decimal point. ABC aired the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens (0.17), which was a clear step above MLS on Fox (0.13/0.08). The CW aired repeats of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03/0.03/0.05). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Saturday TV Ratings 5/23/26: NBA Playoffs Dominate, True Justice: An Eye for an Eye Low on Hallmark, Sparks/Aces WNBA Game Modest on CBS [+ Analysis]

ABC's NBA playoffs broadcast (2.18) dominated on Saturday night, while a WNBA game on CBS (0.14) posted a much more modest rating. Later, 48 Hours (0.13, +0.02) rose slightly for its season finale. NBC went with repeats of Password (0.17) and Dateline (0.19). MLB on Fox (0.37) declined from last week. The CW aired NASCAR (0.1). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 5/22/26: Boston Blue and Fire Country Rise for Finales, Sheriff Country Ends on a Series High, NBA Playoffs Down [+ Analysis]

CBS's Sheriff Country (0.34, +0.04), Fire Country (0.25, +0.01), and Boston Blue (0.22, +0.03) all rose for their respective finales, with Sheriff Country setting a new series high in the process. Over on ABC, a repeat of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.22) performed relatively well. NBA on NBC (1.77) led the way, while UFL on Fox (0.1) remained feeble. On the CW, The American Bible Challenge (0.03, 0.00) held steady. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

EMMY AWARDS PREVIEW: Supporting Actor & Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie

 

On Wednesdays, I am taking a look at the major Emmy categories before nominations are revealed in July. Here's a look at the Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie categories! I always find the Limited Series races interesting because it's a new slate of nominees every single year. It's much more like the Oscars or Tonys than the Comedy and Drama categories. But I think it's widely agreed that this year was not the strongest year for Limited Series. As streamers have started to pivot back towards desiring long-term, ongoing series (thanks to The Pitt among others) and as they have cut back on spending, the star-driven limited series has been less of an appealing option for the various platforms. But there are still some noteworthy performances.

PILOT REVISITED: Outsourced

Each week, I take a look back at a pilot from the 2010-11 season, first reviewed on my blog during that season. This week, I am looking at NBC's comedy flop Outsourced!

Thursday TV Ratings 5/21/26: Ghosts and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Near Lows for Finales, Elsbeth Also Ends Down, Next Level Chef Finale Ticks Up [+ Analysis]

CBS sitcom Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (0.35, -0.03) slipped at eight, then lost further ground for its finale at 8:30 (0.32, -0.03). Ghosts (0.29, -0.06) and Elsbeth (0.17, -0.02) also closed out their respective seasons on a low note. On Fox, Next Level Chef (0.24, +0.01) and Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear (0.18, +0.02) were both up for their own finales. Game show Scrabble (0.03, 0.00) was steady on the CW, while Trivial Pursuit (0.03, -0.01) ticked down. ABC aired repeats of 9-1-1 (0.18) and 9-1-1: Nashville (0.16/0.12), while NBC aired encores of Law & Order (0.13), Law & Order: SVU (0.19), and The Hunting Party (0.13). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Raymond Island Season 7 Episode 11 - A Memorial Day Carol

Raymond Island Season 7, Episode 11

A Memorial Day Carol

Summer Renew/Cancel Week 1: Farmer Wants a Wife, Will Get a Renewal Instead

With the 2025-26 regular season now over, it's time to take a look at the summer season, with predictions for the summer series that have debuted so far. Keep reading for my initial predicitons for the four Fox reality series that kicked off summer programming for the year.

Frances in the Kitchen Season 6 Episode 15 - Detroit in the Kitchen

Frances in the Kitchen Season 6 Episode 15

Detroit in the Kitchen

What’s Trending on Streaming: Daily Trending Lists for Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from May 17-May 23

Another week has come and gone, and it was a week where most of last week's top shows stayed on top. Keep reading to see if anything shook up the charts this week on Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix!

