Update 5/18: as we predicted, The Rookie is renewed for season 4 and will be coming back for the 2021-2022 season.
The renewal has now been officially announced by ABC.
Original Renewal Prediction Post:
The Rookie is facing his toughest challenge yet. Season 3 which started airing in January 2021, gets high viewership (up 3-8% compared to last year). This is a very positive sign that the show is likely going to get renewed by ABC, but viewer satisfaction scores are down significantly (from 5 to 25% based on the episode) versus the scores obtained last year.
The Rookie used to be one of the most consistent TV series with viewer ratings of at least 80%. However, in 2021, some episodes have received lower ratings, with the worst being the “True Crime” episode which even made some fans upset. The “True Crime” episode received 3.7/10 ratings only on IMDB.
Official status: The Rookie Is Not Yet Officially Cancelled or Renewed for Season 4. We are still waiting for a final decision from ABC. The Rookie is not yet cancelled or renewed for the 2021-2022 TV season.
Renewal chances: 73% (Likely to be renewed)
Check out our renewal scorecard below for the Rookie Season 4.
TVscorecards provides the latest status updates on renewal & cancellations for TV series. As of today, ABC has NOT yet confirmed if season 4 of The Rookie is approved. Our data analyst at TVscorecards keeps track of hundreds of data points to estimate renewal chances for each TV series. We calculate a “Renewal Score” that predicts if a show will be renewed or not.
What are the Factors that Could Help The Rookie be Renewed for Season 4?
The Rookie could be renewed based on the following:
Viewership is stable in a challenging COVID environment: viewership is the primary driver of renewal decisions by TV networks. The Rookie has a loyal base of bans that enjoy the action-packed series on ABC & Hulu. The latest season currently being broadcasted in 2021 (Season 3) started off on an uncertain note (down from last year) but in the most recent episodes, viewership has been trending up with a 3-8% increase on average versus last year’s episodes. This is a big gain in contrast to most TV series that have lost viewership in 2021.
Several TV series have seen a general downward trend in their viewership but The Rookie is trending in the right direction with consistently more than 3.4 million viewers watching each episode on ABC. This is a good sign that there will be strong interest for season 4 from the existing viewerbase.
Why Would ABC Cancel The Rookie?
Viewers’ satisfaction scores are down 15% versus last year. We have observed several signals that puts the show at risk of getting cancelled with no season 4. The main factor is a significant downward trend in viewer scores which are down by an average of 15% per episode versus last year. This is a significant drop and could be a sign of an upcoming decline in viewership for the end of season 3. If this happens and episodes continue to deliver an inconsistent performance in viewership scores, ABC could announce the cancellation of the show for next year.
We will be watching the trend closely as season 3 unfolds. If the last episodes of this season show a decrease in viewership in the last epsiodes, we believe that season 4 would be at risk of getting cancelled.
The current season is not seeing the same uplift as last year. It was a very easy decision for ABC to renew the show last year: season 2 of The Rookie had just ended on a high note in the last episodes, with viewership increasing from 3.6 million viewers in the first half of the season to exactly 5.0 million viewers in the second half of the season. The Rookie was simply one the biggest success stories of the year, both in terms of increase in viewership and satisfaction scores. The current season is slightly down year over year at 3.7 million viewers, and has not seen an uplift in viewership in the second part of the season. ABC is now facing a much more difficult decision to renew or cancel The Rookie Season 4.
The series still has a strong loyal fan base and the scores remain relatively high. As a result, we still believe ABC will renew The Rookie for a new season in 2021-2022, and the show will not get cancelled.
Post a comment below to let us know what you think. Should ABC renew The Rookie for season 4?
Renewal/cancellation Status: Renewed for Season 6
TVscorecards user score: 92%
About this show:
The Rookie season 3's premiere date is January 3rd, 2021.
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being a Los Angeles police officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life. "The Rookie" stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin Jr. as Jackson West, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford. Alexi Hawley is writer and executive producer. Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Jon Steinberg, Bill Norcross, Terence Paul Winter, and Rob Bowman are executive producers on the series. "The Rookie" is a co-production with Entertainment One (eOne) and ABC Studios.
View our show page for more:
Iuki says
LOVE The Rookie! Looking forward to Season 4!.
Kristi says
Love this show!! Especially looking g forward to Lucy going undercover and Angela taking down La Fiera!! Give us another season….at least!!!
Jenn davis says
It’s such a amazing show. We all love that show. Please don’t cancel it.
Keith says
Good series. Please renew.
BEV FARLEY says
Love this series. I feel the comraderie (sp) between the actors which make the viewing very pleasant. I appreciate the occasional humor, which Nathan does very well. Please renew for season 4!
VickyH says
I love The Rookie and am definitely hoping it will be renewed for another season. It is one of my two favorite TV shows.
