Despite a sluggish start, NBC’s Chicago Fire has increased in the ratings over the past several weeks. Because of this, late last month, NBC increased the script orders for Dick Wolf’s firefighter drama, and on Thursday, NBC announced the network had given the series a full back 9 episode order. This means fans of the show will get 22 episodes this TV season.
The show, which follows some heroic firefighters in Chicago’s Firehouse 51, is kind of a hero in its own right. When the drama premiered last month, it actually was beaten by ABC’s Nashville, only earning 6.4 million viewers and a 1.9 rating. Over the last few weeks, NBC’s drama has steadily risen in the ranks, eventually nabbing some much-wanted script orders. Now, Chicago Fire is averaging 8 million viewers and a 2.4 in the 18-49 demographic. NBC President Jennifer Salke spoke out today about the network’s confidence in the show.
“We all love this thrilling new drama with its sexy breakout cast. We are excited to see it gaining traction on our schedule…We are incredibly invested in this one and can’t wait to hear about their plans for the rest of the season.”
I like Dick Wolf’s programming, and it's certainly good news that the first season of this particular program seems to be leaning more toward Law and Order: SVU’s timeline than Law and Order: Trial by Jury’s. Still, Chicago Fire has a long way to go before it can count on a Season 2 renewal, much less enjoy the success of 14 seasons. We’ll keep you posted on how this one fares in the coming months.
