One Chicago is not on the bubble at NBC, but we're getting dangerously close to bubble territory. The procedural franchise has yet to receive renewals on any of its three shows, despite the fact that we're a month out from their respective finales.
It's been a pretty tense period of time for One Chicago fans, especially as networks like CBS and ABC dish out renewals on similar programs like NCIS and FBI. Fortunately, Deadline has provided updates on the franchise's renewal chances, and frankly, we feel a lot better.
NBC is currently in talks to renew One Chicago
The outlet noted that Dick Wolf seems to be the name that secures renewal. While noting that the list of shows that are slated for renewals are relatively short, all of them have Wolf's name attached. This, of course, applies to Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. Conversations are being held with NBC and Universal Television at the moment, and One Chicago is a major talking point.
Deadline has confirmed, however, that things are looking good. The outlet claimed that all three One Chicago shows are "expected to return" for the 2025-26 season. The same goes for the Law & Order shows, which exist in the same universe at One Chicago. The one distinction worth making is that the Law & Order spinoff, Organized Crime, has been moved to NBC's streaming platform, Peacock.
While it may seem odd to have confidence in shows that have yet to be renewed, it's worth nothing that renewals for One Chicago have arrived during similar time periods in years prior. We discussed the franchise's past in a recent post. The positivity surrounding One Chicago is amplified by the titles that are looking at an uncertain future.
Other scripted dramas are on the bubble
Deadline posited that the Dick Wolf procedural dramas are in good shape heading into the 2025-26 season, but the other scripted dramas on NBC are in a much more precarious situation. The outlet notes there is "deep uncertainty" surrounding the fate of One Chicago's peer shows, largely due to NBC's decision to hand over large chunks of programming time over to basketball coverage.
The network will feature one night of NBA programming in the fall, and two starting in January 2026. These nights will fall on Tuesday and Sunday, meaning shows that currently occupy these spots are in serious danger of getting axed or reassigned to another time slot. We will see, but we're relieved One Chicago Wednesdays will likely stay intact.