What's Happening?
ABC has announced the renewal of two popular comedy series, 'Scrubs' and 'Shifting Gears', for the 2026-27 television season. 'Shifting Gears', starring Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, will enter its third season, having been the network's most-watched comedy in linear
ratings this season. The show averaged 5.4 million viewers with DVR playback and grew to about 7 million viewers per episode with streaming included. Meanwhile, the 'Scrubs' revival will continue with a second season, having premiered to 9 million cross-platform viewers in its first week and growing to 11 million in Nielsen's 35-day ratings. The renewal of these shows is part of ABC's strategy to maintain a strong lineup, with all but one of its current scripted shows renewed for next season.
Why It's Important?
The renewal of 'Scrubs' and 'Shifting Gears' underscores ABC's commitment to maintaining a robust comedy lineup, which is crucial for attracting and retaining viewers in a competitive television landscape. These shows have demonstrated strong performance in ratings, indicating their popularity and potential for continued success. The decision to renew these series reflects the network's strategy to capitalize on established viewer bases and successful programming. This move is likely to benefit ABC by ensuring consistent viewership and advertising revenue, while also providing stability for the production teams and actors involved. The renewal also highlights the importance of multi-platform viewership metrics in determining a show's success.
What's Next?
With the renewal of 'Scrubs' and 'Shifting Gears', ABC will focus on preparing these shows for their upcoming seasons, including production schedules and promotional strategies. The network will likely continue to monitor viewer engagement across both linear and streaming platforms to optimize content delivery. Additionally, ABC may explore opportunities to expand its comedy lineup further, potentially introducing new series or spin-offs to complement its existing offerings. The network's decision regarding the first-year drama 'R.J. Decker', which remains in limbo, will also be closely watched as it could impact future programming decisions.
