The Night Shift season 5 renewal odds: How’s it fairing on NBC?
We don’t think it takes that much to figure out why NBC should want to bring it back. For one, it performs consistently better than almost any other scripted network show in the summer. It’s outperforming Zoo in its timeslot, and it’s certainly done better than Still Star-Crossed or Somewhere Between on ABC. It’s averaging a 0.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic and over four million viewers, and that is just the live+same-day ratings.
Is there bad news mixed in here? You have to recognize that The Night Shift is down around 30% in the demo this summer, but there are some external factors playing a part in that. Just take a look at the lead-in. The Night Shift had a much stronger place in the lineup last year, whereas this time it’s behind a game show in The Wall that’s the sort of thing that you watch when you feel like it. It’s not appointment viewing, and that makes it harder to have people who watch The Night Shift consistently every week.
You do also have to remember a few other factors: The Night Shift has already had to deal with a massive NFL preemption last week, competition from Zoo and The Gong Show, and a fairly minuscule amount of network promotion. Unless you’re already watching NBC, odds are that it’s going to be hard for you to find out that the show is on the air. Even in the event that the network does cancel it, we do feel like there’s some merit in Sony shopping the show elsewhere given that there are some other suitors who could be interested in this both in terms of broadcast and cable. While there are an abundance of medical shows out there, few are told through this specific military lens. It helps The Night Shift stand out, and the stories we’ve seen told here on NBC have become better and better over time. That’s a pattern that we hope stays as we get to the finale.
It’s ultimately too early to tell
We don’t think that this is a for-sure renewal or cancellation, and NBC will probably take their time, much as they did last summer, to determine whether or not to bring the show back. Our sentiment for now is that they should bring it back, but we’re speaking objectively as someone who enjoys it. They have time to figure this out.
Do you want to see The Night Shift renewed for another season at NBC? Be sure to vote in the poll below! (If you’re on mobile, click to view the non-AMP version at the bottom of the page.)
Meanwhile, head over here in the event you do want to see some other insight on the show and what’s next. (Photo: NBC.)