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In a surprising shake-up, NBC has officially cancelled five television series as it prepares for a major shift in its primetime lineup. The affected shows are Suits LA, Found, The Irrational, Night Court, and Lopez vs. Lopez. The reason behind this sudden wave of cancellations is NBC’s new deal to broadcast NBA games next season, a high-stakes agreement reportedly worth $2.5 billion a year.
This shift in focus toward live sports programming has forced NBC to free up space in its primetime schedule. While long-standing hits like Law & Order and the popular One Chicago franchise will continue, several other scripted shows — including some with loyal fanbases — were not renewed for new seasons.
One of the biggest surprises was the cancellation of The Irrational, a police procedural starring Jesse L. Martin. He played a psychology professor who used his understanding of human behavior to help solve difficult cases. The show had a strong first season in 2023 and was based on the best-selling book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. However, its second season suffered a steep decline in viewership, which ultimately led to its cancellation.
Another notable loss is Lopez vs. Lopez, a heartfelt family sitcom starring comedian George Lopez and his real-life daughter, Mayan Lopez. The show explored themes like generational differences, parenting, and personal growth with a comedic lens. It had reached its third season, where it delved into topics like aging and sobriety, but despite its emotional depth and real-life father-daughter chemistry, it didn’t survive NBC’s new strategic direction.
*NBC also canceled Night Court, a reboot of the beloved 1980s sitcom. The revival featured Melissa Rauch as Judge Abby Stone, daughter of the original series’ lead. While the show initially did well and found an audience, ratings declined over time. NBC reportedly explored the possibility of giving the show a shorter final season, but those plans didn’t materialize.
Two more dramas were also cut. Found, a show that focused on a team searching for missing people while highlighting the emotional weight of such investigations, will not return. Nor will Suits LA, a spinoff of the hit legal drama Suits. Despite attempts to capitalize on the original show’s popularity, the new version didn’t make it past early stages.
These cancellations mark a clear shift in NBC’s priorities. By investing heavily in sports coverage, especially the NBA, the network appears to be moving away from taking risks on newer scripted programming. Fans of the cancelled shows are disappointed, and the decisions have sparked conversations about the future of original storytelling on major networks.
More news is expected soon about other shows still awaiting renewal decisions, such as Brilliant Minds, The Hunting Party, and Grosse Pointe Garden Society. Updates will likely be announced during NBCUniversal’s upcoming upfront event on May 12.