As the 2024–2025 TV season got to a start, FOX was proud of Rescue: Hi-Surf. It gave the top post-Super Bowl spot to the series, suggesting that it was going to be one to watch. Things have changed, but what does this mean for the future of the series?
When FOX released its January 2025 premiere dates, there was a notable change. Rescue: Hi-Surf would no longer get the post-Super Bowl timeslot.
This is a huge spot. It’s usually reserved for new shows, and we’ve seen some excellent results for a lot of big hitters. Just look at the success of the CBS shows The Equalizer and Tracker after their post-Super Bowl slots. Moving a show out of that timeslot doesn’t bode well for its future.
Will Rescue: Hi-Surf be canceled after one season?
The change does suggest that the future isn’t bright for this Hawaii-based rescue drama. The initial thoughts are that Rescue: Hi-Surf will be canceled.
And yet, the ratings from TV Series Finale suggest something different. The show is the top-rated drama on the network right now. The only shows above it are the animated comedies on Sundays. While these figures are only the basic linear ratings, they are a strong look at whether a show will be canceled or not.
FOX is already losing 911: Lone Star, with season 5 confirmed as the final season. Accused and Murder in a Small Town haven’t performed all that strongly, sitting at the bottom of the list. The idea of FOX canceling all dramas from fall 2024 doesn’t make a lot of sense, so that would suggest Rescue: Hi-Surf should be renewed.
It’s possible that FOX is looking at changing up the schedule due to where it wants the Rescue: Hi-Surf season finale to air. This could have affected the initial plan of airing an episode after the Super Bowl. It’s also possible that FOX is simply waiting to see how the winter and then the spring premieres work out, while also taking a look at pilot season.
Rescue: Hi-Surf is potentially an expensive show to film due to its location. However, it doesn’t make sense for a network to lose its strongest fall drama. So I am on the fence about what the change to the post-Super Bowl timeslot is all about.
Rescue: Hi-Surf will return on Monday, Jan. 20 at 9/8c on FOX. Catch up on the series on Hulu.
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