Two Well-Reviewed Shows Cancelled
According to Deadline, NBC officially cancelled the medical drama Brilliant Minds. In a move that surprised some critics and viewers, the network also axed the comedy Stumble after just one season. AL.com underscored the surprise by noting the show’s “strong critical reception.”
What’s Still Standing
Other NBC series remained safe for now. Deadline reported that Law & Order, The Hunting Party, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins continued, though the first two were described as “on the bubble”—meaning their long-term futures are uncertain.
More Axes Fall Across TV
NBC’s latest cancellations are part of a larger 2026 trend. People magazine noted that “Over a dozen network and cable shows have been cut since January 2026.” Other networks like CBS, Fox, and AMC have also been trimming their lineups, making it a challenging year for TV lovers and executives alike.
Inside the Decisions: Ratings Trump Reviews
For Brilliant Minds, the writing was on the wall due to ratings. Deadline called it NBC’s “lowest rated drama series on linear with the steepest double-digit year-to-year declines despite having the same post-Voice Monday time slot as last season.” People reported that six unaired episodes of the show remain shelved.
Stumble also failed to gain traction in the ratings. Its Friday night slot behind Happy’s Place made for a rough debut, according to Deadline. Despite being a mockumentary that received positive attention from critics, NBC cancelled it after a single season. People described its premise: “Created by siblings Liz and Jeff Astrof, the show followed a recently fired cheerleading coach as she tried to win her 15th college championship at a new school.”
Critical Acclaim Couldn't Save Them
Both shows had plenty of love from critics. Brilliant Minds earned a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was described as follows: “Dr. Oliver Wolf is an eccentric but incredibly gifted neurologist who suffers from a rare condition that gives him a unique perspective on care, fueling his mission to change the way the world sees his patients.” The show follows Wolf as he brings his innovative style to Bronx General, mentoring a group of young interns to solve complex psychological cases while battling his own social challenges.
Stumble also boasted strong Rotten Tomatoes ratings. The show followed Courteney Potter, a coach looking for a comeback after being fired one championship short of becoming the winningest college cheer coach ever. She takes a new job at a small Southern junior college, where she tries to whip a lovable group of misfits into a competitive cheer crew: “But getting this collection of underdogs to the nationals in the highly competitive world of junior college cheer might just be Courteney’s toughest job yet,” according to the show’s description.
So, while Brilliant Minds and Stumble won over critics, the tough realities of television proved too much. In 2026, critical praise proved no guarantee of survival on network TV.
