‘Doctor Odyssey’ Remains at Dock, Even as ABC Insists It’s Not Canceled

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The medical drama “Doctor Odyssey” will not embark on another season – at least not immediately, and possibly never. However, ABC still insists that the show has not been officially cancelled, despite the actors being close to being released to pursue other opportunities.

The Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken co-created series was the only ABC scripted show whose continuation was uncertain as the 2024-25 season ended. ABC executives have consistently mentioned that they are still considering the show’s fate: Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, told The Hollywood Reporter in May that “We’re still having creative discussions with Ryan, and we’ll talk to him about what the next phase entails.

While discussions were underway, it’s been reported that the sets of “Doctor Odyssey” were being dismantled (according to THR sources), and the cast’s contract options expire on Monday. Typically, such circumstances suggest a show’s termination. However, director and executive producer Paris Barclay hinted at this possibility on social media recently. ABC and 20th Television, the studio responsible for the series and where Murphy works, have maintained that they are still considering the show’s future rather than confirming its cancellation.

Ryan Murphy’s self-named production company is heavily involved with Disney, particularly in projects like ABC’s 911 and its upcoming spinoff 911: Nashville, which will air on Thursdays this fall, much like Doctor Odyssey did last season. Murphy also creates numerous shows for FX and Hulu, and it’s suggested that his busy workload contributed to the uncertainty surrounding Doctor Odyssey.

In simpler terms, the source found that how ‘Doctor Odyssey’ was managed resembled how unscripted shows are typically handled by broadcasters. Unlike scripted network series which follow rigid schedules, unusual events like the revival of ‘Doctor Odyssey’ are rare, much like the upcoming reboot of ‘Fear Factor’ on Fox and the revival of ‘Match Game’ on ABC, where formats can be brought back even years after they were last aired. However, this is quite uncommon for a network scripted series.

Show titled “Doctor Odyssey,” featuring Joshua Jackson as a doctor on a ship, managed to attract a moderate yet not record-breaking number of viewers in its initial season. Over a span of 35 days, it amassed an average viewership of 7.74 million across all platforms. In the rankings for ABC, it fell somewhere in the middle, while on a broader scale that includes streaming shows as well, it placed 64th according to Nielsen’s 35-day ratings.

The show is likewise involved in a legal dispute initiated by crew members, who allege instances of sexual harassment and retribution on the production site.

In the court case, Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland, and Ava Steinbrenner asserted they endured a relentless series of sexual harassment incidents. Their supervisor, Tyler Patton (assistant props master), allegedly made inappropriate sexual comments and unwanted physical contact towards them. Furthermore, they mentioned that they were let go from their positions after speaking up about the alleged misconduct.

In addition to Jackson, “Doctor Odyssey” also boasts stars such as Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson. The initial season attracted a number of well-known guest stars including Shania Twain, John Stamos, and even had a crossover with “911.” This cross-over episode was one of the highest rated episodes for “Doctor Odyssey” during that season.

The medical drama titled “Doctor Odyssey” is jointly produced by 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television. During the first season, it was executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Matt Baitz, and Brad Falchuk, along with Jackson, Johnson, Eric Paquette, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, and Nissa Diederich. Barclay took on the roles of director and executive producer.

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2025-06-30 20:55