ABC Reveals 9-1-1 Fans Will Have To Wait Longer Than Expected For The New Season

9-1-1 season 9 will debut a little later than expected, extending the wait for new episodes. ABC recently unveiled its upcoming primetime schedule, officially confirming when most of its scripted shows will return. While a few notable hits like The Rookie and Will Trent won't be back until next year, 9-1-1 season 9 is also taking more time to premiere.

The biggest breakout will be back first. High Potential season 2 will premiere on September 16 at 10 PM, hurrying back to ABC's primetime schedule after the first installment solidified the enviable trend of gaining viewers as it went along. By its finale, the Kaitlin Olson-led procedural was attracting more than 10 million viewers per episode.

Although most ABC shows will be back in September or early October at most, 9-1-1 season 9 won't debut until Thursday, October 16 at 10 PM. Deadline confirms that the same is true for 9-1-1: Nashville and the much-anticipated Grey's Anatomy season 23. There is no explanation, currently, for the slightly longer wait.

What This Means For 9-1-1 Season 9

Filming Begins Soon, At Least

Even though 9-1-1 season 9 won't be back for a few months, production is already planned to begin in the coming days. With cameras rolling, there may be a better sense of the show's casting and the overall story that the long-running drama will take after the controversial death of Peter Krause's Bobby Nash.

It is a bit of an adjustment, in any case, since 9-1-1 seasons have typically debuted in September. The only exceptions are for the first season, which consisted of ten episodes, season 4, which was delayed due to COVID shutdowns, and season 7, which came after the writers' and actors' strikes.

One thing to watch for, in the wait for a follow-up to the 9-1-1 season 8 finale, is what news comes out prior to the October launch. There's been speculation about whether the series will bring in a new cast member or promote a familiar face in light of Krause's high-profile departure. That will likely be announced, if there is any news, before new episodes debut.

Our Take On The Wait For 9-1-1

The Show Has A Massive Spotlight

With the first of a major character and 9-1-1: Nashville on the way, on the same night, the franchise has more eyes on it than usual. Viewers dismayed by Bobby's death will likely figure out pretty quickly whether they want to keep watching. It's just that they'll have to hold on a bit longer before beginning the process of deciding.