The Bullpen: New League Season 1 Episode 10: Lorenzo Takes The Mound (Season Finale) + Renew/Cancel Poll

What’s Premiering On Streaming: Day 1 Predictions for My 2 Cents and Star City

 

May Mayhem Semifinals: Vote to Advance Two Shows to the Finals

Wednesday TV Ratings 5/20/26: Survivor 50 Ends with Highest Ratings Since Season 40, MasterChef Rebounds, The Greatest Average American Hits Series High for Repeat [+ Analysis]

CBS's Survivor (1.1, +0.1) gained a tenth on finale night and set a new season high in the process. But despite the massive success, the reality staple was a full point below an NBA playoffs game (2.1) on NBC. ABC aired repeats of The Greatest Average American (0.3) and Shark Tank (0.14/0.12). On Fox, MasterChef (0.23, +0.07) and The Floor (0.28, +0.06) experienced significant growth. The CW's Police 24/7 (0.05, +0.01) inched up. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 10 - Social Media Killed the Basketball Star

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 10

Social Media Killed the Basketball Star

Tuesday TV Ratings 5/19/26: Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Takes #2 on Broadcast on a Quiet Night, NBA Playoffs Soar for Cavaliers/Knicks, Farmer Wants a Wife Ticks Up [+ Analysis]

Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart (0.17) was an okay performer for CBS but still lost to NBC's repeat of America's Got Talent (0.22). NBC also had the edge at ten as their Password repeat (0.14) was slightly ahead of CBS's NCIS encore (0.13). Repeats of RJ Decker (0.16/0.15/0.11) aired on ABC. On Fox, Farmer Wants a Wife (0.14, +0.01) ticked up, while Running Wild (0.12, 0.00) held steady. The CW's WWE NXT (0.08, +0.02) was also up. Key: (R) = repeat.

Monday TV Ratings 5/18/26: FBI and CIA Soar to Season Highs for Finales, The 1% Club and The Quiz with Balls Also Rise, Spurs/Thunder NBA Playoff Game Dominates [+ Analysis]

With the comedies out of the way, CBS dramas FBI (0.37, +0.09) and CIA (0.25, +0.08) were free to occupy earlier time slots for their respective finales, and both shows were up markedly in the process. On Fox, The 1% Club (0.20, +0.07) and The Quiz with Balls (0.23, +0.10) both bounced back. NBA on NBC (1.84) was the top Adults 18-49 performer of the night overall. ABC aired repeats of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.23/0.20/0.18). Sullivan's Crossing (0.05, -0.01) ticked down on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

EMMY AWARDS PREVIEW: Supporting Actor & Actress in a Drama Series Nominees

On Wednesdays, I am taking a look at the major Emmy categories before nominations are revealed in July. Here's a look at the Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama Series categories!

Sunday TV Ratings 5/17/26: Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy Rebound for Finales, Marshals and Tracker Drop to Series Lows, Euphoria Steady [+ Analysis]

Fox's Family Guy (0.24, +0.11) bounced back significantly on season finale night, and American Dad! (0.22, +0.08) was up markedly as well. In between those two was a particularly strong installment of Bob's Burgers (0.29, +0.11), though Bob's did cool down a bit for its finale at 9:30 (0.24, -0.05). On ABC, America's Funniest Home Videos (0.34, -0.27) plummeted for its season finale, but Betrayal: Secrets & Lies (0.14, +0.03) ended up. On CBS, a sports-inflated 60 Minutes (0.52, +0.14) was of no help to Marshals (0.35, -0.06) or Tracker (0.30, -0.08). NBC aired MLB coverage (0.33), while the CW aired the film Con Air (0.06). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Saturday TV Ratings 5/16/26: Saturday Night Live Soars for Finale with Will Ferrell and Paul McCartney, 48 Hours Steady, MLB Jumps from Previous Saturday [+ Analysis]

NBC's Saturday Night Live (0.81, +0.11) ended its 51st season with a significant surge, with a finale that featured Will Ferrell as host and musical guest Paul McCartney. But the results were more subdued for another Saturday staple, as CBS's 48 Hours (0.11, 0.00) made no gains. In sports news, NHL on ABC (0.67) was a good bit ahead of MLB on Fox (0.51), while the CW aired Banana Ball (0.09). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 5/15/26: Celebrity Jeopardy! Ends on Another Season High, Sheriff Country Ties Series High, Dutton Ranch Decent on Paramount Network [+ Analysis]

ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.39, +0.06) surged on finale night, and lead-out 20/20 (0.30, +0.09) had an even stronger jump. On CBS, Sheriff Country (0.30, +0.03), Fire Country (0.24, +0.05), and Boston Blue (0.19, +0.02) all rose as well. NBC aired repeats of Happy's Place (0.17/0.12) and Dateline (0.15). UFL on Fox (0.09) was on the softer side, while the CW's American Bible Challenge (0.03, +0.01) grew slightly. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

PILOT REVISITED: No Ordinary Family

Each week, I take a look back at a pilot from the 2010-11 season, first reviewed on my blog during that season. This week, I am looking at ABC's promising but failed No Ordinary Family!

