NBC’s 2026-2027 TV Season: Major Changes and Cancellations
NBC is undergoing significant changes for its 2026-2027 TV season, with several popular shows being canceled. The network has made several major decisions regarding its scripted series and first-run syndicated programs, reflecting the evolving landscape of television.
Here are some of the notable cancellations that have taken place so far in 2026:
Brilliant Minds
One of the latest cancellations from NBC is the medical drama Brilliant Minds. Starring Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, an eccentric neurologist who uses unconventional methods to treat patients, the show has struggled with low ratings this season. According to Deadline, it has been the network’s lowest-rated scripted drama.
Jeff Bader, President of Program Planning Strategy at NBCUniversal, explained the decision in an interview with Deadline. “Honestly, we have a very, very tight schedule,” he said. “Because we have a lot of sports, for our entertainment time periods, we had to actually give up on some shows that we really love to make room to launch our future potential hits.”
The series will return with its final six episodes starting May 27 at 8 p.m. ET, with the series finale airing on July 1.
Law & Order: Organized Crime
In April, NBC announced the cancellation of Law & Order: Organized Crime, nearly a year after the conclusion of its fifth season. The spinoff focused on Christopher Meloni’s character, Detective Elliot Stabler.
Meloni shared his thoughts on the cancellation in an Instagram video. “I just saw that they announced Organized Crime won’t be coming back. I wanted to take this moment to say thank you to the fans who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life and longevity, but for sticking with him and welcoming him back. It was a good ride.”
He added, “I had a great time playing him. It was a great ride. Thank you. You helped give me a career that I never dreamed of, nearly 17-odd years.”
Stumble
After just one season, the sitcom Stumble was canceled on May 1. This single-camera mockumentary followed a former first-class cheerleading coach staging the ultimate comeback. Despite attempts to shift its premiere time, the show did not achieve the necessary audience reach for renewal.
Jeff Bader expressed his disappointment with the show. “I love that show,” he told Deadline. “Obviously, there is an issue with a single-cam coming out of the multi-cam, just tonally, it was different than Happy’s Place. We have very limited real estate, and we did the best we could, I feel terrible about it.”
Access Hollywood and Access Daily
NBC staple Access Hollywood, along with its companion show Access Daily, was canceled in March. Launched in 1996 as a rival to CBS’s Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood will continue producing original episodes through September. It is currently hosted by Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Zuri Hall, and Scott Evans.
Frances Berwick, Chairman of Bravo & Peacock unscripted for NBCUniversal, stated, “NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations.” She also mentioned that the company will remain active in the distribution of its existing program library and other off-network titles while winding down production of its first-run shows.
Karamo
Alongside the cancellation of Access Hollywood in March came the end of Karamo, the four-season talk show hosted by Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown. The show, which focuses on resolving personal conflicts, family drama, and relationship issues, will continue airing through the summer before concluding in September.
The Kelly Clarkson Show
In February, Kelly Clarkson decided to end her popular daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, after seven seasons. She cited that she had “too much” on her plate. “I think everybody probably gets the timing,” she told guest host Carson Daly. “Our family life, the dynamic changed a bit, and it has changed for a minute now. You got kids, we’ve all got kids, and it’s one of those things when you kind of start seeing life as how precious it is, too. It’s like, ‘You know what, I’m really busy.’”
The show, which has won numerous Daytime Emmys, will wrap up this fall.
The Steve Wilkos Show
The long-running talk show The Steve Wilkos Show, hosted for nearly 20 years by former Chicago policeman Steve Wilkos, was also impacted by NBC’s decision to wind down its production of first-run shows. The show centers on real-life drama, focusing on topics like domestic abuse, infidelity, and family crises. While production concluded in March, new episodes will continue running through the summer.
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