Why ‘The Good Doctor’ Is Switching to Tuesday Nights on ABC
When The Good Doctor returns, it does so on a new night.
The Good Doctor Season 7, the farewell season, is premiering on Tuesday, February 20 on ABC. It’s been airing on Monday nights after The Bachelor/The Bachelorette for years. Now, The Good Doctor will air at 10/9c, after Will Trent at 8/7c and The Rookie at 9/8c.
Why the change for the final season? Co-showrunner Liz Friedman tells TV Insider it was a network decision to highlight some of its “most successful” shows.
“That was about ABC having fewer dramas and really deciding to do a three-hour block of, I think, their most successful procedurals,” Friedman says. “I think it’ll be really nice. I think The Rookie‘s obviously a great, great show with great characters. I love Will Trent, and hopefully it’s just going to be a really good night of viewing for the audience.”
“Little crime, little law and order, and a little medicine. It’s all the classics really,” she adds.
Friedman previously told TV Insider that the decision to end The Good Doctor with Season 7 was entirely ABC’s, not the creative team’s.
“Why end it now? Well, ABC told us it was time to end it,” she said. “We are very grateful that they told us that in a timely manner, which allows us to decide the terms that we’re going to end it on to craft a great ending and a great culmination of Shaun Murphy’s story, but that’s how that came about.”
If ABC sees The Good Doctor as one of its most successful shows, why end it? Friedman and the creative team and cast are more than game to continue telling Dr. Shaun Murphy’s story.
“I feel like I could tell stories about Shaun forever,” Friedman told TV Insider. “Certainly, as long as the amazing Freddie Highmore was interested in playing him, I was happy to write for him.”
Regardless of the reasons behind ABC’s decision to ax the series (which will have a shortened final season with 10 episodes), The Good Doctor does fit in nicely with Will Trent and The Rookie. Tuesday nights on ABC will be the place to be for procedural lovers.
Will Trent Season 2, The Rookie Season 6, and The Good Doctor Season 7 all premiere this Tuesday, February 20, starting at 8/7c on ABC.
The Good Doctor, Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, February 20, 10/9c, ABC
Conversation8 Comments
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P
ABC is ending The Good Doctor. The creators are not finished yet. Why not shop them to another network? The audience is there for it. A round 10 year stint would be perfect, then end it.
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O
I’m extremely disappointed ABC is ending this show. The viewers love it. Why not listen to the viewers?
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C
Gerri I most definitely agree with u!!! Why not listen to your viewers???
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G
This is a favorite of mine and it's hard to see it go. Move to CBS where they keep good shows.
4
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O
Great show, wherever they moved it I’d follow. Not interested in any of ABC’s other shows, particularly the sickening reality shows. They may be cheap to produce but they lose me as a viewer. I encourage others to stop subsidizing cheap, trash TV.
3
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C
Tuesday is a better night especially running after descent shows. Its a step up from the bachelor series. Good for them
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P
Do people really not understand why shows get canceled?
It's not making money anymore.
Shows get more expensive the longer they are on.
If it was still earning a big profit, they wouldn't be ending it.
Just because a small group still likes the show isn't a reason to jeep it running
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O
Not interested in those new shows at all will not watch them... so disappointed good dr is going ofg
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