FOX boss gives concerning update on 9-1-1 shows

9-1-1, like most TV franchises, has been delayed to 2024. The ongoing writers and actors strike has forced the hand of the network, and they have decided to wipe the procedural drama from its fall lineup in favor of unscripted shows. There has been speculation about when 9-1-1 will return in 2024, which is something the FOX president of entertainment recently addressed.

Michael Thorn told Deadline that the strike will have to be wrapped up by October 1 if there’s any hope of salvaging the scripted dramas that have been delayed by the network. His rationale is that if the strike goes on longer than October 1, then there won’t be enough time for writers and actors to resume their normal workload.

When is 9-1-1 coming back?

“You’re going get to a point in the fall, in the late fall, where it’s going to be very hard to launch [scripted shows] within the traditional TV viewing season”, Thorn explained. “If that means the [delayed scripted] show could work and succeed in the summer [of 2024], great”, Thorn said. “If it’s better to wait for the fall and use football and sports, we’ll do that.”

If the strike continues for another month, then networks will have to consider airing abbreviated seasons of shows. This means shows that usually air 20 plus episodes will only be able to air 6-8 episodes, which is tantamount to a miniseries. Thorn acknowledged this issue, and admitted that FOX will have to weigh the positives and negatives of airing so few episodes.

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“You could use October 1 as the date by which the writer and actor strikes need to be settled”, he added. “Every show is different but sometimes when you’re staring at a May launch date, you always wonder, ‘Is that the best time?'” It’s unfortunate for fans, but Thorn assures us that the network will be returning with vigor once a concrete date is established.

“We really pride ourselves on ‘less is more’ and we were fortunate to be able to really put our money where our mouth is in that regard,” he concluded.

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