By Michaela Gordoni
THE ROOKIE, the crime procedural that stars Nathan Fillion, has some setbacks despite strong viewership numbers.
The show is currently in its eighth season. The finale will air March 2, ScreenRant reported last week.
Thought not confirmed, it’s expected to continue for another season. However it’s likely to face budget cuts. Other shows will have cuts, too, including 9-1-1, HIGH POTENTIAL, GREY’S ANATOMY, 9-1-1: NASHVILLE, SHIFTING GEARS, WILL TRENT and ABBOT ELEMENTARY.
In the show, Fillion stars as John Nolan, a 40-year-old who is new to the LA police force.
Related: This Procedural Drama Starring Nathan Fillion Is Making a Comeback
Part of Movieguide®’s review of THE ROOKIE Season 6 Episode 1 reads, “THE ROOKIE is an intense and compelling show, and the opening to Season 6 does not shy away from large action set pieces. The series maintains its positive outlook on law enforcement and John’s insistence on protecting and serving his community, even at the risk of his own life. There is no foul language or objectionable sexual content.”
“However, the crime scenes and intense shootouts between the police and the criminals are graphic and bloody, especially for a TV-14 series. Despite these elements, this episode is still a largely moral and positive display of the first responder’s sacrifice and hard work,” it says.
THE ROOKIE Season 8 premiere had the biggest viewership in the show’s history. It was one of ABC’s top five all-time series premieres.
The budget cuts could mean that the series gets a fewer number of episodes than its regular 18 count.
This year, Fillion said he’d like to be on THE ROOKIE for another decade.
“In 10 years, I would like to be just wrapping up THE ROOKIE, maybe handing it off to someone else,” the actor said. “And then spend a soft retirement visiting THE ROOKIE and dabbling in the four to seven ROOKIE spin-off series that are still going and very, very popular. In the meantime, when I’m not working on those, I would like to be in my beach house.”
Meanwhile, a ROOKIE spinoff, THE ROOKIE: NORTH, is under development. The pilot episode will start filming in Vancouver this month.
“Most patrol shows you’ve ever seen are just big-city shows. They’re in Boston, they’re in LA, they’re in Chicago,” THE ROOKIE creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley explained. “I’ve never really seen a cop show take place in the parts of America that most people live in, which is a little bit urban, but also the exurbs in the suburbs, and even the rural areas.”
NORTH is likely to come out in the fall. Hopefully ABC will give THE ROOKIE Season 9 an official greenlight soon.
Read Next: ABC Greenlights New THE ROOKIE Spinoff, Set in Washington State
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