In 2023, ABC announced that the first responder TV series Station 19 would end after its 7th season. The news of the cancellation was a shock to many fans.
ABC decided to cancel Station 19 early in the production of season 7. According to Deadline, the timing allowed producers to craft a good ending for the show, but the network did not give a reason for ending the show.
However, several theories have since emerged regarding why the show was cancelled. Below is a look at the top reasons that could have led to ABC cancelling the TV series.
The acquisition of 9-1-1
ABC may have cancelled Station 19 due to the acquisition of another show, 9-1-1.
In May 2023, ABC picked up 9-1-1 after FOX canceled the TV series.
Many fans see this as the precursor to Station 19’s cancellation. After all, 9-1-1 is also a first-responder series, so it likely made no sense to have two similar shows airing on the same network and on the same day.
A comparison of the ratings for both shows can help explain why ABC might have chosen 9-1-1 over Station 19. During the 2022/23 season, 9-1-1 was ranked number 21 on America’s most-watched series, while Station 19 came in at number 43.
In terms of total viewership, 9-1-1 averaged 7.1 million viewers while Station 19 had an average of 5.2 million viewers.
Therefore, while Station 19 had been performing admirably on ABC, 9-1-1 offered better ratings and more viewership numbers. That alone could have prompted ABC to cancel Station 19 in favor of the newly picked-up show.
Financial considerations
ABC may not have given the exact reason for cancelling Station 19, but finances may have played a considerable role.
Balancing the budget between scripted and non-scripted shows
According to Deadline, inside sources claimed that ABC cancelled Station 19 and other shows (like The Good Doctor) to save money:
“In the end, it came down to ABC wanting to save money in a push for an economical schedule, balancing scripted fare with reality and live sports.”’
These assertions are not far-fetched as ABC invested heavily in unscripted programs in the fall of 2023, with reality shows like Dancing with the Stars, The Golden Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy, Bachelor in Paradise, and others gracing the network’s screens.
Station 19 may have become too expensive to produce
Another financial aspect that could have led to the cancellation of Station 19 was if the show had become too costly to produce.
Figures for Station 19‘s production cost are not available. However, the total expenses could reach hundreds of millions; when FOX canceled 9-1-1, the show’s production costs were over $9 million per episode.
Rising production costs over time could also have negatively impacted Station 19‘s future. Inside sources who spoke with Deadline revealed that shows become more expensive to produce over time, as networks have to pay “full freight” for production costs.
The decision to cancel the first responder TV series may not have been made solely by ABC.
When a show is making losses, production studios sometimes have to absorb the entire deficit for the production. As a result, some studios find it financially impossible to continue producing a show and thus opt for cancellation.
Behind-the-scenes drama
Behind-the-scenes drama may have also contributed to the cancellation of Station 19. Like most shows, the first-responder TV series was not immune to off-camera controversy.
The most notable controversy was an incident involving a racial slur in the writers’ room of the show.
According to Deadline, a writer was assigned a draft outline for an upcoming episode, which included the use of a racial slur by a racist character. When they presented the outline, it included a derogatory word used in reference to individuals of Latin descent.
The racial slur sparked tensions amongst the writing staff, resulting in the show’s virtual writers’ room being shut down. It also led to changes in the leadership structure, with Zoanne Clack taking over as head writer.
Besides racial issues, there were also rumors of a feud between two cast members, Danielle Savre and Jaina Lee Ortiz, which played out in public.
The feud allegedly started in 2020, when Danielle Savre appeared on an Instagram live video with co-star Barret Doss, in which she talked about race, sexual assault, and other issues.
Some of her comments during the video were not taken well by the show’s fans, with several of them voicing their opinions online. Shortly after, Jaina Lee Ortiz reportedly liked a tweet that accused Danielle of being racist.
It is unlikely that the behind-the-scenes drama directly led to the cancellation of Station 19. However, these issues would certainly not have worked in the favor of the show’s future, especially if ABC had to choose between it and 9-1-1.
Cast and fans’ reactions after Station 19 was cancelled
The Station 19 cast and fans were devastated when they learned that ABC had canceled the show.
For cast members, the decision came as a shock to many. Showrunners Peter Paige and Zoanne Clack were especially caught by surprise since they had just recently taken over the reins.
In an interview with TVLINE, Clack revealed how she heard the news:
“We were what, two days into shooting the new episodes? And we got the call.”
“I was on a panel, in front of, like, 100 people. I kept getting calls.”
After learning the show’s fate, Clack and Page rushed to inform the crew before the news leaked. They only managed to do so by a few minutes.
As expected, the cast and crew were sad and heartbroken by the news. However, several of them took to social media to pay tribute to the show.
Shonda Rhimes, the show’s executive producer, also shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, following the cancellation news:
“Grateful for an unforgettable run. A heartfelt salute to the exceptional cast whose brilliance brought the characters to life and to the viewers who continued to make it possible! Thank you for the magic, the moments, and the memories. #station19”
Station 19 fans were also surprised to learn about the show’s cancellation. Some of them started a campaign to save the show with a petition that has received over 90,000 signatures so far.
Unfortunately, since Station 19 is owned by ABC and was produced in-house by ABC studios. Therefore, it is unlikely that the show will find a new home.