NBC Shocks Fans by Cancelling 5 Shows, Including Suits LA, to Make Room for NBA
NBC has made some bold moves recently, slashing its scripted lineup by cancelling five shows, including the much-discussed Suits LA. This decision has left fans scratching their heads, wondering what led to such drastic cuts and if more cancellations are on the horizon.
On Friday, May 9, NBC revealed its plans to shake things up by cancelling Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court, Found, The Irrational, and Suits LA. While the network has renewed The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds, these are the only new shows that managed to survive the axe, alongside Grosse Pointe Garden Society, which remains uncertain.
The reasoning behind NBC's tough decisions is tied to a strategic pivot aimed at attracting more sports enthusiasts. The network is clearing out its Tuesday night schedule this fall to accommodate NBA games, following a massive 11-year deal worth nearly $2.5 billion annually. This agreement allows NBC to broadcast up to 100 regular-season games, including the NBA All-Star Game and exclusive first-round playoff matchups. Additionally, some games will be available on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock, and on Telemundo.
Starting in February 2026, NBC will also dedicate a second night to NBA games on Sundays, a time slot that has traditionally featured midseason dramas and reality shows.
Jeff Bader, NBCUniversal Entertainment's President of Program Planning Strategy, addressed the media on Saturday, May 10, explaining the rationale behind the cancellations. “We had a lot of shows that we had to pass on in order to put our schedule together,” he stated. “In the fall, the NBA is a huge priority for us. That is our biggest new show in the fall.”
Bader elaborated on the selection process for which shows were retained and which were cut. He mentioned that they analyzed performance metrics week by week, episode by episode, across both linear and digital platforms to determine which shows had the strongest ratings. “We looked at what their performance was, week to week, episode to episode, on both linear and digital, to try and glean which ones we thought had the best ratings story,” he explained.
On the creative side, Bader noted that the creative teams also assessed which shows had the potential to attract new audiences. He emphasized that The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds stood out because they “made their way to the top” in terms of viewership. There were discussions about potentially moving the cancelled shows to Peacock, but ultimately, none were saved, unlike Law & Order: Organized Crime, which recently made a similar transition.
When discussing Suits LA specifically, Bader remarked, “Suits [LA] has had a very short run, but it really just has not resonated with the way we thought it would. People were speculating why it hasn’t, but it’s just not really showing potential to grow for us in the future, unfortunately, and those are the decisions we had to make.”
Meanwhile, Found is reportedly still being pitched to other networks, while The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds will join previously renewed NBC staples like Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. Additionally, Law & Order has been renewed for its 25th season, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is set to return for its 27th season.
In more exciting news, NBC has ordered a new series titled The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. This comedy features Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe and follows a disgraced former football player on a mission to rehabilitate his image, according to the official description.
