NBC is making major changes to its programming slate, with a number of well-known shows being removed from upcoming schedules.
The broadcaster and its wider NBCUniversal television business are reshaping their lineup ahead of the summer and 2026-27 fall season, with nine titles either cancelled, ending or being wound down as part of a broader scheduling shake-up.
Several familiar names are among the shows affected, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Access Hollywood, Access Daily, The Steve Wilkos Show, Karamo, Brilliant Minds, Stumble and The Hunting Party.
The group covers a mix of primetime scripted series, daytime talk shows and first-run syndicated entertainment programmes, meaning not every departure is the same kind of cancellation. In some cases, NBC made a straight renewal decision; in others, NBCUniversal is winding down production of syndicated shows as local-station preferences and economics continue to change.
One of the most talked-about cuts is Stumble, the mockumentary-style cheerleading comedy starring Jenn Lyon. The show lasted just one season, despite building a passionate fan base and holding a 96 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a positive critical score.
The Hunting Party has also now joined the list. The Melissa Roxburgh-led crime drama was cancelled after two seasons, with its May 7, 2026 finale now serving as the series finale. Universal Television is reportedly expected to shop the show elsewhere, leaving fans with a slim possibility that it could still find a new home.
For Law & Order: Organized Crime, the decision ends Christopher Meloni’s standalone return as Elliot Stabler after five seasons. The series originally aired on NBC before shifting its fifth season to Peacock and later receiving a second-window run on NBC.
The news has also been acknowledged by some of those involved. Meloni, who leads Law & Order: Organized Crime, shared a message to fans after the cancellation, thanking viewers for sticking with the character and the show.
Christopher Meloni on the cancelation of Organized Crime.
“I want to take this moment to say thank you to the fans who not only helped give the character of Elliot Stabler life, sticking with him and welcoming him back. I had a great time playing him. It was a great ride.” pic.twitter.com/St5SmFx6Wq
— the chris meloni project (@MeloniProject) April 17, 2026
NBCUniversal executive Jeff Bader previously spoke about the pressure facing the network’s schedule, noting that difficult decisions had to be made even when it came to programmes executives still valued.
“We had to look for opportunities where we could grow, so there are shows that we love that just didn’t make the cut,” Bader reportedly said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The network’s squeeze is partly about space. NBC’s fall schedule now has to accommodate a heavier sports presence, including NBA coverage on Tuesday nights, while still making room for returning scripted franchises, new launches and unscripted formats.
Altogether, the nine affected shows are:
- Law & Order: Organized Crime — cancelled after five seasons.
- Brilliant Minds — cancelled after two seasons, with final episodes airing into summer 2026.
- Stumble — cancelled after one season, despite strong audience approval online.
- The Hunting Party — cancelled after two seasons.
- The Kelly Clarkson Show — ending after seven seasons.
- Access Hollywood — ending as NBCUniversal winds down first-run syndication production.
- Access Daily — ending alongside Access Hollywood.
- Karamo — ending after four seasons.
- The Steve Wilkos Show — ending after 19 seasons.
While the decision may feel sudden to viewers, Bader suggested the process was rooted in standard scheduling strategy, including reviewing pilots and deciding which shows had the strongest chance in particular time slots.
“We actually had pilot screenings and we were able to look at the shows, we had a choice for different shows in different time periods, and we picked the ones that we thought fit the best into the schedule that we put together,” Bader told Deadline.
The daytime and syndicated changes are especially notable because some of the affected titles have been on the air for years. Access Hollywood launched in 1996 and became one of the best-known entertainment-news brands on television, while The Steve Wilkos Show has been a fixture in daytime TV since 2007.
The Kelly Clarkson Show is a slightly different case. Rather than being a straightforward network axe, Clarkson has chosen to end the Emmy-winning daytime talk show after seven seasons, with the programme expected to wrap in the fall.
For fans, however, those explanations may not soften the disappointment of losing long-running favourites from the lineup.
Despite the cancellations, NBC’s new schedule will not be short on returning shows or fresh additions.
During the summer months, the network is leaning heavily on unscripted and competition formats, with America’s Got Talent, Password, The Wall, Surviving Earth and American Ninja Warrior among the titles filling key slots while many scripted dramas pause between seasons.
Later in the year, major returning series including The Voice, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU are set to help anchor the autumn schedule.
New programming is also being introduced, with titles such as Line of Fire, The Traitors and Newlyweds joining the lineup. NBC has also ordered new series including The Rockford Files reboot and Sunset P.I., though some new titles are being held for midseason rather than fall.
Returning shows will include:
- Chicago Fire (Season 15)
- Chicago Med (Season 12)
- Chicago P.D. (Season 14)
- Law & Order: SVU (Season 28)
- Law & Order (Season 26)
- Happy’s Place (Season 3)
- St. Denis Medical (Season 3)
- The Voice
The fall layout also represents a shift for the Law & Order franchise. Instead of a three-hour block, NBC is moving forward with The Traitors at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, followed by Law & Order: SVU and then the original Law & Order.
Sports coverage will remain a major part of NBC’s plans, with NBA games, college football and Sunday Night Football occupying prominent positions in the schedule. NBC has described Sunday Night Football as primetime television’s top programme for 15 consecutive seasons, and the network is also leaning into the return of the NBA across NBC and Peacock.
Although the programming overhaul has surprised many viewers, the network appears to be focusing on established performers, sports rights and new opportunities, even if that means parting ways with several recognisable shows.