“Star Kenneth Choi Reveals ‘9-1-1’ Season 8 Surprises”
In an exciting update for fans of the hit TV series 9-1-1, star Kenneth Choi, who plays the resilient Howie Han, shared some exciting news about the upcoming Season 8, and despite the show making the big move from Fox to ABC to shorten 9-1-1 Season 7, it hasn’t missed a beat. The show went on to attract nearly 9 million viewers across three days and multiple platforms and scored a 1.84 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, which was a huge win for the series, achieving its highest number in that metric since May 2022, a feat that has undoubtedly prompted a renewal for Season 8. In an interview with Screen Rant at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Choi was promoting his film All That We Love, the actor confirmed that filming for Season 8 has been confirmed to begin in July, though he couldn’t reveal any specific details about the plot except to tease that fans can expect “probably a lot of chaos, a lot of trauma and disaster,” which sounds like part of the process for the high-stakes drama. He said: Season 8 of 9-1-1 had a lot of story threads to cover, especially after the impact of the Hollywood strikes shortened Season 7 of 9-1-1 to just ten episodes. The shortened run left some fans feeling the plot was a bit rushed and the group dynamics that made the show shine were a bit lacking, but despite the shorter season, it was still packed with important events for the cast.
Howie and Maddie’s wedding was a highlight, although not without drama as Howie faced a life-threatening crisis. Buck’s storyline took a significant turn when he realized his romantic attraction to Tommy and came out to his friends in 118, adding a new layer to his character. Meanwhile, Bobby and Athena’s relationship was tested in a cruise ship disaster in the three-part premiere, and by the end of Season 7, Bobby was no longer the leader of the 118, setting up a very different dynamic for Season 8. Peter Krause’s Bobby Nash faced an uncertain future at the end of Season 7, sending millions of storylines in an unprecedented direction for Season 8, setting the stage for major changes that could redefine the series. While some viewers felt Season 7 was rushed, the hope is that a more consistent episode count in Season 8 will provide an opportunity to build on existing stories and delve deeper into the lives of core characters.
When 9-1-1 debuted on Fox in 2018, it was produced by 20th Century Fox Television, which was then part of the same company as Fox Broadcasting. However, in 2019, Disney acquired Fox Studios, including the rights to 9-1-1, while Fox Broadcasting remained part of the Fox Corporation. As television series age, production costs often increase due to renegotiation of contracts. This was the case with 9-1-1, which became increasingly expensive to produce. Faced with these higher costs, Fox Broadcasting decided to cancel 9-1-1 but opted to keep its less expensive spinoff, 9-1-1: Lone Star, which is scheduled to return for a new season in the fall. Disney, recognizing the value of 9-1-1, decided to move the show to ABC’s Thursday night schedule. This strategic move paid off, with viewership for the seventh season premiere increasing across both linear and streaming platforms. Disney’s decision to keep 9-1-1 reflects its confidence in the show’s continued appeal and profitability.
