The past few months have been pretty rough for the 911 franchise. Fresh off the demise of spinoff series 911: Lone Star, the mothership show itself lost its main character when Captain Bobby Nash was shockingly killed off in a twist that nobody saw coming. Actor Peter Krause departed the series after eight seasons in what was revealed to be a creative choice and not the star's decision. Naturally, that has left the show's core audience feeling very upset.
Bobby was, in many ways, the heart of the show, so it's hard to imagine how the 118 can carry on without him. Needless to say that they will try, but it isn't going to be an easy ride for them as they search for a new captain. And this shock decision eight seasons in has left fans a lot more uneasy about any more potential cast exits, simply because it never seemed like a realistic issue until now.
That uneasiness became very real when one of the show's stars posted a farewell message that had fans worried he was leaving the show too.
Ryan Guzman wraps 911 season 8 with a farewell to the Fox lot
Ryan Guzman is reflecting on his journey as Eddie Diaz in 911 as he wraps filming on the show's eighth season. The star took to social media to mark the occasion, which is particularly bittersweet this time around as it marks the final time that he will shoot on Stage 6 on the Fox lot as 911 will move production to Burbank for season 9.
Speaking on his Instagram stories, he said: "Well, it officially happened. It’s the last day on this lot. 911 - part of the legacy. Stage 6, I’ll miss ya. Seven years. That’s crazy." He then posted another Instagram story in which he reflected on his time - both as Eddie Diaz and on the Fox lot - saying:
"Welp, guys, Season 8, in the bag. That’s it. No more Fox lot. Eddie Diaz, signing out."
Some fans initially weren't aware that the show would be moving production for season 9 and began to panic that the show was either ending or that Guzman was announcing his departure, especially since he "signed out" as Eddie Diaz in the second message. But it's important to note that the message is specific to the production move as he even filmed a plaque that showcased all of the shows that have filmed on Stage 6 since its inception in 1930, including The X-Files, Blind Justice, and American Horror Story: Cult.
But fans were worried about Eddie's future on the show as this season has taken him away from the 118. After the season 7 finale resulted in some distance between him and his son Christopher, he decided to leave his job as a firefighter behind so that he could travel to Texas to be with his son, who was now living with Eddie's parents. The good news is that he has remained on the show, with the hope that he will eventually find his way back to Los Angeles and the 118. And as Deadline has confirmed that Guzman is expected to remain on as a series regular in season 9, that should come to fruition at some point.
911's move to Burbank comes after Disney opted not to renew their lease on the office space and production facilities on the Fox lot. The show initially aired on Fox until its sixth season when the network wanted to move on from hosting shows that it didn't produce. Disney-owned network ABC, who produced the show, swooped in and saved it from cancellation, renewing it for a seventh season. It has since been renewed for seasons 8 and 9, showcasing the conitnued popularity of the franchise.
911 airs at 8/7c on Thursday nights on ABC.