Bill says
Love the Rookie. However I’m not a fan of the in your face BLM narrative and police are bad. Annoying
Dan says
They’ve actually done a good and objective job with this imo. Real life right now is not something that can be ignored in a cop show, but rather than just saying “cops bad 👎” they’re doing a good job of displaying a bigger picture.
For example, in the ride-along episode, the whole theme is that a lot of people are angry at all police, but they show how most cops aren’t actually like the handful of bad ones. And with the whole Stanton storyline, they showed how ya, some cops can be bad, but most cops don’t like those types of people, and that it’s not easy for bad people to just be fired or let go. I think they’ve done a good job with it personally.
Michael says
I love the TV show the rookie and I want to see a season 4 bc it a great show about cops
Rob says
Yeah I’m edging towards this feeling too (that it’s not just pulling the PC line).
I’m a little tired of real-life politics in shows but if The Rookie wants to be authentic (which I think it wants to be, at least in some areas) then real-life politics involving the police does need to be addressed.
One thing I would like to see is how some people will use this kind of thing to forward their own agenda, without them having the high moral ground that most advocates are attributed.
Aggie7214 says
I agree. The episode for 4/18/21 was really distasteful. It showed Nolan’s college instructor who is a civil rights activist show her hypocrisy when she said she had gone to great lengths to conceal her address, place of business, what kind of car she drives etc. from the public while at the same time working to reveal those same things for those who do not agree with her.
Sheree says
Sheree
The Rookie is my favorite TV show and Nolan my favorite character played by Nathan Fillion. I’m hoping for at least 2 more years! I would miss it. It has such a warm show feeling and the added comedy is a gem. Lifts my spirits after a hard day at work. Please renew.
Dawn Smith says
I love this show. I just binge watched the first 3seasons and can’t wait to see what happens next.
Doreen says
Hoping for season 4! It’s a great show and I love the actors. Sorry I didn’t find it sooner on Hulu
Chad David Weber says
Excellent actors and writing!! Keep Rookie please!
Kristine says
I was devastated when Castle was canceled, but totally LOVE The Rookie! If this show is canceled I don’t know what I would do!
jim says
The Rookie is in my opinion one of the best shoes on tv right now. I dont like the backlash it is getting for some of the story lines however. People seem to forget its a show, its not real and was written to entertain and intrigue. Those are the idiots hurting the show.
Deb says
I look forward to the ROOKIE, please, please do not cancel the show
Cierra says
PLEASE RENEW THE ROOKIE!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW ITS ONE OF THE BEST COOS SHOWS OUT THERE! IT HAS CRIME AND HUMOR WHICH I LIKE YOU DONT SEE MICH HUMOR IN COO SHOWS SO PLEASE RENEW THE SHOW FOR SEASON 4!
Claire says
Love the Rookie. Hope it is renewed for season 4!
Nanette A Perugini says
I LOVE The Rookie! Please don’t cancel it!!!!
maria says
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE ROOKIE! Please don’t cancel it!!!!
Chris LaForgia says
Love the Rookie please renew for season 4!!!
Pat says
I hope they renew the rookie, we love it and wait all week to see what’s going to happen next
Theresa says
I love this show I look forward to watching it I want it to continue for as long as it can!!!!!👍👍👍👍👍
Judy Wentz says
I love the Rookie has lots of different scenarios not focusing on just one. It all comes back pain to the whole being the police department, awesome program please renew 🙏
Lowell Fox says
Great series that I would love to see it eventually morph into the lead no longer being a “rookie.” Fillion has staying power with great acting skills–loved his other projects.
Bonnie says
The Rookie is absolutely the BEST ensemble show on TV. In my opinion…EVER! I love that the show is character driven, revolving around Nolan, yet focusing on each other character as well. Would be a travesty to cancel. And, the stories are incredible. Gutsy, realistic, emotional…and humorous. Don’t get criticism above regarding storyline. To me always unique & exciting. And, I think Tim is gonna tell Chen he likes her!! Either that or give her a present that poofs flour in her face. Love the Rookie BEST show ever!! Bonnie
Barryblum says
Love the rookie .can’t wait season 4’
Barryblum says
Rookie is
The best show on tv.can’t
Wait for season 4.
Barryblum says
The show is great every week
My family can’t wait see on sunday.love Ryan he’s funny.
Barryblum says
Please renew show . Great show.can’t wait season four
Linda C Robertson says
Love this show. Has it all, humor, drama, ethical dilemmas and a moral compass that points to the right things. Love Nathan Fillion is a wonderful actor. Loved him in Castle and love him in this.
Sherry Taylor says
I can’t wait for season four I can’t believe season three ended and four ain’t up I’m patiently waiting
Christian says
With the ending off season 3 there has to be a Season 4 there are so many of us who are invested in this show and it talks about real life problems that people can relate don’t take that away
Yvon Mendez says
Love ❤️ this series looking forward to season 4&5 and more if possible!!!
Mary Vaughan says
I love The Rookie. Only must watch show I watch every week, wish seasons were longer. Please keep this show going.