9-1-1: Nashville Takes Control of Doctor Odyssey Time During Show’s Uncertain Future
9-1-1: Nashville is making waves at ABC — but its new time slot leaves us questioning the future of Joshua Jackson‘s Doctor Odyssey.
On Tuesday, May 13, ABC announced that 9-1-1 will return to Thursday nights this fall, leading into the spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville, followed by Grey’s Anatomy to cap off the lineup. The twist? The Thursday 9 p.m. ET slot was initially assigned to Doctor Odyssey, which is wrapping up its first season this week, but its future at ABC remains uncertain.
The network shared a first look at the newest addition to the 9-1-1 franchise, confirming a cast that includes Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, LeAnn Rimes, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
While character details are still under wraps, O’Donnell’s character is described in the official breakdown as Captain Don Sharpe, “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who operates Nashville’s busiest firehouse alongside his beloved son.” Don is depicted as a “devoted husband and family man, but he harbors secrets.”
The 9-1-1 franchise began with the original series, which launched on Fox in 2018, depicting the professional and personal lives of first responders in Los Angeles, featuring stars like Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Aisha Hinds, Oliver Stark, Connie Britton, and Kenneth Choi. After its cancellation in 2023, ABC took the opportunity to revive the still-airing show.
The universe then expanded with 9-1-1: Lone Star, which followed a New York firefighter (played by Rob Lowe) relocating to Texas, balancing job responsibilities with personal challenges. The cast included Liv Tyler, Ronen Rubinstein, Rafael L. Silva, Sierra McClain, Jim Parrack, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Julian Works, and Gina Torres.
By 2023, 9-1-1: Lone Star was renewed for its fifth and final season on Fox, while cocreators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear shifted their attention to the Nashville spinoff.
Doctor Odyssey marks Jackson’s return to television as a doctor who takes on a new role aboard a luxury cruise ship, featuring unique medical cases and notable celebrity appearances, true to Ryan Murphy’s style.
“[Cocreator] Ryan [Murphy]’s imagination is both prolific and unusual, able to encompass the grotesque and absurd along with lighter, happier narratives. It’s incredible to experience that coming from one person,” Jackson shared with Us Weekly in March. “Personally, I have wanted to collaborate with Ryan for a long time.”
Jackson attributed his decision to join Doctor Odyssey to Murphy. “Ryan’s direction was to make the show sparkle. He said, ‘Ensure that my show sparkles,’” he recalled. “We’ve worked hard to make sure the show radiates joy, and we hope that our enthusiasm resonates with viewers.”
As of now, ABC has not renewed the show, which debuted in September 2024, amid speculation that Doctor Odyssey may be too expensive to keep going. The upcoming season finale will address the aftermath of Max’s injury in a church structural collapse, shortly after surviving an earthquake and tsunami.
