Full Breakdown
NBC Cancels “Brilliant Minds” and “Stumble” Ahead of 2026-27 Upfront
5/2/2026, 6:09:12 AM
Cancellation Decisions and Immediate Impact
NBC announced that the medical drama Brilliant Minds and the comedy Stumble will not return for the 2026-27 season. Brilliant Minds, starring Zachary Quinto, concludes after two seasons; its remaining six episodes will air beginning May 27. Stumble, a mock-documentary about a college cheer squad headlined by Jenn Lyon, ends after a single season, with its final episode already broadcast in March.
Ratings Context and Scheduling Shifts
Linear-viewing data show Brilliant Minds averaged just above 3 million viewers per episode. Stumble attracted approximately 2.24 million viewers. The drama experienced double-digit year-over-year declines despite retaining its post-Voice Monday time slot, prompting NBC to pull it from the schedule in February to accommodate two-hour episodes of The Voice. Stumble launched on Fridays behind the sitcom Happy’s Place, then moved to alternative slots to broaden its audience, but failed to achieve sufficient viewership.
Key Creative Personnel and Production Partners
Brilliant Minds is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, created by Michael Grassi and executive-produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and others. Stumble is a Universal TV production created by Jeff and Liz Astrof, with Jeff Blitz, Dana Honor, and Monica Aldama as executive producers. Cast includes Zachary Quinto, Jenn Lyon, Taran Killam, Ryan Pinkston, Jarrett Austin Brown, Anissa Borrego, Arianna Davis, Taylor Dunbar, Georgie Murphy, and Kristin Chenoweth.
Critical Reception vs. Audience Numbers
Although Stumble earned an 82 % critic score and a 96 % audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, NBC concluded that the series did not attract a wide enough audience to justify renewal. The disparity between strong critical reception and modest viewership highlights a tension in network decision-making, where ratings performance remains the primary renewal metric.
Official Network Actions and Responses
NBC’s programming slate reflects the cancellations: the network removed Brilliant Minds from its post-Olympics lineup and later from the Monday schedule, while Stumble was shifted across time slots before its final episode aired in March. No formal comment from NBC executives was included in the source material; the cancellations were communicated through schedule adjustments and public reporting ahead of May 11 upfront presentation.
Future Programming Outlook
Following the cancellations, NBC retains three scripted series pending renewal decisions: Law & Order, The Hunting Party, and the first-year comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. NBC ordered eight new pilots, a higher volume than recent years, and will reveal its 2026-27 lineup at the May 11 upfront. These outcomes will shape NBC’s strategic direction for the next broadcast season.
