Network pivots to NBA coverage and live content, leaving fans and creators reeling

NBC’s decision to cancel Suits: LA, Found, and The Irrational has left viewers with fewer dramas to watch this fall. The network is reorienting its strategy to prioritize live sports and unscripted content amid fierce competition from streaming platforms. This blog post explains the reasons behind these cancellations, compares what made these shows unique, and explores how these moves reflect broader changes in network TV.

Why Did NBC Cancel Suits: LA, Found, and The Irrational?

Official Reasons and Network Strategy

NBC’s decision to cancel these shows centers on underwhelming ratings and a reassessment of long-term growth potential. Jeff Bader, NBCUniversal’s President of Program Planning Strategy, explained:

“Suits: LA had a very short run, but it really has not resonated [with audiences] the way we thought it would… It’s just not showing the potential to grow for us in the future.”

This rationale applied equally to both Found and The Irrational. Each series struggled to achieve stable viewership and generate traction in an increasingly competitive TV market. By reallocating resources, NBC is focusing its efforts on programming that promises sustained growth in just the right audience segments.

The NBA Deal and the Shift to Live Content

A groundbreaking NBA deal stands as a key factor in this dramatic schedule reshuffle. NBC has secured rights to broadcast 100 NBA games per season, including high-profile Monday night doubleheaders and extensive playoff coverage. With about 180 hours of primetime NBA programming coming to the network, NBC is banking on the draw of live sports rather than the unpredictable nature of scripted dramas.

This strategic pivot not only promises higher ratings but also offers significant advertising revenue. As audiences shift their viewing habits and younger viewers turn more to streaming services, NBC’s decision to elevate live and unscripted content marks a direct response to these evolving trends in network television.

What Made These Shows Unique?

Suits: LA – A Spinoff’s Struggle

Suits: LA attempted to build on the legacy of the popular original Suits by following Ted Black, a former New York prosecutor who reinvents himself as a Hollywood entertainment lawyer. The show aimed to capture the legal drama’s signature wit and high-stakes courtroom battles while incorporating a fresh Los Angeles backdrop. Despite featuring cameos from the original cast and exploring issues like diversity in the legal industry, Suits: LA never struck the right balance. Critics described it as “lacking the acumen to make a case for itself,” and the series saw its ratings plummet from an initial 2.6 million viewers to fewer than 1 million by the season finale.

Found – A Bold Look at Social Justice in Prime Time

Found distinguished itself with a daring premise centered on marginalized communities and missing persons cases. The drama follows Gabi Mosely, played by Shanola Hampton, a former kidnapping survivor turned crisis manager. Her team targets cases that typically slip through the cracks of law enforcement and mainstream media, shedding light on systemic biases and the phenomenon of “missing White girl syndrome.”
This bold approach earned praise for its commitment to diversity and social justice. Critics acknowledged Found as both a necessary commentary on media bias and a showcase for underrepresented voices. However, despite its cultural resonance, the show struggled with pacing and consistency in storytelling, ultimately leading to its early cancellation.

The Irrational – When Psychology Meets Crime Drama

The Irrational brought a fresh twist to the crime drama genre by incorporating behavioral science. Jesse L. Martin stars as Alec Mercer, a psychology professor who applies real-world experiments and concepts from Dan Ariely’s work to crack cases. This infusion of academic insight into a procedural framework initially captured the imagination of viewers, blending education with entertainment.
Nonetheless, the series suffered from procedural clichés and uneven narrative arcs, leaving many fans wishing for deeper character development. While its unique approach to blending psychology and crime drama earned it a loyal, if modest, fanbase, declining viewership convinced NBC that its time had come.

Viewer and Industry Reactions

Social Media Outcry and Petitions

The cancellations sent shockwaves through social media, with fans rallying to save these beloved shows. Passionate hashtags appeared across platforms—#SaveSuitsLA, #FoundDeservedBetter, and #SaveTheIrrational trended on Twitter and Reddit soon after the announcements. Dedicated petitions to resurrect these series amassed thousands of signatures within days. In one instance, supporters of Suits: LA collected over 10,000 signatures, urging other platforms such as Netflix or Amazon to pick it up.

Posts across social media have not only expressed dismay over the lost entertainment but also highlighted the cultural gaps these shows filled. Voices on Twitter and Facebook emphasize that the cancellation of Found—an important commentary on media injustice—leaves a void in diverse storytelling. Likewise, fans of The Irrational continue to champion its exploration of human behavior and appeal for closure through a wrap-up movie or limited series.

What Critics and Insiders Are Saying

Inside the industry, observers are interpreting these cancellations as part of a broader trend where network TV is pivoting away from high-cost scripted dramas. Critics note that Suits: LA, The Irrational, and Found averaged around 1 to 1.5 million viewers per episode—numbers that pale in comparison to NBC’s flagship shows like Chicago Fire. Some insiders argue that the network’s inability to effectively market these dramas only compounded their struggles.
There is a growing sentiment in the media community that NBC’s fundamental shift away from scripted content, as evidenced by the emphasis on live sports and reality programming, is a necessary adaptation in today’s fragmented media landscape.

What Does This Mean for Network TV?

The Streaming Wars and the Future of Drama

NBC’s recent cancellations underscore a pivotal moment for network television. As streaming giants like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video continue to dominate the entertainment space, traditional networks find themselves under intense pressure to deliver content that guarantees immediate viewership.
Scripted dramas often require a considerable investment of time and resources, and if they fail to capture a large audience quickly, the risk becomes too great. Live sports and unscripted content, by contrast, offer more reliable metrics, allowing networks like NBC to attract advertisers and maintain competitive ratings.

This realignment signifies more than a temporary pivot; it represents a long-term strategic shift. The integration of Peacock into NBC’s programming strategy—especially its heavy promotion of NBA games—is designed to lure a new generation of viewers. While this leaves fewer opportunities for serialized storytelling on network TV, it also opens up potential avenues for innovation in distribution and content creation on digital platforms.

Can These Shows Find New Life?

Despite their cancellations, the fate of Suits: LA, Found, and The Irrational is not entirely sealed. There remains hope among dedicated fans and industry watchers that these shows will be revived on digital platforms. Historical trends show that passionate fan campaigns can help rescind cancellations, as seen with hits like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Lucifer.
The possibility of moving these dramas to Peacock has been floated by insiders, though nothing definitive has been announced. In today’s content ecosystem, streaming services are often the last refuge for shows that exhibit strong cult followings yet fail to meet the commercial demands of network television.

The Stakes for Storytelling

NBC’s major schedule shake-up is a microcosm of the evolving entertainment industry. While the network’s renewed focus on live sports and unscripted content promises short-term ratings gains and stability, it also risks alienating fans of nuanced, character-driven storytelling. The cancellations of Suits: LA, Found, and The Irrational highlight a growing tension between commercial imperatives and a desire for creative risk-taking.

For viewers who believe in the power of diverse narratives and the importance of innovative drama, the conversation is far from over. This is an invitation to share your voice with networks and streaming services alike: let them know that quality storytelling matters. The battle for the future of television continues, and your support could be the catalyst for a comeback on digital platforms or a renewed commitment to scripted television.

Join the discussion by signing petitions, engaging on social media, and staying informed about shifts in network strategy. Together, we can ensure that creative voices are not silenced by the demands of commercial programming.