Grey’s Anatomy Texas Spin-Off Ordered to Series at ABC

Raymond Island Season 7 Episode 10 - Samantha Who?

Raymond Island Season 7, Episode 10

Samantha Who?

Thursday TV Ratings 5/14/26: SVU and Law & Order Tick Up for Finales, Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear Modest, MIA Decent for Broadcast Preview [+ Analysis]

It was finale night for Law & Order (0.29, +0.02) and Law & Order: SVU (0.32, +0.01) on NBC, and both shows were up slightly as they closed out their respective seasons. At ten, a special showing of the Peacock series M.I.A. (0.19) was a hair above the previous week's Hunting Party finale (0.18). On CBS, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (0.38, +0.09) and Ghosts (0.35, +0.08) both bounced back after last week's damaging drops, while Elsbeth (0.19, -0.01) dipped. Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.33, 0.00) was steady on ABC. On Fox, Next Level Chef (0.23, 0.00) was stable and led into the modest debut of Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear (0.16). Scrabble (0.03, +0.01) inched up on the CW, while Trivial Pursuit (0.04, 0.00) was flat. Key: (P) = premiere. (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Frances in the Kitchen Season 6 Episode 14 - Case Closed in the Kitchen

Frances in the Kitchen Season 6 Episode 14

Case Closed in the Kitchen

What’s Premiering on Streaming: Day 1 Predictions for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, The Boroughs, and Mating Season

The Bullpen: New League Season 1 Episode 9: Foul Play

What’s Trending on Streaming: Daily Trending Lists for Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix from May 10-May 16

Another week of streaming has come and gone, and it was one filled with new debuts and finales. Keep reading to see the top performers on Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Prime Video and Netflix for the last week!

May Mayhem Group Finals: Vote on Which Shows Will Advance to the Final Four

Wednesday TV Ratings 5/13/26: America’s Culinary Cup Slightly Up for Finale, Survivor Nears Season High, MasterChef Hits Series Low [+ Analysis]

CBS's Survivor (1.00, +0.09) gained enough momentum on Wednesday night to put a one before the decimal point yet again, and America's Culinary Cup (0.22, +0.01) inched up for its finale. Over on NBC, Chicago Med (0.30, -0.08) and Chicago Fire (0.33, -0.02) were down for their respective finales, but Chicago PD (0.30, +0.02) bucked the trend for its closer. ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.33, +0.02) rose once more, putting it well above a sinking MasterChef (0.16, -0.03) and The Floor (0.22, -0.02). The CW's Police 24/7 (0.04, -0.01) dipped. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 9 - Technicality

Foul Play Season 1 Episode 9

Technicality

Tuesday TV Ratings 5/12/26: NCIS: Sydney Underperforms NCIS: Origins in 9 PM Airing, NCIS Down for Finale, Celebrity Jeopardy! Rises on Special Night [+ Analysis]

CBS's NCIS (0.33, -0.05) dipped on finale night, while NCIS: Sydney (0.19, +0.01) slightly improved at nine but declined for its proper closer at ten (0.17, -0.02). On ABC, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.31, +0.03) was up on a special night, and a Diane Sawyer special about Richard Simmons (0.27) held onto much of that audience. NBA on NBC (1.44), unsurprisingly, had the highest Adults 18-49 rating of the night, while the CW's WWE NXT (0.06, -0.05) dealt with a harsh decline. Farmer Wants a Wife (0.13, -0.03) and Running Wild (0.12, -0.03) slipped on Fox. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Monday TV Ratings 5/11/26:The Neighborhood Jumps to Season High for Series Finale, American Idol Also Ends Higher, CIA Dips [+ Analysis]

CBS sitcom The Neighborhood (0.43, +0.16) ended its eight-season run by soaring to a new season high, and that appeared to help DMV (0.30, +0.10) close out its one-season run on a high note, as it jumped all the way back up to the high it set in its October debut (0.30). Later, FBI (0.28, 0.00) held steady, and CIA (0.17, -0.03) declined. ABC had its own finale surge as American Idol (0.56, +0.12) ended its season with a significant increase (though NBA on NBC (1.37) was still on top overall). Fox aired repeats of The 1% Club (0.18) and The Quiz with Balls (0.16). Sullivan's Crossing (0.06, +0.01) climbed higher on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale. 

EMMY AWARDS PREVIEW: Supporting Actor & Actress in a Comedy Series Nominees

Over the next couple weeks, I will be looking at the major Emmy races and the state of the race before nominations. Here's a look at the Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series categories!

