The Rookie is one of broadcast TV’s most underrated yet sturdy titles. It’s among the few modern broadcast network dramas that’s made it to that elusive 100-episode mark. In an era of cost-cutting and streaming domination, most new shows are lucky to get two or three seasons. Given that success, it’s no surprise that ABC attempted to build the newest police procedural franchise around this Nathan Fillion-starrer.
The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash-Betts, launched in the 2022-23 TV season. But instead of being the next NCIS, Law & Order, or FBI-style spin-off, it was canceled after just one season. Obviously, one-and-done cancelations are all too common in the broadcast TV world. But this spin-off had a relatively big-name star in Nash-Betts, as well as a connection to The Rookie. So, did ABC just give up on a Rookie cinematic universe? Not exactly, because a second spin-off is in development as of December 2024. So why didn’t things work out for The Rookie: Feds? Let’s look at why it was canceled and if ABC could have done things differently to give it a better chance at success.
‘The Rookie: Feds’ Greenlight and Cancelation
The Rookie first debuted on October 16, 2018. Starring Nathan Fillion, it centers on a man in his 40s who joins the Los Angeles Police Department. Notably, it’s based on a real-life officer who also became an LAPD rookie in his 40s. While The Rookie hasn’t necessarily been a smash ratings hit, its numbers are steady enough to ensure consistent renewal. It crossed the 100-episode marker in the strike-shortened sixth season, with its seventh set to launch in January 2025. It’s also ABC’s second longest-running current drama, after the immortal Grey’s Anatomy.
Broadcast networks love building franchises around reliable properties, and The Rookie is no exception. The Rookie: Feds was first ordered in February 2022 as ABC’s attempt to start a procedural franchise to compete with NBC and CBS. Premiering in September 2022, Feds followed a similar setup to its parent series. Niecy Nash-Betts played Simone Clark, a woman in her 40s who joins the FBI as a special agent. Feds started out unremarkable in the ratings, averaging between 1 and 2 million viewers. However, the numbers did improve when the parent show was moved to air as Feds’ lead-in.
Despite its ratings rebound, Feds was ultimately canceled after one season in November 2023. It had remained on the bubble for six months following the May season finale. So why was ABC’s newest procedural franchise cut short?
Why Was ‘The Rookie: Feds’ Canceled?
Long story short, The Rookie: Feds was a casualty of the writers’ strike. ABC didn’t make a decision on the show’s future until the first season had wrapped. The only problem was that the first season ended on the exact same day that the strike began. The network took the wait-and-see route, opting to judge how impactful the strike would be before they decided to cancel or renew. Had the strike not happened, it’s likely that the series would have been renewed. Its ratings were solid enough, and it was a key part of ABC’s potential Rookie franchise. However, networks were looking to cut costs anywhere they could after the six-month work stoppage. The Rookie: Feds was, unfortunately, a victim of circumstances beyond its control. The original The Rookie was not impacted, besides the shortened season that afflicted every other scripted broadcast show.
Feds was not the only broadcast series cut as a result of the strikes. ABC also ended the reboot of The Wonder Years and shelved The Good Doctor spin-off The Good Lawyer before production began. Over on the other nets, The CW axed Gotham Knights, and NBC bid farewell to its sitcoms Young Rock, Grand Crew, and American Auto.
A New Entry in ‘The Rookie’ Franchise
Despite The Rookie: Feds ending after just one season, the hopes for a Rookie franchise remain alive. In December 2024, ABC confirmed that a new spin-off more closely related to the original was in the works. Set in Washington state, the next chapter reportedly follows a middle-aged cop looking for something new in the next phase of his life. Fillion and The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley are executive producing the new series, which has received a script commitment. Despite the promising signs, there is no series or pilot order yet.
The new spin-off was possibly fueled by The Rookie’s success on streaming, with it regularly landing on Hulu’s top charts. As more and more viewers cut the cable cord, networks are increasingly looking at delayed viewing and streaming data in addition to live ratings. While this new spin-off would not be ready this season if picked up, it could air alongside The Rookie next fall — that is, assuming the parent show is still renewed. Given the network’s confidence and willingness to try a spin-off again, it’s very possible that The Rookie could still become the next big police procedural franchise. The Roo
