When NBC executives finalized their $2.45 billion annual NBA rights deal, they knew it would reshape their primetime lineup. The numbers were stark: NBC’s entertainment programming needed to shrink from 15 hours per week to accommodate the start of basketball broadcasts in the 2025-26 season.
The evidence came on May 9, 2025, when the network delivered both its largest single-day cancellation spree since the 2020-21 season and a clearer picture of which shows would survive NBC’s strategic transformation.
While individual show ratings influenced which series got axed, the cancellations were ultimately driven by scheduling needs rather than creative failure. The network had committed to an 11-year deal that would fundamentally alter its identity, prioritizing live sports programming where audiences watch in real-time and advertisers pay premium rates.
For viewers, it marked the end of an era. For NBC, it was the beginning of a new one built around basketball. On that note, here’s every show that either got the boot or lived to fight another day in NBC’s great primetime purge.
Shows That Didn’t Make the Cut: Found — Cancelled May 9, 2025
Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s missing persons procedural found its way to the chopping block after two seasons. Despite tackling the intriguing premise of locating the disappeared, this crime drama couldn’t attract enough viewers to justify its existence.
It seems that sometimes even a strong premise and a talented cast can’t save a show from vanishing into the TV graveyard, but if sources are to be believed, Warner Bros. Television may shop the series to other networks.
2. The Irrational — Cancelled May 2025
Jesse L. Martin’s behavioral analyst couldn’t build a strong enough connection with viewers to meet NBC’s ratings expectations. After two seasons of psychological crime-solving, the network decided it no longer made sense to keep this procedural around. Turns out, audiences weren’t buying what this particular brand of police psychology was selling.
3. Night Court — Cancelled May 2025
The gavel has fallen on this nostalgic revival. Melissa Rauch and John Larroquette’s attempt to recapture the magic of the ’80s sitcom ran out of steam after three seasons.
While it had its moments of courtroom comedy gold, the show initially enjoyed strong ratings when it launched in 2023, but it saw significant declines as the “nostalgia factor wore off”. NBC ultimately axed the show. Reportedly, there were attempts to shop the show to other networks, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
4. Lopez vs. Lopez — Cancelled May 2025
The real-life father-daughter duo of George and Mayan Lopez couldn’t win their family sitcom war against the network’s bottom line. Three seasons of multi-generational comedy weren’t enough to secure a victory, and NBC decided this particular family feud had run its course.
5. Suits LA — Cancelled May 2025
Despite the original Suits having dominated streaming charts just a couple of years prior, Stephen Amell’s Ted Black couldn’t capture the Harvey Specter magic that audiences craved, and NBC axed the show after just one season.
Starting with 2.6 million viewers, the show quickly dropped to hovering around 1 million and earned a brutal 39% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even guest appearances from Gabriel Macht reprising his iconic Harvey Specter role and Rick Hoffman returning as Louis Litt didn’t seem to help.
6. Grosse Pointe Garden Society — Cancelled June 2025
This mystery/drama series wilted faster than unwatered petunias. One season was all NBC needed to realize that this particular suburban offering wasn’t growing on audiences. Sometimes even the most carefully cultivated concepts just don’t take root.
The show has had a rough journey prior to cancellation. It premiered in February 2025 on Sunday nights alongside “Suits LA”, but NBC moved it to the dreaded Friday night slot in April 2025 — typically where shows go to die. NBC even considered moving the show to Peacock streaming service before ultimately deciding against it.
7. Shows That Lived to Fight Another Day: Brilliant Minds — Renewed May 2025
Zachary Quinto’s neurological drama earned its intellectual credentials with a Season 2 pickup. The show’s blend of medical mystery and psychological intrigue convinced NBC that this particular mind was worth exploring further.
8. One Chicago Trilogy — Renewed May 2025
NBC’s emergency services trifecta continues its dominance. Chicago Fire (Season 14), Chicago Med (Season 11), and Chicago P.D. (Season 13) proved once again that audiences can’t get enough of Windy City heroics. When your franchise is this reliable, renewal is less of a question and more of an inevitability.
However, there were reportedly budget cuts and some cast reductions made to facilitate the renewal. Three Chicago Fire cast members won’t be returning in Season 14: Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett were confirmed departures in April 2025, followed by Michael Bradway’s exit announcement in July 2025. Some remaining cast members may have reduced episode counts (2-4 episodes less). Moreover, the overall episode orders may be slightly shorter than those of previous seasons.
9. Law & Order Universe — Renewed May 2025
The mothership Law & Order (Season 25) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Season 27) continue their legal dynasty. Dick Wolf’s procedural empire remains NBC’s most dependable content machine, churning out episodes with the reliability of a Swiss watch and the staying power of a constitutional amendment.
10. Happy’s Place — Renewed February 2025
Reba McEntire’s return to sitcom land earned her a sophomore season. The country music legend proved she still has the comedic chops to anchor a network comedy, giving NBC something to be genuinely happy about in their comedy lineup.
11. St. Denis Medical — Renewed January 2025
This medical workplace comedy got the green light for Season 2, proving that there’s still room for fresh takes on hospital humor. The show, which premiered on November 12, 2024, proved to be a hit with both critics and audiences, and NBC clearly saw enough potential in this particular prescription for laughs to keep the doors open.
12. The Hunting Party — Renewed May 2025
This thriller managed to secure a second-season renewal, proving that audiences are still hungry for high-stakes pursuit drama. The show stars Melissa Roxburgh and follows investigators as they track escaped, dangerous criminals.
It aired only 10 episodes in its first season (a partial order), with NBC expanding it to a full 18–22 episodes for its second season run. Essentially, the network has decided this particular hunt was worth continuing.
13. The Voice — Renewed July 2025
The singing competition juggernaut secured Season 29 with a twist — just three coaches (John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelly Clarkson) for the first time in the show’s history. NBC’s betting that sometimes less really is more, even for their most reliable ratings winner.