Sunday TV Ratings 5/10/26: Family Guy Sinks to Season Low, American Dad! and Marshals Also Slip, WNBA Solid for USA Network Debut [+ Analysis]

On Fox, Family Guy (0.13, -0.06) plummeted to a new season low, and Bob's Burgers (0.18, -0.04) was dragged down with it but still continued to build on its lead-in. At nine, American Dad! (0.14, -0.04) also slipped. On CBS, 60 Minutes (0.38, +0.04) rose from last week, Marshals (0.41, -0.02) declined, and Tracker (0.38, 0.00) held steady. America's Funniest Home Videos (0.61, +0.13) jumped on ABC, while Betrayal: Secrets & Lies (0.11, 0.00) was stable. NBA on NBC (1.78) dominated again, while the CW aired Speed (0.06). Key: (R) = repeat.

Saturday TV Ratings 5/9/26: Saturday Night Live Down, NBA Playoffs Dominate, All’s Fair in Love & Mahjong Solid on Hallmark [+ Analysis]

Sketch-comedy staple Saturday Night Live (0.70, -0.11) was down on NBC, and 48 Hours (0.11, -0.05) also dealt with a decline on CBS. NBA on ABC (1.69) was the top-rated broadcast overall, while MLB on Fox (0.29) trailed. The CW aired The 90s Boy Band Boom (0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 5/8/26: Dateline NBC Ticks Up to Season High, Celebrity Jeopardy and WWE SmackDown Also Rise, Fire Country Declines [+ Analysis]

Despite having a rerun of Happy's Place (0.17) as its lead-in, NBC's Dateline (0.24, +0.06) soared to a new season high on Friday night. Newsmagazine competitor 20/20 (0.21, +0.02) also rose on ABC but couldn't quite catch up in the key demo. Earlier in the night, Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.28, +0.03) gained momentum. Over on CBS, Sheriff Country (0.27, +0.05) surged, and Boston Blue (0.17, +0.01) was up slightly, but Fire Country (0.19, -0.01) was down in the middle. UFL on Fox (0.12) ticked up, while The American Bible Challenge (0.02, -0.03) slipped on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

PILOT REVISITED: Raising Hope

Each week, I take a look back at a pilot from the 2010-11 season, first reviewed on my blog during that season. This week, I am looking at Fox's Raising Hope!

ABC Announces Fall 2026 Schedule

ABC has announced their fall 2026 schedule. It is as follows:

Raymond Island Season 7 Episode 9 - New England Patriots

Raymond Island Season 7, Episode 9

New England Patriots

Thursday TV Ratings 5/7/26: Grey’s Anatomy Soars for Season Finale, Georgie & Mandy and Ghosts Sink, SVU Leads Broadcast [+ Analysis]

ABC's Grey's Anatomy (0.24, +0.07) soared on season finale night, growing significantly from 9-1-1: Nashville (0.18, +0.01). The latter was up slightly for its finale, while 9-1-1 (0.30, -0.01) ended its season with a slight decline. But the declines were not as slight on CBS as Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (0.29, -0.06) lost a noticeable chunk of last week's rating, and Ghosts (0.27, -0.13) outright plummeted. Elsbeth (0.20, 0.00), however, was stable. On NBC, Law & Order (0.27, +0.03) and Law & Order: SVU (0.31, +0.05) rose, and The Hunting Party (0.18, +0.05) was also up for its finale. Over on Fox, Next Level Chef (0.23, 0.00) matched its week-ago installment. Scrabble (0.02, -0.04) faded away on the CW, while Trivial Pursuit (0.04, -0.02) held up a bit better. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

The Rookie: North Ordered to Series by ABC

ABC has handed a series order to their lone drama pilot, The Rookie: North. The spinoff of their long-running procedural hit The Rookie has been in development for over a year, with a pilot ordered this year en route to its eventual pickup. The pilot stars Jay Ellis as Alex Holland, who is inspired to join the Pierce County PD after a violent home invasion. He'll be on the case in both the urban coast and the rural forest in the sprawling Washington County, as he tries to prove to his skeptical training officer and fellow rookies that he belongs on the force. Chris Sullivan, Janet Montgomery, Karen Fukuhara, Malik Watson, Froy Gutierrez, and Mya Lowe will also star in the series, which has a ten-episode order for its first series. It is set for a midseason debut in early 2027. It's the second spinoff of The Rookie, after one-and-done The Rookie: Feds. Unlike Feds, The Rookie: North did not have a backdoor pilot on the parent show, as ABC utilizes a different strategy to launch this new series. There are, however, plans for crossovers between the two series.