Ryan Guzman on the Success of ‘9-1-1,’ Finding Family in His Co-Stars, and What’s Coming in Season 8
9-1-1 has reached new heights since ABC gave it a second chance at life. Now, Ryan Guzman and the rest of the cast are determined to make Season 8 better than ever.
“I think everyone is grateful for where we are. I mean, we’re a show that’s been on for eight seasons. It’s incredible, to say the least,” Guzman, 37, shares exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly while promoting Season 8 of the firefighter drama. “So it was just something that we were excited to get back into our work family and come back to this season 8. It was just [like], ‘Okay, how can we make it as good as last year? ‘” After a steady level of success on Fox for six seasons, the channel canceled the series last spring only to have ABC revive it hours later. The network’s risk paid off: The season 7 premiere of 9-1-1 was the most-watched multiplatform episode since November 2022, and 10 episodes later, the finale has garnered the largest demo audience on broadcast television since May 2023. Season 8, which premieres Thursday, September 26, will continue to follow Guzman, who plays beloved Army veteran and single dad Eddie Diaz, and the rest of the 118 Fire Department as they face new changes. With the involuntary resignation of Captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), the team will be led by militant—not to mention racist and homophobic—Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson). It’s a challenge that Guzman says will be much more difficult for some than others. “[Gerrard] likes things done by the book and he’s quite tough. [But] when he learns about Eddie’s situation, he complies,” Guzman explains. “He’s used to this kind of behavior. He’s used to this kind of character in front of him, telling him what to do, what not to do. So it doesn’t really bother Eddie too much.”
While Gerrard is certainly “not” the guy Eddie “wants” for his team, Guzman notes that the character’s ability to control his emotions will be a useful tool for the controversial new leader.
“He’s pretty private about his emotions unless he’s venting to his therapist or Bobby or Buck or someone else in 118,” he explains. “So it doesn’t really affect him as much as some of the other characters who happen to be a little emotional or erratic in their behavior.”
Eddie may be handling the changes at work with aplomb, but his personal life will be a different story. The fallout from his involvement with Kim (Devin Kelley)—a woman who resembles his late ex-wife—is still in full effect, as his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), remains in Texas with his grandparents. As for his love life following his split from ex Marisol (Edy Ganem), Guzman teased that Eddie will focus on loving someone new this season: himself.
All I can really say is that when you can’t love someone else, it’s usually because you can’t love yourself,” Guzman explained. “So this part of Eddie’s story is going to be a little more about his lack of—and his gain of—self-love.”
One relationship that’s still going strong? Eddie’s close friendship with Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark). The actor told Us that the duo is “still going strong,” noting that Eddie will be a source of comfort for Buck when Gerrard is having a hard time at work.
“Buck’s behavior is very different from Eddie’s, so seeing Buck deal with the weight of Gerrard, he definitely leans on a 118—and Eddie in particular—a lot,” Guzman told Us. “So that relationship is stronger than ever and continues to grow.”
Meanwhile, Buck will be there to support Eddie as he deals with his newly estranged relationship with his son. “Especially now that Christopher’s gone, there’s really no one else in Eddie’s life,” Guzman pointed out. “So he leans on his best friend a lot.”
