NBC has been busy this week. The network dished out renewals for beloved franchises like Law & Order and One Chicago, before turning its focus toward franchises that weren't as lucky. CBS may have gotten lots of attention for its string of cancellations, but now NBC has gotten in on the act by axing several notable titles. One of which was The Irrational.
The network decided to cancel the crime drama starring Jesse L. Martin after the completion of its second season. It's a disappointing decision, given how magnetic Martin was in the lead role, and his infectious excitement to continue the story into 2026. The actor told Us Weekly that he was hopeful about the future of The Irrational as recently as March.
The Irrational had a disappointing second season
He did, however, qualify his hope with an acknowledgment of the unpredictability of network TV. "I can’t predict anything in scripted television because you never know what’s gonna actually happen," he conceded. Martin was right to note this, given how much The Irrational struggled in its second and now final season.
Despite having a similar lead in with The Voice, The Irrational could not replicate the ratings that it pulled in during its rookie effort. It suffered from what Deadline noted as an increase in competition, especially given the timing of its first season versus its second. The Irrational premiered during the Hollywood strikes, and as such, dominated a field that was lacking in scripted content.
By the time season two aired, however, the TV landscape had returned to normal, and NBC was able to bolster its lineup with newer, hotter titles as well as established shows. The Irrational did not fall as far as you might think, according to TV Line. The second season, on average, was only down 4% from the first in terms of ratings. Still, it was dwarfed by the bulk of the network's lineup.
NBC also canceled Found and Suits LA
The Irrational was comparable to Found and Suits LA in ratings, but both of these shows were canceled as well. The crime series never stood a chance against network juggernauts like Law & Order: SVU or Chicago Fire.
NBC's Upfront presentation is scheduled for Monday, May 12. The annual presentation gives the network the opportunity to present its television lineups for upcoming seasons, and as such, big decisions (and cancellations) had to be made beforehand.
Still, it's worth commending The Irrational for the two entertaining seasons it gave us. The show had a fun premise, based around a particularly skilled professor of behavioral science (Martin), and a cast of talented performers such as Travina Springer, Arash DeMaxi and Molly Kunz. It will be missed.