NBC is extending the run of Chicago Med. The newest entry in Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise has received an order for five additional episodes from the network, TVWise has learned. The first season of Chicago Med will now consist of eighteen episodes.
From Dick Wolf and Universal Television, Chicago Med is described as an emotional thrill ride through the day-to-day chaos of the city’s most explosive hospital and the courageous team of doctors who hold it together. Familiar faces from the Chicago police and fire departments will intertwine as this third team of Chicago heroes hits the ground running. The drama series stars Oliver Platt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Nick Gehlfuss, Yaya Dacosta, Colin Donnell, Brian Tee, Rachel DiPillo & Torrey DeVitto.
Chicago Med, which was originally set for a midseason launch before the unforeseen pregnancy of Melissa George delayed the launch of Heartbreaker forcing NBC to swap the two shows, has been a solid ratings performer for the network since it debuted last month. The series premiered to an audience of 8.6 million viewers and a 2.2 demo rating and season-to-date Chicago Med is averaging 8.9 million viewers/2.0 A18-49 rating.
Given the strong ratings, and the fact that, in a rare feat for a freshman show, the audience has grown from the series premiere, NBC execs were keen to order more episodes. The reason for the partial rather than full-season order is that Chicago Med launched late, meaning it would not be feasable to produced and air a full 22 episode order this season. There is already talk of ordering a second season in the next month or two, especially as the other entries in the Chicago franchise, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD, have already been renewed.
