ABC has made yet another schedule change, forcing fans of ‘The Good Doctor’ and ‘The Rookie’ to endure yet another week of reruns. The ongoing production delays, a result of the recent Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes, have left the network with no choice but to air reruns of the popular shows since the start of April. This marks the third week that eager viewers have been subjected to rebroadcasts of episodes they’ve already seen. The strikes caused significant disruptions to the filming schedules, pushing the start of production for the new seasons to November 2023. This unprecedented delay not only resulted in a reduced number of episodes for both shows but also led to the current extended hiatus. ‘The Good Doctor,’ which follows the life of Dr. Shaun Murphy, an autistic surgeon brilliantly portrayed by Freddie Highmore, aired its most recent episode on April 9th, marking the sixth episode of its seventh and final season. This extended break makes the wait for new episodes all the more agonizing for fans, who are eager to witness the conclusion of the beloved character’s journey. ‘The Rookie,’ starring Nathan Fillion as LAPD’s oldest recruit, also saw its most recent installment, titled ‘Secrets and Lies,’ air on April 9th, marking the sixth episode of its sixth season. Both shows are scheduled to return with fresh episodes on Tuesday, April 30th. The official Instagram account of ‘The Rookie’ took to social media to remind fans of the upcoming rerun, stating, ‘Attention, please! You can watch a repeat episode of #TheRookie tonight at 9/8c on ABC before we’re back next week.’ However, fans were not amused by the announcement, expressing their annoyance in the comments section. One user exclaimed, ‘We don’t want a repeat episode; we want the next episode.’ Another chimed in, ‘The rhythm of season 6 release is driving me crazy.’ A third comment read, ‘What’s with the repeats? This is unacceptable.’ ‘I was so excited to have found a show that follows the classic 20 episodes per season format in this eight-mediocre-episodes world, but now you’ve gone and joined them,’ lamented a former fan. Another frustrated viewer wrote, ‘This has felt like the longest 3 weeks OF MY LIFE.’ The sentiment of exhaustion and disappointment was echoed by many, with one fan stating, ‘Tired of repeats. There’s barely going to be a season,’ accompanied by a crying emoji. Only four episodes remain in this shortened season of ‘The Good Doctor’ and ‘The Rookie,’ leaving fans eagerly anticipating the return of new content and the resolution of their favorite characters’ storylines.
ABC Schedule Change Delays New Episodes of ‘The Good Doctor’ and ‘The Rookie’
