Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 5, 2026
It’s supposed to be a hugely active time of the year for renewals and cancellations, at least with the broadcast networks, but it feels like they’ve mostly found shows that work — police and legal procedurals — and they’re sticking with them. Sure, Gen Xers and Boomers watch them now, but Gen Z will watch them all in 10 years on Netflix (see, e.g., The Rookie and Grey’s Anatomy). I can’t wait for Gen Z to discover Will Trent (I’m mostly serious about that).
The news is not as good for comedy. While Fox did renew Animal Control for a fifth season (talk about a quiet five seasons), it has opted against picking up a third season of Denis Leary’s Going Dutch. That’s OK. I will watch almost any sitcom, but that one was growing stale even for me, and I loved the cast.
Meanwhile, Netflix has picked up a second season of the animated Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 series. It wasn’t a huge hit — it only landed at number 7 last week in its debut — but it’s cheaper than the live-action Stranger Things and it keeps the universe alive until the next thing comes along.
In case you missed it, however, Prime Video has canned The Boys spin-off, Gen V, after two seasons ahead of the series finale of The Boys. But don’t worry. There’s now a Vought Universe, and undoubtedly, some of those characters will return. Also, the week after I wrote about what a drag this season of The Boys has been, it did find its mojo a bit in the most recent episode, which saw a fun series of celebrity cameos killed off for no reason other than it was funny. And that’s reason enough.
Hazbin Hotel has been renewed for a fifth and final season. I know almost nothing about it, except that my oldest was very into watching it, I told him that a new season was out, and he informed me he only watches it ironically — and has since lost interest in even that. Fine, Declan. Go to college already.
I’d like to say that much better shows were being cancelled while Fear Factor: House Of Fear was being renewed, but there’s not much evidence of far superior shows being canned at the moment. That said, Fear Factor: House Of Fear is terrible, and Fox should be ashamed of itself (but also, I can’t wait for the next and “last” Jackass movie. We all contain multitudes.)
Law & Order: SVU is coming back for a 28th season. Law & Order: Organized Crime will not be back for a sixth.
Oh, but here’s the crushing news: Stumble was cancelled. It’s not a huge surprise — it’s too good for network television — but still a bummer. The Friday night slot probably didn’t help. When it inevitably shows up on Netflix, catch it (or just watch it this weekend on Peacock). It’s wonderful.
NBC also cancelled Brilliant Minds. Shrug. The Hunting Party and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins are still TBA. Don’t really care about the former, but I have enjoyed Reggie Dinkins. Daniel Radcliffe deserves a great, long-running comedy (this one is merely good, but I’ll take it).
From has been picked up for a fifth and final season. Based on the fourth season so far, it’s one season too many. It was so much fun in the beginning, but I feel like the writers lost the plot somewhere along the way.
Netflix has renewed The Night Agent for a fourth and final season. Bless those who are still watching.
PBS renewed Maigret for a second season. I didn’t love it, but I’ll probably watch a second season.
Peacock has cancelled The Copenhagen Test, which had a great cast (Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera), but alas, it was not very good. No huge loss, but may Barrera find something new quickly.
And finally, the first season of Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison only just completed its run, the second season is probably nine months or longer away, but Paramount has already renewed it for a third season. Why not? It’s not like Paramount has anything else going for it outside of Taylor Sheridan.
And that’s the renewals and cancellations report.
