Thursday nights have historically been one of the toughest nights on network TV. It’s hard to compete with firm favorites, and 9-1-1 has proven to be one of the big shows people look forward to. Given its ratings, it remains must-see TV, but for the first time in a long time, things are about to change.
Since season 8, 9-1-1 has tried to distance itself from one of its biggest mistakes: killing 9-1-1 favorite Bobby Nash. Peter Krause’s character was a big draw, and Bobby quickly became the heart and soul of the series. He had a direct connection with every single character, including Athena, as the two connected emotionally at the end of 9-1-1 season 1.
He helped guide Buck and Eddie into becoming the firefighters they are by 9-1-1 season 10, and he offered a calming presence during periods of stress. Time and again, he found ways out of impossible situations. 9-1-1 season 9 suffered without him. The show’s ratings fell, but the storylines also showed that the 118 felt stranded and broken without him.
9-1-1 season 10 is the do-or-die season for ABC. It has to prove that it can succeed without the formidable captain, and so far, it’s done relatively well. His memory is still there, but the writing isn’t relying on grief to handle emergencies or bring the team together. That could be about to change thanks to NBC’s biggest scheduling decision yet, and that’s on top of Krause’s TV comeback being a major headache for the networks.
9-1-1 Will Have Stiff Competition In The 2027 Midseason
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For the first time, 9-1-1 will face competition on Thursday nights thanks to NBC’s scheduling decisions. The ABC series has always held its own against its fellow 8 p.m. counterparts, especially Law & Order. Arguably, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Ghosts have never been true competition, as they’re both comedies and attract different viewership, so CBS’s slate has never been an issue (though CBS has always performed well in this time slot because it offers something different).
However, Law & Order has always struggled. Many thought that once Bobby was fully written out of the first responder drama, people would turn away. This could have given the long-running NBC series a new chance to capture hearts, yet 9-1-1 season 9 continued to hold its own and pull in the stronger ratings, despite its decline.
That might change in 2027. NBC has decided to air its reboot of The Rockford Files, starring David Boreanaz, at 8 p.m. ET on Thursdays. This could be serious competition. Boreanaz returning to a lead role is exciting. He’ll get a chance to honor the original Rockford Files while making the character his own. NBC is pulling out all the stops to promote the show, even offering a dedicated phone number for more information — a fun nod to the original show’s opening bit. Its premiere will also be broadcast after NBC’s upcoming NFL game on Saturday, January 2, 2027, before moving to its Thursday timeslot for the rest of the season.
Why Bobby’s Death Will Be A Major Topic Again For 9-1-1 In 2027
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This scheduling shift brings up the topic of Bobby’s death all over again. If 9-1-1 season 10 can hold its own against The Rockford Files, then it proves that the show has a heart without the 118 Captain. The show has managed to move on from Bobby’s legacy, and audiences are clearly still tuning in for the wild emergencies and the other characters’ stories. Bringing Bobby back somehow isn’t currently necessary.
Yet, if the ratings drop once NBC’s new show hits, it proves that 9-1-1 made a huge mistake toward the end of season 8. While there was an initial surge in viewership after Bobby’s death so that fans could grieve along with the characters — and get confirmation that this death was real and not some horrible nightmare — after that, the ratings saw a huge drop. By 9-1-1 season 9, the show’s total viewership was down, even compared to the 9-1-1 season 8 premiere.
Luckily, 9-1-1 enjoyed a ratings boost with the season 10 premiere. Per Deadline, it was “up 49% over last season’s premiere among adults 18 to 49,” and “the top drama of the night in competitive multi-platform measurement.” Still, NBC’s Rockford Files reboot will give people a reason to change the channel in 2027. Will 9-1-1 still hold up without Bobby when something (potentially) better comes along? That remains to be seen.
Krause Vs. Boreanaz On Network TV Could Have Been A Great Match-Up
It’s disappointing that Krause is no longer on 9-1-1, as NBC and ABC could have offered one of the best TV match-ups in decades. They’re two of the most successful network TV actors. As soon as people see their names attached to a show, they’re willing to tune in.
The hype surrounding The Rockford Files is a testament to that. Boreanaz has spent the last 30 years proving he can take any role and shape it into someone people can root for, even when his character is in the wrong. He first won hearts on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then proved he could lead his own show on Angel. Soon after, he convinced fantasy fans to check out a crime drama with Bones, and everyone was excited to see him back on screen in SEAL Team.
Krause has also cemented himself as a broadcast actor to watch, and it all started with Six Feet Under, HBO’s hit drama that ran from 2001-2005. He made viewers laugh and cry throughout his five seasons on the series. When it delivered the perfect finale, audiences were keen to see where he’d go next. Viewers followed him to Dirty Sexy Money in 2007 and family drama Parenthood in 2010, and he was one of the biggest reasons for 9-1-1‘s popularity. That star power continues to shine with the success of his current show, NBC’s Line of Fire.
Pitting Krause’s 9-1-1 and Boreanaz‘s The Rockford Files against each other could have created more excitement over live broadcast TV, proving that this method of TV storytelling isn’t dead yet, even in the streaming era. That kind of competition doesn’t work when both their shows are on the same network. The Rockford Files’ first season will be the real test of 9-1-1‘s longevity without Bobby’s character. It could still turn out to be the biggest mistake ever made on the show.
New episodes of 9-1-1 season 10 air Thursdays on ABC at 8/7c.
A group of first responders—including police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and dispatchers—manage emergencies while balancing out their personal lives.
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