‘9-1-1’: Tim Minear Admits He Has ‘Tons of Regret’ Over Killing Off Bobby
What To Know
- 9-1-1 cocreator Tim Minear revisited his decision to kill off Peter Krause’s Captain Bobby Nash in a recent interview.
- Krause’s character heroically sacrificed himself to save his team during Season 8 last year.
- Season 9 continues to explore how Bobby’s death affects the characters’ personal and professional choices.
It’s been less than a year since 9-1-1 fans bid farewell to Peter Krause‘s Captain Bobby Nash, and cocreator Tim Minear already questions whether killing him off was the right choice.
The latter half of 9-1-1 Season 8 saw the 118 crew respond to a call at a laboratory, where several members were exposed to a deadly virus. After providing an infected Chimney (Kenneth Choi) with the only antidote, Bobby heroically sacrificed himself by trapping himself in the lab, allowing the virus to die with him. The season wrapped up with the characters bidding farewell to Bobby, as well as his wife, Athena (Angela Bassett), forgiving Chimney after blaming him for Bobby’s death.
Following Bobby’s death last year, Minear told TV Insider that the decision was made to showcase the “life and death situations” first responders face in real life. Minear stood by his reasoning in an interview with The Washington Post published on Wednesday, January 7, but also expressed some regret over the decision to axe one of the show’s leads.
“I really felt creatively the show needed something to kind of shake it up, and the reason Bobby died was because, if I was going to do this, I wanted it to be a character that would affect all the characters’ stories,” he shared, adding that there was a financial aspect to it as well. “You’ll see this across the board on network shows, where they start culling the cast and culling the production and trying to make things more affordable so you can keep making the show.”
Disney/Christopher Willard
Minear went on to note, “I have tons of regret about it. I still think it was the right move. But it’s been really wrenching for me.”
Bobby’s death has continued to linger over the show’s current ninth season, which premiered in October 2025. For one, the 118 firehouse was renamed in his memory. His sacrifice also inspired his stepson, Harry (Elijah M. Cooper), to join the fire academy. Not to mention, Chimney has officially succeeded Bobby as the station’s leader after serving as interim captain at the beginning of the season.
The show’s Season 9 midseason premiere on Thursday, January 8, saw Chimney mention Bobby while reprimanding Hen (Aisha Hinds) after her mysterious illness caused her to collapse at the scene of a structure fire.
“I can’t have someone on the team who puts her life and the lives of her coworkers and the public at risk. I don’t believe you would’ve done this if Bobby were still in the captain’s chair,” he told her. Though Hen denied it, Chimney retorted, “You don’t trust me, Hen, and I need to be able to trust you, and right now, I can’t. If this were anyone else, I’d have to let them go.”
Hen stated that she shouldn’t be treated “any different,” leading Chimney to let her go from the 118. Fans will have to tune in to see whether Hen will earn her place back at the fire station, or whether her time at the 118 has officially come to an end.
9-1-1, Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC
Be on the Front Line
Get absolutely everything about 9-1-1 in your inbox!
Conversation46 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
K
They can still bring Bobby/PK back. Bobby has special blood and the military is keeping him for experiments. Karen who works in labs hears rumors and investigates.
There are loose ends surrounding Bobby's exit that haven't been explained .
A new year would be perfect for Bobby to return.
-
S
Exactly!
-
-
E
Bring Bobby Back. Be creative. Make it into a “Dream” sequence. You could have done that in the first place, still showing the audience what real first responders face. My husband was a Lieutenant on the job.
-
L
Exactly! That's the first thing I thought of when I heard Bobby was going to be killed off. I have continued watching the show and it's not the same. It doesn't help that the characters keep talking about Bobby. For me, it's either bring him back or stop talking about him because I am tired of feeling sad.
-
-
C
This is why I stopped watching new episodes of 911.
