The chance of aDoctor Odysseyseason 2 gets an honest response from a top executive at Disney. The medical drama, which is set aboard a luxury cruise, is now the only scripted ABC show left in limbo. The network recently confirmed that long-standing shows likeGrey’s Anatomy,9-1-1, andThe Rookiewill be back for new seasons, as willWill Trentand the new comedyShifting Gears. However,Doctor Odysseyseason 2remainsuncertain due to lower ratings than expected and relatively high production costs.
Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich was asked about the fate ofDoctor Odysseyseason 2 in an interview withVariety.Erwich oversees the programming slate for Hulu and ABC Entertainment, both of which are owned by Disney, and he said that he lovesDoctor Odyssey. Still, in the quote below, the top executive mentioned series co-creator and producer Ryan Murphy has several other high-profile projects in the works and that conversations are ongoing about what the show’s second chapter could look like:
We love “Doctor Odyssey.” We’re still having creative conversations about the show with Ryan and evaluating. Ryan is very busy. He is working on a ton with us right now: “9-1-1,” which continues to be one of the No. 1 shows on television. We just gave an expanded order to “9-1-1: Nashville.” We have Chris O’Donnell in that. I think it’s a really unique setting for our flagship franchise. We just launched “Mid-Century Modern.” So, as he should be, he’s quite busy doing excellent work for us. 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.
What The Executive Comments Mean For Doctor Odyssey Season 2
It Could Still Get A Last-Minute Renewal
It could be said that the new seriesmight have an easier path to renewal if it were a more standard network procedural. The Joshua Jackson-led drama features a relatively smallDoctor Odysseymain cast, including Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson. But for each episode, it brings in at least a few recognizable stars and actors. So far, that has included country music legend Shania Twain andAnt-Man 3lead Kathryn Newton.
9 Special Weeks We Want To See In Doctor Odyssey Next
Doctor Odyssey has had some strange themes so far but it has so many more it can show as a special week on the luxurious The Odyssey cruise ship.
Its big-name guests and sometimes elaborate action runsin contrast to its viewership, which has fallen since its premiereand has been slashed almost in half for some episodes. The two key components of a renewal often boil down to a relatively simple showdown between cost and audience. As of right now, the showdown is not in favor of the medical drama. But it could be that executives give it another shot, wanting to maintain a positive relationship with the producing team.
What Does The Rest Of The ABC Scripted Schedule Look Like?
It’s Mostly Established Hits
Compared to its main competitors, CBS and NBC,ABC has the fewest scripted series of the three main broadcast networks. CBS leads the pack with 18, NBC has 15, while ABC is currently in the single digits with nine shows.Abbott Elementaryseason 5 andHigh Potentialseason 2were confirmed in January, sealing the fates of both the Emmy-winning mockumentary and Kaitlin Olson’s detective drama. Then, in early April, ABC renewed several of its shows in a single announcement.
Grey’s Anatomy,9-1-1,The Rookie,Will Trent, andShifting Gearswill all be back for additional seasons. Of those five, only the Tim Allen and Kat Dennings multi-cam family sitcom was in doubt. Even thoughShifting Gearspremiered to strong ratings in January, viewership fell somewhat as the first season progressed. Still, thanks to its record-breaking debut, bringing in the highest numbers that the network has seen for a premiere in years,Shifting Gearsultimately had more room to fall.
5 Best Shows To Watch While Waiting For Shifting Gears Season 2
Following the Shifting Gears season 1 finale, fans can watch similar shows while waiting for the second season.
The ratings forShifting Gears, when delayed viewing is taken into account, have settled at above 5 million. For comparison’s sake, the delayed viewership forDoctor Odysseybrings its audience to above 4 million. The family comedy might also have benefited from the fact that ABC would have only one comedy,Abbott Elementary, if it were cancelled sinceThe Connersis ending in a number of weeks. Although there were reports of ABC developing a comedy fromCrazy Ex-Girlfriendstar Rachel Bloom,only one new show is joining the ABC schedule next seasonas of now.
9-1-1: Nashville, the second spinoff in the9-1-1franchise, will debut in the 2025-2026 broadcast season. Although few specifics are known about the plot at this stage, the new show will be written and executive produced by franchise co-creators Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear alongside9-1-1: Lone Starshowrunner Rashad Raisani. It will be led byNCIS: Los Angelesveteran Chris O’Donnell, with more key casting announcements expected to be reported in the coming weeks and months.
Our Take On Doctor Odyssey’s Renewal
It Hasn’t Found The Right Tone Yet
The 20th Television production, which was created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, doesn’t have a strong hook. Most of the episodes are light and goofy case-of-the-week plots around guests who are not seen again. The main cast is small, mainly driven by a sleepy love triangle that is never too engrossing or enticing. Creative conversations are probably exactly what’s needed to encourage viewers to check back with the show, even if it means pulling the trigger on thatDoctor Odysseydream theory.
Doctor Odysseyairs Thursdays at 9 PM ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
