NBC canceled nine shows this week as it begins a broad reshaping of the schedule headed into the 2026-27 broadcasting calendar, moving on from the sophomore crime drama The Hunting Party and eight other programs. The decision closes the book on a string of series and daytime stalwarts in one sweep.
Among the departures: The Hunting Party, which ended after two seasons; the medical drama Brilliant Minds and the comedy Stumble, both canceled earlier this month; Law & Order: Organized Crime, which concludes after Season 5; Access Daily, ending with its parent program; The Steve Wilkos Show, which wrapped after 19 seasons; and The Kelly Clarkson Show, ending after seven seasons. Stumble had registered a 96% fan score on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring how quickly audience approval can sit alongside network change.
NBC executives framed the move as a push to improve key broadcast windows. Jeff Bader, the network’s programming chief, said: "We’re looking for places where we can grow the network, and that is a time period where we think we can do better." He added of The Hunting Party: "Nothing negative about Hunting Party, but for our linear schedule, we absolutely need to try and do a little bit better there."
Some of the choices were practical. NBC considered both a third season on the broadcast network and a switch to Peacock for The Hunting Party, but neither path came together. The cancellations announced this week follow earlier decisions this month that already signaled a larger content overhaul.
The immediate consequence is clear for U.S. viewers: a very different NBC in 2026-27. The network is leaning heavily on its sports content to fill marquee hours, a shift that changes daytime and prime-time real estate and the kinds of series NBC will commission and promote going forward.
There is friction in the rollout. Bader’s explicit praise for The Hunting Party — coupled with the network’s decision not to continue it — highlights a tension between creative valuation and broadcast economics. A show can be well-made and still lose its place if executives decide a time slot needs stronger ratings or different advertising appeal. That calculation also helps explain why a fan-beloved comedy like Stumble could be cut despite a 96% fan rating.
Two of the nine cancellations have not been named publicly, leaving a gap in the list of exits. NBC confirmed eight other cancellations alongside The Hunting Party but has not released the full set of titles in the same breath as the confirmed names above. That omission matters for producers, affiliates and viewers trying to anticipate which time slots will open and what kinds of pilots will get a clearer path to air.
What comes next is a straightforward administrative sprint: NBC will finalize its 2026-27 schedule and repurpose hours around sports and selected scripted and unscripted series. The network’s stated aim to "grow" certain periods suggests replacements will target stronger live viewership and ad performance. The unresolved, most consequential detail is the identity of the two remaining canceled programs — once those names are public, the full scope of NBC’s lineup pivot will be apparent.