-
B
Still on that..STOPPED WATCHING, NOT WATCHING train. Haven’t watched from the episode that BOBBY was a body bag exit🥹..will stand on my decision.. be creative and bring him back and you will see fans come back!✌🏾
-
S
I know I am only one person, but it is the principle. I figure if there are enough of us who "stick to it" that there will (hopefully) be an impact and statement. Not that we should be "controlling" such that the creators do not have the right to control, but this idea of killing off characters to prove that they have "power" (as if mini gods) to control the masses (us) does not seem right, either. It should be a balanced process, and hopefully, we are helping demonstrate that as the audience.
-
-
R
HUGE MISTAKE! Bobby was the heart and soul of the show. The "jump the shark" moment for the show.
-
A
What has Peter Krause said about the death of Bobby? Would he return if the show was rewritten? How about doing a Bob Newhart type episode where Bobby wakes up and it was all a bad dream?
-
K
They still have time to turn Bobby’s death into a fever dream. I have only watched one episode into the new season and I already don’t like it.
-
L
I think they’ve run out of fresh ideas and they’re really reaching for the shock value. I don’t expect to see this show next season. Wrap it up and call it a day.
-
T
I agree. I don't think they're going to make it to season 10.
-
-
M
I feel there is a way to bring back Bobby Nash aka Peter Krause character if you truly wanted to bring him back. I know Peter Krause aka Bobby Nash does not make up the show by himself. But he was the heart of the show. Because Tim Minear killed him off I personally I refused to watch any new seasons without him. We never saw a body so their are ways to bring him back. Bring him back and I will start watching again.
-
B
I haven't even watched the previous season (the one where Bobby was killed off). I was binge watching from the beginning because I had missed so many episodes when I had Dish Network - once we dropped Dish and started streaming, I decided to start from the beginning and catch them all. I was just ending season 7 when I read that they had killed Bobby - bad move. I stopped watching and haven't watched any of the episodes since then. So, to me it would be completely possible to bring him back - because I didn't see him die or see any of the episodes afterward. Would I watch again if they brought him back? I can't say - but Bobby and Athena were my favorite pair, Chimney and Maddie are next. Having the whole crew back would be good - although I could do without Buck (he's irritating).
-
B
They still could bring him back. The new 118 just sucks without their real Captain.
-
T
pmo that everything has to be "realistic" like bsfrrrr. we live in realistic every day. I loved my goofy show cause you knew they'd survive and they could focus on personal character growth. but fukshit writer tim had to go fuk it up. I havent watched it since. not to mention it is such a lazy way to push characters. I could write a whole essay about how to utilize drama without having to kill off characters unnecessarily.
-
J
I think this was this shows down fall
Alot of people stopped watching this show so your ratings are tanking. Worst mistake ever.
-
G
Yep!!
-
-
O
When Capt. Bobby died it seemed like I died too! I can't believe this was done and a huge mistake!! I still can't get over his death and the decision to go through it ..the decision as a result lost many many fans including myself! Bring Bobby back and do the Right Thing!!
-
T
Too little too late you dumbass, Tim. The show is ridiculous now. My son tried pushing through and watched part of season 9 but couldn't finish. It's like the show has lost its anchor. Reminds me of GOT season 8 went sideways too.
-
M
On the show they killed Bobby Nash I considered that the series finale and never watched it again.
-
J
I won't watch it again 😭.
-
S
I couldn't finish season 8 once I saw spoilers of his death. I had 3 episodes to go. He had his flaws but he knew he couldn't become his flaws. He and Athena were my favorite couple. They could have had more adventures together into their retirement. I tried watching the other 911 shows but their captains are not as good as Cap. NASH. At this point they should have just ended the series on season 8..... If only they could make season 9 a "what if " dream and towards the end of the dream its Bobby in a coma or still in the room he died in but he was just hallucinating everything that happened in season 9.
-
T
I'm reading that some of you think that they can still bring Bobby back. Do you really think they can after all this time? You don't think it would be super awkward and weird after half a season of episodes? Also what's up with the weird season this year? It's very choppy in terms of how many episodes we had for the fall season and then they took a long break and now they're back. It's not your typical TV season, I'm just saying.
