NBC Prioritizes MAGNUM P.I., QUANTUM LEAP In New Fall Schedule
By Movieguide® Contributor
New MAGNUM P.I. and QUANTUM LEAP episodes are getting moved up as NBC shuffles its fall schedule.
QUANTUM LEAP’s second season will now air Wednesday nights at 8 p.m., starting October 4, with MAGNUM P.I. airing directly after.
ScreenRant reported that this move could be “a huge boon” for QUANTUM LEAP.
“In addition to having less competition for network viewership amid the strikes, this improved time slot could draw in more audience members who might not have checked it out otherwise,” they wrote. “If those viewers are hooked enough to go back and start from season 1, viewership for the series as a whole could balloon, potentially guaranteeing a season 3 renewal.”
It was recently announced that MAGNUM P.I.’s first four seasons will move to Freevee. NBC’s streamer Peacock only offers the fifth and final season.
TVInsider reported that this might mean “another chance of survival” for the reboot, hypothesizing that Freevee will pick up the show. MAGNUM P.I. was already saved once before by NBC after being canceled by CBS.
Movieguide® previously reported on the possibility of Freevee rescuing MAGNUM P.I.:
In the past, Freevee has opted to revive shows that have found popularity on its platform. For example, the American-Filipino crime drama ALMOST PARADISE was dropped by WGN after only one season. After it landed on Freevee and generated significant public interest, the platform decided to bring back the cast for a second season, which debuted at the beginning of 2022.
Following a similar path, AMERICAN RUST was canceled after one season on Showtime. Again, after streaming on Freevee and drawing a large audience, the show was revived for a second season.
If MAGNUM P.I. finds new life on Freevee, it wouldn’t be the first time the show has been returned. The reboot of the 1980s classic, which starred Tom Selleck, began its run on CBS in 2018, MSN reported. After four seasons, it was dropped due to licensing issues but was quickly picked up by NBC for a fifth season.
While the show’s run on cable television might be over, only time will tell if the show is gone for good or if it will return again.
NBC also announced the two-night Season 24 premiere of THE VOICE on September 25 and 26, as well as series premieres for two new crime dramas: THE IRRATIONAL on September 25 at 10 p.m. and FOUND on October 3 at 10 p.m.
All the networks are working to reconfigure their fall line-ups amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
“NBC’s rivals largely moved into the unscripted arena for their fall schedules with ABC relying on reality fare, CBS ramping up its competition series and adding some sister shows such as YELLOWSTONE, and Fox sticking with non-scripted and animation,” Deadline wrote.
