(US) Network TV is back!

And my predictions for the new era of US 40 (odd) minute dramas and shorter comedies.

It all started with the return of FOX's Animal Control for a fifth season. The series has moved to Sunday's or Monday's where it streams on BINGE alongside return Aussie crime series, High Country.

Animal Control is a quiet achiever. Lead by, Joel McHale as Frank Shaw, the series has entered its fifth season with no idea of an episode count. Nine episodes was the lowest episode count, with Twelve the highest. I reckon this series will head into 2027, with roughly ten or twelve episodes this run. I also predict a sixth season. Filmed in Vancouver, this seems to be a low production, sitting in nicely with The Simpsons, Grimsburg and Universal Basic Guys on FOX's Sunday.

My other two FOX series return in 2027. Memory of a Killer was a big surprise last TV season. The other is the new reboot of Baywatch. Unlike Animal Control, both will stream on STAN.

My prediction is Memory of a Killer has a limited storyline. Patrick Dempsey is a TV favourite, however, this show can't run forever if you know the storyline. Baywatch could be Rescue HI-Surf V2.0. Time will tell for both. But I am not hopeful for either. Apparently Baywatch launches in January.

The other poor performing network, The CW's last original concludes on STAN tomorrow. All American ends its eighth season run tomorrow night.

RJ Decker has started on ABC, however Disney+ seem to be holding it. Reason being, it's apparently only a seven episode second season. So bring on a Christmas binge.

ABC has filled its schedule to the brim with The Rookie, Will Trent and High Potential to return in 2027. High Potential is the most likely ABC series to secure another season. RJ Decker though, could be heading to the scrap heap if it doesn't get any buzz.

ABC also has long running 9-1-1 and spin-off 9-1-1: Nashville incoming next month. I'm not sure if the OG series, or the spin-off will call it a day this year. But with a new Grey's spin-off incoming, ABC needs to clear a spot on it's schedule, or reduce episode counts for one of it's Thursday series.

Successful ABC comedy, Abbott's Elementary, is almost guaranteed to return for another run too. Disney+ almost always release this in two batches. One at the end of the year, one at the end of the TV season.

Last but not least, CBS are holding NCIS Sydney to March (or so) next year. With Fire Country, Y:Marshalls, Sherriff Country and a pile of other series returning next month. Apparently Fire Country, has a reduced episode count to only thirteen episodes this season. Meaning it'll end earlier this season than previous. Another Country spin-off is in the works. This time a medical one. Maybe we will get a short run February/March 2027.

My prediction is NCIS: Sydney may solve its last Sydney based crime in the new year. The other three CBS series on my radar (all streaming on Paramount+) will most likely be renewed. 

CBS have the most well rounded roster, with any underperforming series needing to make way for their one to two new series per new TV season.

Look out for my All American wrap tomorrow or Wednesday and potentially RJ Decker wrap in my next TV quarter series.