‘R.J. Decker’ & ‘The Rookie: North’: Behind ABC’s Decision To Pick Up Both, Expanding Scripted Slate For Second Year And Its Impact On Order Sizes

The last two slots on ABC’s 2026-27 schedule went to R.J. Decker and The Rookie: North, both picked up during the weekend before the upfronts where the networks, including ABC, present their fall lineups.

Early on, it looked like it may be one slot that would go to either the freshman drama series starring Scott Speedman or the drama pilot starring Jay Ellis so ABC could keep the volume of scripted shows flat year to year.

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