Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD all renewed by NBC
Today, NBC confirmed that they are bringing back all three versions of the One Chicago franchise in Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD for an additional season. This means that Chicago Fire (the longest-tenured of the three seasons) is getting a season 8. Meanwhile, Chicago Med and Chicago PD are getting a season 5 and a season 7, respectively.
Want even more One Chicago discussion?
As you may know, there was recently a big crossover episode for Chicago Fire and Chicago PD! We take a look at those episodes and dive in further with a detailed discussion in our video at the bottom of this article — to make sure you don’t miss out on our upcoming videos this season, make sure that you subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube. Also take a look at our One Chicago playlist to check out some videos you may have already missed!
We cannot exactly say that the news of these renewals is a shocker, though it’s slightly surprising we’re getting the news so soon — sometimes, it takes a little bit longer for the network to give out the green light. We don’t want to trivialize the significance of these renewals, so let’s break them ALL down to explain just how special this is.
Chicago Med – This is one of the feel-good ratings stories of the year. In the past, it’s felt like this was the forgotten child of the franchise, relegated at times to weird premiere spots and not a lot of promotion. Yet, it’s quietly become one of NBC’s biggest hits, and with a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic on average and more than 8.3 million weekly live viewers, season 4 is up in both measures versus season 3.
Chicago Fire – The good news just keeps coming! After being moved from Thursdays last season to Wednesdays, Chicago Fire is up more than 15% in the demo (it has the same 1.3 rating that Chicago Med does) and also more than a whopping 35% in total viewers (it’s now drawing more than 8.1 million a week). These boosts are in part to having a much better timeslot, but also we don’t wanna discount the continued push for high-quality storytelling. There was some actual concern entering season 7, given the recent departure of series staple Monica Raymund.
Chicago PD – It’s the only One Chicago series airing in the same timeslot as last season, and it is down slightly in the demo (think a 1.1 rating). Yet, the drop is only 5% and in total viewers, it’s actually up almost 12% to close to 7.2 million a week! With how good this seasons story arcs are, it’s no surprise that this show is doing as well as it is.
Why the improvement? Pairing all three shows together has shown itself to be a super-smart move and one that probably should’ve made a long time ago. And here we were, wondering if Chihards would stick around and watch three straight hours of programming every week… of course they will!
What NBC is saying
Check out what NBC’s Co-Presidents of Scripted Programming Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta had to offer in a statement:
“We remain in awe of the job Dick Wolf, our producers, casts and crews do in creating some of the most compelling television today … The Chicago franchise is a lynchpin of our schedule and we’re thrilled that audiences have embraced our Wednesdays with such incredible passion for these shows and characters.”
Odds are, you’ll see all three shows in the same exact timeslot in the fall. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — leave the fixing problems to the folks over at Med, Firehouse 51, or Intelligence.
Where’s the Law & Order: SVU renewal news?
We know that there’s another Dick Wolf series floating out there in the ether, and we remain hopeful about a record-breaking season 21. It’s just on its own track, and didn’t need to be a part of this announcement.
Thrilled for this renewal news?
Sound off right now in the comments! (Photo: NBC.)