ABC is responding to an emergency call as Fox officially cancels 9-1-1, despite the drama series being one of the network’s most popular programs. Citing financial concerns, Fox has made the choice to cut off the series after its sixth season, which concludes in two weeks; thankfully, this decision doesn’t spell an end of 9-1-1 itself, which will be making the move to ABC for season 7.
First premiering on Fox in 2018, 9-1-1 follows the lives of LA’s first responders, with weekly episodes putting teams of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers in thrilling, suspenseful situations where lives are saved and lost based on their decisions. Meanwhile, their personal stories are fraught with drama and heartbreak, with love being formed and lost in equal measure amidst their chaotic lives. 9-1-1 has successfully run for six seasons on Fox, with regular cast members including Angela Bassett as Sergeant Athena Grant, Peter Krause as LAFD captain Bobby Nash and Jennifer Love Hewitt as 911 dispatcher Maddie Buckley. Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Rockmond Dunbar, Connie Britton, Ryan Guzman, Corinne Massiah, Marcanthonee Jon Reis, Gavin McHugh, and John Harlan Kim also star.
Fox Cancels ‘9-1-1’, Citing Financial Reasons as ABC Snags Series
In the five years since its debut, 9-1-1 has spawned a spin-off, 9-1-1 Lone Star, and become Fox’s highest-rated scripted series, according to Deadline. Despite this, Fox has made the move to cancel 9-1-1, with its final episode on the network being the season 6 finale, “Death and Taxes,” on May 15. Whispers of cancelation for the series have been floating around since March, and Fox is citing financial benefits as the reasoning behind their decision – Fox may air 9-1-1, but Disney owns the series, and Fox has chosen to step away from the licensing fees necessary to keep running it. Instead, 9-1-1 season 7 will be making the jump to ABC, 20th TV’s sister studio, which falls under Disney’s expansive umbrella.
In a statement regarding the cancelation and move, Fox said the following:
“It has been an honor to be the founding network of 911 and we are grateful to Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, together with Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Oliver Stark, Aisha Hinds, Kenneth Choi, Ryan Guzman and the rest of the cast and crew, and 20th Television for delivering such an impactful series to FOX. We wish them well after 911’s final Fox season concludes.”
Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich also called 9-1-1 “one of the most defining and original dramas on network television” and stated that Disney is looking forward to keeping the series “in the family” as they continue 9-1-1 going forward. The move will see 9-1-1 joining fellow ABC dramas Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, The Good Doctor, and The Rookie, along with rising star Will Trent.
The season 6 finale of 9-1-1, “Death and Taxes,” will premiere on Fox on May 15, 2023. More information on the series move to ABC for season 7 will likely become available after that.