Longevity is incredibly difficult to achieve in television. It's a medium dependent on larger trends, audience preferences, and time slots. We've seen beloved shows get cut down in their prime, and others succumb to dwindling ratings after the network decided to move them around. Incredibly, these pitfalls have not resulted in cancelations for Grey's Anatomy, 911 and The Rookie.
These three shows have been massive, spinoff-launching hits for ABC, and the network has no plans to part ways with them anytime soon. In fact, Craig Erwich, the President of Disney Television Group, believes that Grey's Anatomy, 911 and The Rookie are more vital to the network's success than ever. He has no concerns about audiences perceiving these established titles as outdated, per Deadline.
ABC claims these shows connect with 'new generations'
The President of Disney Television Group acknowledged the reputation of Grey's, 911 and The Rookie as "older shows," but notes that it is merely a reflection of how many seasons they've been airing, not where they're at in terms of creativity or storytelling prowess. "What we’re seeing is new generations of fans coming in and discovering these shows," Erwich noted. "Those shows continue to recruit new viewers and stay fresh, and they stay current."
Erwich didn't stop there. As a riposte to the criticism that these ABC powerhouses have overstayed their welcome, he claimed that they're "young and spry and vibrant." "This we don’t really consider them older shows," he told reporters. "[They] continue to deliver performance and a lot of joy and entertainment to those viewers."
911 and The Rookie are somewhat odd shows to single out for being "old." Neither have crossed the ten season mark, and while they have spawned spinoffs, they have not fallen victim to overexposure the way that other procedural dramas have. It's not like Law & Order: SVU has been bashed for being on the air still, despite predating 911 and The Rookie by decades.
Grey's Anatomy has experienced a ratings decline
Grey's Anatomy makes a bit more sense to question. The medical drama has been on for 21 seasons, and has spawned similarly popular spinoffs, including Private Practice and Station 19. These spinoffs ran for six and seven seasons, respectively. Grey's has also suffered numerous casting changes over the years, with most original cast members having left years ago. Ellen Pompeo's Meredith Grey is an exception.
Pompeo, who serves as an executive producer, has even reduced her role within the series, despite being the titular character. If we were to question whether any of ABC's long-running dramas was a smidge too old to continue, we would point to Grey's Anatomy. It's also worth noting that season 21 drew the lowest ratings in series history, with a steep decline in comparison to season 20.
We can only hope that the medical drama bounces back, and regains its footing alongside 911 and The Rookie heading into the 2025-26 season. Based on what ABC has said, however, it sounds like it is safe from cancelation for the foreseeable future.