How NBC Picked What to Cancel to Make Room for ‘Our Biggest New Show' — the NBA — and What to Keep

Only two bubble shows were promised futures after NBC's all-day Friday cancellation of five shows.
The Hunting Party and Brilliant Minds were both renewed (for full, second seasons in the 18- to 22-episode range) — but the news wasn't anywhere near as good for the following, longer-running programs: Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court, Found, The Irrational and Suits LA. (Grosse Pointe Garden Society's fate is currently, theoretically TBD.)
More from TVLine
The Voice Season 28 Coaches Revealed: Who's Joining Snoop Dogg This Fall?
NBC Orders Tracy Morgan/Daniel Radcliffe Comedy - See First Photo
NBC Fall Schedule: St. Denis to Lead Monday Comedy Block, NBA Tuesdays, The Hunting Party Replaces Found
NBC's unusually brutal axe was the result of a need to clear out Tuesday nights this fall for NBA games (as part of its big-bucks deal with the pro hoops league). Come February 2026, a second night of NBA action will occupy Sundays, where any combo of midseason dramas and reality-TV usually air.
With the NBA ultimately claiming seven total hours of primetime real estate, 'We had a lot of shows that we had to pass on in order to put our schedule together,' Jeff Bader, President of Program Planning Strategy for NBCUniversal Entertainment, told reporters at a Saturday press conference. 'In the fall, the NBA is a huge priority for us. That is our biggest new show in the fall.'
In deciding which of its bubble shows to keep and which to cut, 'We looked at what their performance was, week to week, episode to episode, on both linear and digital, to try and glean which ones we thought had the best ratings story…,' Bader explained. 'And then on the creative side, the creative teams did the same thing, [showing us] which ones have the best potential to capture a new audience.'
The Hunting Party, a high-concept procedural, and Brilliant Minds, a medical drama, wound up demonstrating that potential. 'These are the two shows that made their way to the top,' Bader said.
As for the knee-jerk question of, 'Why not move ____ to Peacock?!' — as happened a year ago with Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 — 'We had that conversation about every show,' Bader said. No bubble show got 'saved' this year, however, by becoming a streaming exclusive.
Bader was tactfully reluctant to detail the why behind every cancelled show, though he did speak to the one-and-done fate of the Stephen Amell-starring Suits LA spinoff that hoped to capitalize on the streaming records set by the original Suits in 2023.
'Suits [LA] has had a very short run, but it really just has not resonated with the way we thought it would,' he acknowledged. 'People were speculating why it hasn't… but it's just not really showing potential to grow for us in the future, unfortunately, and those are the decisions we had to make.'
Want SCOOP on any of the TV shows above? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line!
Cancellation Anxiety! 11 Shows on the Bubble
View List
Best of TVLine
Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa'
Vampire Diaries Turns 10: How Real-Life Plot Twists Shaped Everything From the Love Triangle to the Final Death
Vampire Diaries' Biggest Twists Revisited (and Explained)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

4 hours ago

• Yahoo

Paul Pierce shares hilarious take on Victor Wembanyama's baldness

The post Paul Pierce shares hilarious take on Victor Wembanyama's baldness appeared first on ClutchPoints. Victor Wembanyama isn't just preparing for his second season in the NBA. He's transforming. After a stellar rookie campaign that put the league on notice, the 7-foot-3 San Antonio Spurs center decided to go off the grid, per TikTok. Not to a Miami beach. Not to a Vegas penthouse. Wembanyama flew to Zhengzhou, China for a 10-day retreat at the Shaolin Temple, the sacred home of Kung Fu. Advertisement And yes, he went fully bald. Images of Wemby in monk robes, sitting in deep meditation and walking barefoot through temple grounds, quickly went viral. It wasn't just the shaved head that sparked conversation. It was what it signaled. This wasn't about fashion. It was about focus. Former Celtics star Paul Pierce immediately picked up on that energy — and had jokes. Appearing on KG Certified with Kevin Garnett, the duo reacted to Wembanyama's new look. Garnett said, 'He went bald head,' before Pierce jumped in with, 'Oh, he's serious huh?' and 'He off this little pretty boy sh-t.' Then, with his signature straight face, Pierce added, 'I don't care what y'all thinking out here, I'm bald head. I might swing on you.' The delivery had Garnett howling. But underneath the laughs, Pierce tapped into something real. 'He locked in. He off the curls, all that light skin sh-t,' he said. 'Light skin cats don't like cutting they hair like that. They don't even like you touching it.' A different kind of offseason for Victor Wembanyama While most players spend their summer working on their jumper or hitting weight rooms, Wembanyama chose something different. Advertisement According to reports, he adjusted his schedule to fully commit to the Shaolin lifestyle — meditating, eating in silence, learning kung fu forms, and embracing strict discipline alongside monks. For 10 days, the league's reigning block leader stepped away from cameras and into quiet. His trip also included visits to the Great Wall and sampling local street food, but the temple time was no tourist activity. Victor Wembanyama wasn't treated as a star. He was accepted as a student. And that may be the most dangerous part for the rest of the league. He's no longer just the unicorn. He's the monk in the paint, and he might be coming back with a whole new mindset. Related: Nicki Minaj disses Shannon Sharpe on 'Made In NO' remix Related: Dream's Allisha Gray receives ultimate 'bad shot' praise from Plies

USA Today

5 hours ago

• USA Today

NFL legend calls LeBron James 'the greatest ever'

