ABC is turning Wednesday nights in January into a two-hour block of The Rookie. The network announced Friday that the Nathan Fillion-led police drama returns for Season 9 on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 9 p.m., followed at 10 p.m. by the series premiere of The Rookie North, the spinoff led by Insecure alum Jay Ellis.
The dates were part of ABC's midseason schedule, first reported by TheWrap.
A franchise night with Jay Ellis in the lead
Pairing the flagship with its new offshoot gives The Rookie North the strongest possible lead-in. It also puts Ellis, an Insecure alum, at the center of a network drama in prime time. Cup of Soul first covered the project when ABC ordered the pilot with Ellis attached.
The Wednesday lineup opens at 8 p.m. with a two-episode Season 3 premiere of Shifting Gears, the multicamera sitcom starring Tim Allen and Kat Dennings.
ABC's January return dates
ABC's other midseason dates include:
Tuesday, Jan. 5: Will Trent Season 5 at 8 p.m., High Potential Season 3 with Kaitlin Olson at 9 p.m., and new docuseries Surviving a Scandal at 10 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 7: 9-1-1 at 8 p.m., 9-1-1: Nashville at 9 p.m. and Grey's Anatomy at 10 p.m. return from their winter break.
Wednesday, Jan. 13: Abbott Elementary returns at 8:31 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 29: Celebrity Jeopardy! opens Season 5 at 8 p.m.
ABC also said an untitled, Texas-set Grey's Anatomy spinoff from Shonda Rhimes and Meg Marinis is planned for the 2027-28 season. For fans of The Rookie, though, Jan. 6 is the date to circle: it kicks off a new two-hour Rookie block on Wednesday nights.
