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NBC cancellations just struck down two scripted series ahead of the 2026-2027 season. The medical drama Brilliant Minds and mockumentary sitcom Stumble will not return. Three more shows remain on the chopping block.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Brilliant Minds: Canceled after 2 seasons, starring Zachary Quinto as neurology doctor Oliver Wolf
- Stumble: Canceled after 1 season, featuring Jenn Lyon as a fired cheerleading coach
- Ratings Decline: Brilliant Minds was NBC’s lowest-rated drama series this season
- Three Still Hanging: Law and Order, The Hunting Party, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins await decisions
Brilliant Minds Ends After Two Seasons
Brilliant Minds, the medical drama starring Zachary Quinto, becomes NBC’s first cancellation. The show followed an unconventional neurologist with a unique condition that shaped his patient care approach. Season 2 premiered in September 2025, but viewership dropped dramatically.
NBC pulled the series from its Monday 10 p.m. slot in February 2026 to make room for The Voice ratings boosts. The remaining six episodes will air on May 27. According to Deadline, the drama faced steep double-digit year-to-year declines despite strong creative support from the studio.
NBC cancellations hit Brilliant Minds and Stumble for 2026-2027 season
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Stumble Loses its Footing After One Season
Stumble, the mockumentary comedy led by Jenn Lyon, faced an even tougher road. The cheerleading coach comedy posted NBC’s lowest ratings of the entire season. Season 1 ended in March 2026 with 13 episodes. Despite critical acclaim (96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences never materialized.
The series had strong internal creative support and was even invited to NBCUniversal’s coveted TV awards season luncheon. However, scheduling challenges hurt its momentum. NBC moved the show multiple times trying to find its audience. Jenn Lyon even appealed to followers on social media just days before the cancellation.
Why NBC Pulled the Plug on Two Shows
| Series | Reason for Cancellation |
| Brilliant Minds | Lowest-rated NBC drama, double-digit viewership decline |
| Stumble | Lowest-rated NBC series overall, couldn’t find audience |
Both cancellations signal NBC’s aggressive reset for next season. Brilliant Minds performed worse than its sophomore drama The Hunting Party, which stars Melissa Roxburgh. The Hunting Party benefited from a strong Netflix U.S. launch that created a halo effect on Peacock streaming.
Stumble’s failure came despite strong Rotten Tomatoes scores and initial network enthusiasm. Scheduling it behind Reba McEntire’s sitcom Happy’s Place backfired. The comedy simply never captured mainstream viewership numbers NBC needed.
“Brilliant Minds is NBC’s lowest rated drama series on linear with the steepest double-digit year-to-year declines despite having the same post-Voice Monday time slot as last season.”
— Deadline, Entertainment Trade
Which Shows Still Hang in the Balance
NBC isn’t done making decisions yet. Three major series await renewal verdicts in the coming weeks. Law and Order, the longtime procedural’s 2022 revival, remains on the bubble despite hitting its stride creatively. The mothership currently trails the Chicago shows in linear ratings.
The Hunting Party, the sophomore crime drama, has stronger prospects. Its Season 1 Netflix success in the U.S. created meaningful momentum. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, a new midseason comedy, looks increasingly likely to get renewed, potentially with a shorter episode order.
What Does This Mean for NBC’s Future Lineup?
The May 2026 cancellations reflect a network in transition. NBC has already renewed proven performers like Law and Order: SVU, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Happy’s Place, and St. Denis Medical. These franchises provide stable anchors to the schedule.
Losing two fresh scripted entries sends a message about viewer expectations. Shows need breakout viewership or streaming momentum to survive. Can NBC find the next hit before next season launches?
Sources
- Deadline Hollywood – Breaking news on NBC’s first 2026-27 cancellation decisions
- NJ.com – Detailed coverage of why Brilliant Minds and Stumble faced cancellation
- Variety – Industry insights on NBC’s renewal status across the scripted slate