LeBron James treated sports fans to a special event in New York City on Saturday. At Fanatics Fest, which was held at the Javitz Center, he hosted live versions of "The Shop" and the "Mind the Game" podcast. For "The Shop," he was joined on stage by legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Brady retired following the 2022 season, and he is considered by most to be the greatest player, or at least the greatest QB, in the history of football. Brady appeared to glaze James a bit when he referred to the Los Angeles Lakers superstar as "the greatest ever." 'You're witnessing the greatest ever and I hope you all appreciate that,' Brady said. The debate about where exactly James belongs on the list of the greatest players in NBA history rages on, but his accomplishments speak for themselves. He became the league's all-time leading career scorer two years ago and is now at 42,184 regular-season points and 50,473 points in the regular season and playoffs combined. He has won four NBA championships (although he has lost six times in the NBA Finals), has won four league MVP awards and is one of a handful of players who have at least one scoring title and one assists title. James has a player option for next season. The 40-year-old is expected to play at least one more season in the league, and what he does beyond that is anyone's best guess at this point.

Yahoo

6 hours ago

• Yahoo

"He never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room" - BJ Armstrong said Michael Jordan was very different behind the scenes

"He never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room" - BJ Armstrong said Michael Jordan was very different behind the scenes originally appeared on Basketball Network. BJ Armstrong spent six memorable seasons alongside Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. During which he had the unique opportunity to observe not just Jordan's relentless pursuit of excellence as a player, but also his role as the face of the NBA. Advertisement Throughout this period, Armstrong noted that MJ's ambition extended beyond just winning championships and collecting accolades. It was about becoming the best version of himself both on and off the court. Despite the immense popularity and the spotlight that followed Jordan, Armstrong revealed that Mike consistently shied away from embracing the fame that came with being a superstar. He noted that amidst all the attention and success, His Airness maintained a remarkable humility, never allowing his teammates to feel inferior or as if he were on a pedestal far above them. "The character, the Air Jordan figure that he created, was something that I think he did because, truthfully, he wasn't fully comfortable being a star," BJ said of Jordan in a piece he wrote for Sky Sports in 2022. "I don't know that for sure, but his ability was so ridiculously incredible that he had to create something which allowed him to cope with it." "One of the things that's always I found interesting about him is that on a deep level, I don't think he ever wanted to be a star," he further revealed. Advertisement "I don't ever think it's occurred to him to say, 'I'm playing the game so I can be this transcendent superstar.' It was more like something that he knew he had to tolerate and put up with," Armstrong wondered. "It didn't enter into the equation of the real reasons why he wanted to play, but I think he understood that it was part of what was going to come with the territory when he made the commitment to be the very best version of himself." Armstrong continued. "I think it was so incredibly simple to him that he never even thought twice about it because he never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room or a conversation." Jordan knew Air Jordan had to exist Armstrong is also certain that Jordan's perception of his own superstardom was distinctly different from that of other elite NBA players of his caliber. Unlike those who bask in the glow of their popularity, MJ viewed his status through a unique lens. Advertisement For him, being a global icon was not just about personal glory and financial success. Instead, Jordan saw his brand and image as integral components of his responsibilities as a professional athlete. Nothing more, nothing less. Armstrong emphasized that Jordan approached his stature with a sense of duty. He believed that projecting a strong public persona was essential, not for him but for the fans who admired him and the organization that supported him. As he looked back on those years, Armstrong reflected that Jordan's admirable perspective allowed him to maintain a level of authenticity, as he never felt the need to engage in this portrayal for his own validation. By separating his public image from his personal identity, MJ was able to focus on what truly mattered: his performance on the court and his commitment to winning. Advertisement "I think he recognized that persona and he understood the business of what that person meant to the league, to the team, to the fans, to nearly everyone except those of us working closest to him," Armstrong reflected. Related: "When you start endangering people's health, it's taking away from the beauty of the game" - Michael Jordan criticized how the Pistons and the Knicks played the game Not all Bulls players knew who MJ the person was As a reliable point guard, Armstrong played a pivotal role in helping the Bulls win their first three NBA championships. Understandably, he considers this remarkable chapter of his career not only the pinnacle of his achievements as a player but also as a unique opportunity to develop a deep connection with Jordan both on and off the court. Advertisement For BJ, being part of that legendary Bulls squad was a stroke of luck, as it enabled him to truly understand who MJ was beyond the public persona. In the process, Armstrong truly appreciated Jordan's skills, drive, dedication to the game, and, most importantly, his character. As time passed by, Jordan morphed into an iconic figure not only in the NBA but in the world of sports. With that in mind, Armstrong believes that those who joined the Bulls in the team's second three-peat only knew "Air Jordan," the biggest name in the game, but not Mike the person. "The [players on the first title teams] got to know Michael, the person," Armstrong once said, per ESPN. "The new guys never got to know that person. They only knew the Air Jordan character. He jumped in and started playing, so they couldn't develop that relationship. Scottie [Pippen] knew that and knew he had to manage the other guys." All told, it's quite fascinating to discover that the way Jordan approached his fame fostered a sense of unity and teamwork. By constantly doing so, he laid the foundation of one the league's greatest dynasties and proved that even the most talented players can remain grounded while striving for greatness. Advertisement Related: "Michael was wrong" - Scottie Pippen feels the Chicago Bulls won in spite of Michael Jordan's leadership style This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.