Full Breakdown
ABC Secures Two Comedies for 2026-27 Season Amid Strong Ratings
5/1/2026, 3:55:39 PM
ABC Commits to Two Comedies for 2026-27 Season
ABC announced that it has renewed the sitcom revival *Scrubs* and the multi-camera series *Shifting Gears* for the 2026-27 broadcast year. Both series, produced by 20th Television, will return to ABC’s Wednesday lineup, with *Shifting Gears* in the first half and the *Scrubs* revival in the spring. The renewals extend each show for a second season, confirming ABC’s confidence in its comedy slate.
ABC’s 2026-27 Programming Landscape
The two pickups bring ABC’s current scripted lineup to near-completion for the upcoming season. All existing series except first-year drama *R.J. Decker* have secured renewals. Earlier, the network ordered new seasons of *911*, *911: Nashville*, *Abbott Elementary*, *Grey’s Anatomy*, *High Potential*, *The Rookie* and *Will Trent*. Locking in *Scrubs* and *Shifting Gears* gives ABC a balanced mix of drama and comedy for 2026-27.
Showrunners, Producers, and Lead Talent
*Shifting Gears* stars Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, who also executive-produce with Michelle Nader, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, John Pasquin, Jim Patterson, Bob Daily and John Amodeo. *Scrubs* creator Bill Lawrence returns as executive producer, working with showrunner Aseem Batra, Jeff Ingold and Liza Katzer of Doozer Productions. Lead actors Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke are listed as executive producers, joined by Randall Keenan Winston.
Viewership Metrics for Scrubs Revival and Shifting Gears
During the season, *Shifting Gears* averaged 5.4 million linear viewers, rising to about 7 million with seven-day DVR and streaming. *Scrubs* attracted 9 million cross-platform viewers in its first week, expanding to 11 million in Nielsen’s 35-day measurement. In linear ratings, the revival was ABC’s top-rated comedy among adults 18-49.
Network Announcement on Renewals
ABC’s renewal decision was communicated in a standard programming update, emphasizing the shows’ solid Wednesday performance and contribution to the network’s comedy ratings leadership. The announcement highlighted cross-platform growth as evidence of audience engagement.
Future Outlook for ABC’s Comedy Slate
With *Scrubs* and *Shifting Gears* confirmed, ABC’s comedy slate appears stable for 2026-27, pending the decision on *R.J. Decker*. The network’s broader strategy, shown by other renewals, emphasizes multi-platform metrics for future orders. Observers will watch how the revived *Scrubs* and third season of *Shifting Gears* fare in a competitive broadcast market.
Strategic Significance for ABC
The renewals underscore ABC’s reliance on comedy to anchor its primetime schedule. By securing *Scrubs* and *Shifting Gears*, the network retains its top-rated comedy in linear ratings and leverages strong cross-platform audiences, aligning with a broader push toward multi-platform measurement. With only *R.J. Decker* pending, the network’s scripted slate is largely locked in for the next cycle.
