The One Chicago franchise faced unexpected scheduling complications on January 15, leading fans to question whether the eagerly awaited crossover event might be affected.
After a strong return on January 8, when all three shows premiered their winter episodes with impressive momentum, NBC made the sudden decision to preempt its January 15 lineup. The interruption came as NBC aired President Joe Biden’s farewell speech, which, while only 15 minutes long, was significant enough to bump all three One Chicago shows back by a week.
This scheduling hiccup highlights the interconnected nature of the franchise. Airing just one or two shows while skipping the third would create continuity issues and disrupt the carefully planned storyline across Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D.. However, the delay left some fans frustrated and others worried about how it might impact the much-hyped crossover event later this month.
One Chicago Crossover Still Scheduled for January 29
Despite concerns, NBC has confirmed that the three-part crossover event is still on track for January 29. This announcement offers relief to fans who feared the ripple effects of the January 15 delay could derail the event.
It remains unclear how NBC plans to manage the episodes originally slated for January 15. One possibility is that the network had already scheduled a mid-season break, leaving room to adjust without further disruption. Alternatively, the episodes might air out of order, with those postponed returning after the crossover event.
While this might seem unusual, airing episodes out of sequence is not unprecedented for network television. Adjustments for special events, speeches, or holidays often force changes to broadcast schedules. In this case, the unique demands of the crossover storyline will also impact the typical airing order of the franchise. For instance, Chicago Fire will air before Chicago Med on January 29, breaking the usual sequence to accommodate the crossover’s narrative flow.
NBC Holds Firm on January Plans—for Now
Although NBC has yet to make further changes to its January schedule, the network’s last-minute decision on January 15 shows that flexibility is key. As of now, fans can expect to enjoy the first One Chicago crossover in six years at the end of the month.
The decision to delay episodes has drawn mixed reactions, but fans remain eager to see how the three shows will weave their stories together in a single, thrilling event. With the crossover looming and anticipation running high, viewers are keeping a close watch on NBC’s scheduling decisions.
For now, all eyes are on January 29 as the franchise prepares to deliver one of its most ambitious undertakings yet.
