Part of the enjoyment of procedural television is getting to spend time with your favorite characters and solve cases alongside them every week. So when this connection is broken, and there's no new episodes, it can be a little irritating. Especially when there aren't even reruns of your preferred shows in place of new episodes.
Unfortunately, this is the case with three beloved shows on Thursday, April 24. ABC is radically switching up its primetime schedule, and removing 9-1-1, Grey's Anatomy and Doctor Odyssey. There won't be any new episodes or reruns of episodes from earlier in the season. Why? Well, because of football.
ABC is airing the NFL Draft instead of scripted dramas
ABC is handing over its primetime window to the NFL Draft, which airs at 8/7c. This cuts directly into the time that is typically handed over to the aforementioned medical and first responder dramas. It's a shame, too, because Doctor Odyssey can use all of the ratings boosts it can get. The show has yet to be picked up for a second season by ABC.
The network's reluctance to renew the star-studded drama was made all the more notable by the fact that it renewed most of its other titles. 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy were confirmed to be returning for more seasons, and the latter even has a Nashville-based spinoff in the works. ABC also dished out a renewal for Abbott Elementary, leaving Doctor Odyssey as arguably the highest-profile show to have its fate still undetermined.
9-1-1 and Doctor Odyssey return on May 1
There are multiple factors at play here. One, the medical drama does not draw the impressive ratings of some of its peers. Two, series creator Ryan Murphy is also the man behind 9-1-1 and its upcoming spinoff, so he is somewhat spread thin. Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich told Variety that there are still conversations being conducted regarding Doctor Odyssey's future.
"We love Doctor Odyssey," Erwich noted. "We’re still having creative conversations about the show with Ryan and evaluating. Ryan is very busy. Ultimately, we’re going to take our lead from Ryan about what that next chapter of Doctor Odyssey looks like. But we’re having creative conversations about it right now. He’s an amazing partner."
The good news is that Doctor Odyssey, along with 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, will be back with new episodes on Thursday, May 1.