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Somehow I missed the news that there’s another 9-1-1 spinoff in the works. We have the original 9-1-1, now airing in its eighth season on ABC after being offloaded by Fox, and 9-1-1: Lone Star, which was canceled by Fox after five seasons. The final episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star aired this February. 9-1-1: Nashville is set to premiere sometime on Fox this year, for the 2025 to 2026 TV season. People reports that veteran crime procedural actor Chris O’Donnell from NCIS: Los Angeles is slated to star. It’s co-written by Tim Minear and Ryan Murphy and will be co-produced by Rashad Raisani, Brad Falchuk and Angela Bassett. Here’s more, from People:
Chris O’Donnell is joining the 9-1-1 universe and was announced as one of the new spinoff series’ cast members, according to Entertainment Weekly, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. He will star in the ABC series as Capt. Don Sharpe.
His character is described as “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest firehouse with his beloved son,” per Variety. “Don’s a devoted husband and family man but he has his secrets.”
O’Donnell previously starred as Special Agent G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles from 2009 to 2023 for 14 seasons and over 320 episodes. He’s also known for his roles in Batman Forever, Grey’s Anatomy and Scent of a Woman.
The 9-1-1 spinoff was announced last month and is set to air during the 2025-26 TV season.
In October 2024, Murphy, 59, told Variety he and Minear were working on a new 9-1-1 spinoff for the 2025-26 TV season. He said the “financials just didn’t work” for the Rob Lowe-starring Lone Star, which led to its cancellation in September 2024 after five seasons.
I’m not familiar with Chris O’Donnell other than his work in film in the 90s, but I bet he’ll do a great job. I’m surprised that Fox is investing in more 9-1-1 after they got rid of the original for being too expensive and gave up up on 9-1-1: Nashville. I love these stupid shows although 9-1-1 really went off a cliff with this latest Maddie plotline. This last season of 9-1-1: Lone Star lost me and I didn’t finish watching it, but I’ll go back to it at some point. I’ll give 9-1-1: Nashville a chance and I’m sure so many other people will too. They’re ridiculous action movies every week and I come away wondering how these people cope with the immense amount of trauma and concussions they must all have. These shows run on autopilot and if they keep up that formula for Nashville it will surely be entertaining. Writer Tim Minear’s IMDB shows that he’s credited with almost all of 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lone Star’s episodes so he knows what he’s doing. I’m not a fan of Ryan Murphy in general, but on 9-1-1 his bonkers plotlines are alright.
This week there’s a Doctor Odyssey crossover with 9-1-1 as Athena Grant is running security on the cruise. Angela Bassett pushed back on that, saying that Athena wouldn’t get back on a boat after everything she went through on her last cruise ship, but she obviously relented and will be on that show. These characters never have time to process their trauma.
Recently started watching the OG 911 but am a few episodes behind. I’m here for Angela Bassett getting her money from being one of the producers and then her big paycheck on the original. I’m also one of the ones shipping Buck and Eddie though. Listen, go big or go home. And Maddie is always going through it. Love Chimney.
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s destiny as an actress is to be the girl “going through it” on whatever show she’s on, and honestly, I love her for it and I love it for her.