ABC unveiled its 2025-26 fall schedule today. In a schedule dominated by returning shows, only one new series was announced to be premiering next fall — 9-1-1: Nashville. Per Deadline, at ABC’s upfronts presentation, Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich explained that the fall schedule is “about maintaining stability,” which explains why it’s packed with returning originals and only one new show. 9-1-1: Nashville is taking over Doctor Odyssey’s 9PM timeslot on Thursdays. With 9-1-1 staying in its 8PM timeslot, ABC has created a two-hour 9-1-1 night, perfect for fans of the franchise. An official logline for the spinoff was also released and reads as follows: “The newest entry into the franchise, 911: Nashville, is a high-octane procedural about heroic first responders, as well as their family saga of power and glamour set in one of America’s most diverse and dynamic cities.”
Chris O’Donnell Leads 9-1-1: Nashville
The main cast for 9-1-1: Nashville includes Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, LeAnn Rimes and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. O’Donnell, who recently wrapped a 14-season run as Special Agent G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles, will lead the spinoff as Captain Don Sharpe, “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest firehouse with his beloved son. Don’s a devoted husband and family man, but he has his secrets.”
Capshaw is also a veteran when it comes to starring in a major network drama, with the actor having previously played Dr. Arizona Robbins on Grey’s Anatomy for 10 seasons. Coincidentally, Grey’s Anatomy will conclude ABC’s Thursday nights, airing directly after 9-1-1: Nashville at 10PM. As for Rimes and Williams-Paisley, both actors have the strongest ties to the Windy City, with the former having begun her career as a popular country artist while the latter is married to country musician Brad Paisley and had a recurring role on the drama series Nashville, which was set in the titular Tennessee city. 9-1-1: Nashville is produced by 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television.
Franchise co-creators Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear and Lone Star showrunner Rashad Raisani are attached as writers and executive producers on the spinoff, with O’Donnell, Brad Buecker, remaining 9-1-1 co-creator Brad Falchuk, and 9-1-1 star Angela Bassett also on board as executive producers. With so much of ABC’s schedule staying the same, fan-favorite series The Rookie and Will Trent have once again been held for midseason. “Rookie and Will Trent is a repeat of the extraordinarily successful schedule we had last season,” explained Erwich on the decision not to premiere the shows’ new seasons in the fall. “Will Trent was one of the only broadcast shows that actually grew year over year. I think one of the reasons for that was, when we start in January, we’re able to run all of the episodes straight through, and it creates this kind of momentum.”
