ABC will run back its entire scripted lineup in the 2026-27 season.
The network has renewed its first-year drama R.J. Decker for a second season. The private eye series, based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy, was the last scripted show at ABC whose future was undecided.
With the pickup, ABC will bring back all 10 of its current scripted shows for next season. That’s the first time the network has had zero cancellations since at least 2012 (and probably for a number of years before then as well). ABC has also renewed both of its 911 dramas, Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy, High Potential, The Rookie, Scrubs, Shifting Gears and Will Trent.
ABC also only has one pilot still in contention for a pickup — The Rookie: North, a spinoff of The Rookie starring Jay Ellis. Last week, the network passed on a comedy pilot called Do You Want Kids? from Rachel Bloom and Dan Gregor.
Scott Speedman plays the title character in R.J. Decker, a disgraced former photojournalist and ex-convict who’s now a private investigator in South Florida. Jaina Lee Ortiz, Bevin Bru, Kevin Rankin and Adelaide Clemens also star.
The series put up solid ratings numbers during its spring run. The show’s March 3 premiere accumulated more than 15 million viewers with five weeks of multi-platform viewing. Over seven days of linear-only viewing, R.J. Decker averaged just under 5 million viewers, in line with The Rookie (5.23 million) and fellow first-year show 911: Nashville (4.73 million). Steaming likely added a couple million more viewers to the seven-day total.
20th Television produces R.J. Decker. Rob Doherty (Elementary) adapted Hiaasen’s novel and serves as showrunner. He executive produces with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, Hiaasen and Jason Tracey. Speedman is a producer.
Stay up to date with all the broadcast renewals, cancellations and new series orders with THR’s 2026 network scorecard.
