Why Did NBC Cancel ‘The Night Shift’ After 4 Seasons?

NBC has decided to cancel “The Night Shift” after only four seasons.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the ratings for the medical drama suffered a huge drop in recent seasons. During its Season 4 finale in August, “The Night Shift” only received a total of 5.6 million viewers and a 1.0 rating among audiences 18 to 49 years old. These figures were down 17 percent and 29 percent respectively from its Season 3 average.

Following the cancelation, NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke released a statement thanking everyone behind the series. “We want to thank our amazing creators and executive producers, Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, for their dedication and stellar work; a cast and crew that were second to none; and the city of Albuquerque, N.M., which graciously opened its arms to us,” she said.

Salke continued her statement by acknowledging how the show gave audiences an insight into the works and lives of “heroic doctors, nurses and all-star medical workers who never hesitated to give their blood, sweat and time to help those most in need.”

In August, Deadline asked executive producer Sachs if there’s a possibility “The Night Shift” will be renewed for Season 5. “We have a lot of stories to tell,” he said at that time. However, the publication also reported that the renewal of the series for another seasons was not imminent.

One of the most notable things about the series was that it was a huge advocate for veterans’ rights. In fact, some of the actors that starred in the show and writers who have penned scripts and concepts for the series served in Afghanistan or Iraq. But executive producer Judah reminded everyone that “they’re not all super men and women.” “They’re regular people,” he said.

“The Night Shift” military advisor Toby Montoya, for example, was tapped as an extra in one episode of the series. He served in Afghanistan and Iraq tours. He also returned to duty after 9/11. Montoya, who had a heavy hand with the flashback sequences in the series, was dubbed as an expert by Judah.

“There’s a humility in the people that attract us to these stories of those who served,” he said.