Why There Is No New 9-1-1 Season 8 Episode This Week & When New Episodes Will Release?

9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 ended with the biggest twist of the entire series, but viewers will have to wait for what comes next for the 118. The procedural following first responders on the West Coast has been a hit since it aired in 2018, but its 2023 move to ABC was a major turning point for the series. 9-1-1’s intense disasters were just as exciting on the new network, but fear surrounding the main characters’ fates immediately began to arise. As proven by the fatal scheme of 9-1-1’s Moira Blake (Bridget Regan), that fear was not unfounded.

The second half of 9-1-1: Contagion (ABC’s two-part thriller event) ended with a bang: after everyone else evacuated the laboratory, Fire Captain Bobby Nash shockingly died. Peter Krause’s surprise exit from 9-1-1 left millions of viewers reeling, but the captain of LAFD station 118 will be dearly missed. While it’s unclear how 9-1-1 season 9 will operate without its heart and soul— also known as Captain Nash— there are a few remaining episodes in season 8 to tie everything together. Sadly, 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16 will take longer than anticipated.

Why There Are No New 9-1-1 Season 8 Tonight (April 24, 2025)

A Significant Sporting Event Will Fill The Time-slot

Unfortunately, Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 15 will serve as a temporary cliffhanger. No new episode of 9-1-1 will air Thursday, April 24, and ABC will not be airing a rerun of the first-responder drama during its normal time-slot. During the wait, old episodes of 9-1-1 will be running on various cable channels, but the fallout from Bobby’s untimely demise is still pending. Although 9-1-1 is on a brief hiatus following its first main character death, there will be a major spectacle airing in its place on Thursday night.

For the seventh year in a row, ABC will air the 2025 NFL Draft. The 3-day event begins on Thursday at 8 ET, continuing at 7 ET on Friday and closing out on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The draft will be broadcast live from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Each year, the National Football League (NFL) hosts the event to draft prospective new stars from a pool of eligible college football players. The paramount Round 1 will take place during 9-1-1’s usual time-slot, with Rounds 2-3 held on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.

When Will 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 16 Release?

The Wait Won't Be Long

Luckily, the procedural is only on a one-week hiatus, meaning 9-1-1 season 8 will return on Thursday, May 1. 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16, “The Last Alarm,” will air during the ABC drama’s usual primetime slot, running from 8-9 ET. The procedural will be returning alongside other ABC hits that took a brief hiatus due to the draft, like first-year medical soap Doctor Odyssey. Since the wait will undoubtedly feel longer than it is, episodes of 9-1-1 can be streamed on Hulu in the meantime.

Starting on May 1, 9-1-1 season 8 will continue, uninterrupted, until the season finale. Like most of its full-length seasons, 9-1-1 season 8 will air 18 episodes total. “The Last Alarm” will be followed by “Don’t Drink the Water," but 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18 has not yet released its title. After the remaining three episodes, 9-1-1 will join titles like High Potential and Abbott Elementary on the traditional summer break that network television programs annually take. Thankfully, 9-1-1 season 9 has already been renewed and will air in fall 2025.

What To Expect From 9-1-1 Season 8, Episode 16

"Lab Rats" Left An Obvious Next Step

The first-responder procedural has already given away the major event in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16, but it will be a somber affair. Bobby’s death in 9-1-1 will be the focus of the episode, specifically spotlighting his funeral. Bobby’s wife, Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), will grieve the love of her life after watching him die, and one of his closest friends, Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi), will have to grapple with knowing that Bobby sacrificed himself to save Chimney’s life. Bobby’s funeral will bring the 118 together, including the bittersweet if not temporary return of Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman).

While 9-1-1 left clues that Bobby may still be alive, “The Last Alarm” will quickly dispel conjecture and clarify the fire captain’s fate one way or another. Since Bobby’s death occurred with three episodes remaining, the aftermath of losing Captain Nash will be a central conflict that may not be resolved by the 9-1-1 season 8 finale. However, there are many questions that need an immediate answer, chief among them being who will lead LAFD station 118 as the captain (interim or otherwise). Whether 9-1-1 introduces a brand-new character for the position or promotes a familiar face, Bobby is irreplaceable.