-
C
Screw Tim Minear! No need to act dumb now! The show is trash! I fell asleep on it. The first one I actually watched since Bobby's death because I couldn't find my remote after Wheel of Fortune and I fell asleep! Chimney as a Captain...no! How many dinners have they sat down for since Bobby has been gone? I'm curious! Bring Bobby Nash back to Athena and the 118 or trash it!
-
G
Could use the death of Bobby as a dream scene like was done with JR on Dallas. It worked!
-
C
Big mistake killing off Bobby. If that's the best you can do, then a new writer is definitely needed. Tim, you totally killed the show.
-
L
Losing Peter Krause was the worst thing that could have been done to 9-1-1. What were you thinking?? The direction that this show has gone made me quit watching it, and it was my favorite show on TV. TOO bad, but the show's producers did it to themselves. We needed and wanted Bobby Nash to be the lead in the show, and you ruined it.
-
T
I’m tired of the show. Stupid drama. Turning Buck bisexual was a bad move. I’m just tired of the LGBTQ getting pushed into every show and it’s beyond fatigue of it at this point.
-
N
I am so disappointed that they killed off Bobby. The episode this week was just awful. They need to get new writers. Show is certainly going down the tubes. The episodes used to be so interesting.
-
J
To me, it was a mistake to kill Captain Nash. I'm continuing to watch, but I truly don't feel that the show has the same energy; it isn't the same. He was the heart of the show.
-
G
No longer watching. Not the same
-
G
I bet you have some regrets. Maybe then you might reconsider and bring Bobby back to the show. He didn’t want to leave and then come to find out it was about money. Bobby was a good balance for the other characters.He was there to listen to their problems and concerns . Also a great compliment to Athena . He can be rescued from a government lab . Maybe the crazy chemist is there the one that created this problem in the first place. He could get rescued at the end of this season or the beginning of of the 10th season. The episodes lately really need some help along the way.
-
B
Havent watched since, it was the dumbest decsion. The ABC execs that gave Tim the greenlight should be fired along with Tim.
-
T
I have been watching the new episodes without Bobby and the is a flop in my opinion. They wanted reality and instead strayed from that concept. The show seems fake. The characters lost their heart spark and it's like they are just going through the motions of the script. Boring.
-
F
Bring Bobby back. I don’t care if it was all a dream or the famous Dallas shower scene. Peter Krause was the glue otherwise the show is just “meh”!
-
L
Need to find a way to bring him back kuz I haven't watched a full episode yet. I keep trying but I lose interest. N no offense to Chim I just dont see him in the chair.
-
S
I agree with what others have commented… still able to turn this around and bring him back. I, too, stopped watching when they removed the captain. Before that it was my favorite show and I never missed it.
-
B
This season 9 has been so awkward without him. Every character feels like they're phoning it in.
-
S
It sounds like I haven't missed much LOL Thanks for the update. I wish they would just realize their mistake and get it back on track for everyone's sake (including the other actors)... from what I understood/heard, they all had fun on the set, too. The camraderie and that has been "upset" by this change. It is no wonder that it impacted the acting, writing, and everything else.
-
-
-
C
I don't watch it anymore. Just not the same.
-
C
Killing Bobby ruined the show. It was the 118 they persevere. We didn't need tragedy we needed our Captain and the entire 118 crew. BRING HIM BACK!
-
N
"The decision was made to showcase the “life and death situations” first responders face in real life"... Sure because sending Athena Grant and Hen Wilson to space was such a realistic scenario. Please there was not just "a financial aspect to it as well" own up and be honest, this was all about the financial aspect period.
-
A
I stopped watching after that action. His interaction with the team was important and always impactful. This was NOT a good decision! Bring him back. Actually, I read somewhere that he was let go because he asked for more money?
-
G
No. That's wrong, Krause didn't ask for more money and I question where you "read" that. There were many reports that the actor did not want to leave, the cast and crew did not want him to leave. It was 100% this other guy's decision because at the time he wanted to "make the show more realistic".. so he killed him off and then made a guy get eaten by a whale (yet still have cell reception?) and send them into space.
-
G
Nope. He never asked for more money, and he didn't want to leave, but Tim Minear insisted on killing off his character anyway.🥺🥺
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services