It has been just a few days since NBC announced that This Is Us had earned an early renewal order. The even bigger news? The show has been renewed for two seasons, which is a huge deal for a program that airs on network TV. While it's a big deal for fans, it also means that the cast will have a steady gig for at least a couple of more years, so it is big news for them, too. If you wondered how the cast reacted to this magnitudinous news, you can check out their reaction, courtesy of show creator Dan Fogelman.
If you watch the video without sound, there's enough hugging and high-fiving to get the message across, but if you watch with sound, the celebration is even more incredible. It's clear the cast is really surprised about the renewal, both because it is coming months and months in advance of the May announcements that often reveal what is renewed and canceled but also because two seasons is a huge deal. If you listen carefully to the video, from Dan Fogelman's Twitter account, you'll hear a "holy shit," and then a question from Chrissy Metz, who excitedly asks, "Wait, what did you just say?"
The guys in the cast, including Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia, are all smiles and hugs (and in Justin Hartley's case, high-fives), but it's the ladies--Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz and Susan Kelechi Watson--who are most excited. If you've been watching This is Us at all, you should already know that the series is all about the heartfelt moments, and this real-life picture of the cast really hits on a note the show would be proud of. The video is adorable and charming in all the right ways.
This is Us has routinely been a ratings winner during its Season 1 run on NBC. The show, which airs on Tuesday nights, has been hitting ratings milestones recently, and an earlier episode in January did over a 3.0 rating in Live+Same Day numbers, which is a big deal. The show is also averaging more than 9.5 million total viewers each week, many of them in the coveted advertising demographic. In a year that has seen some big NBC shows struggle, especially in live ratings, This is Us has been a shining example of success. Just ask shows Blindspot and The Blacklist how fickle the ratings cycle can be.
It's not often that a network TV show will earn a multiple season renewal order, although it has happened. One other big example would be when The Big Bang Theory was renewed for three seasons, in a huge and memorable move by CBS. Animated network shows will often get ordered for a few seasons at a time, as well. Multiple season renewals are more common for big TV shows on subscription cable or regular cable, like Game of Thrones. However, This is Us is a big exception, and a welcome one.
You can catch new episodes of This is Us on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET. To find out what is hitting the schedule in February, take a look at our premiere guide.
