ABC’s 2027 midseason schedule begins Tuesday, January 5, with new seasons of Will Trent and High Potential. The following night, The Rookie returns for Season 9 and leads into the debut of its spinoff, The Rookie North. ABC has also given High Potential a second date to circle: a special episode will air after Super Bowl LXI on February 14.
The Rookie North and Surviving a Scandal Lead ABC’s New Series
Surviving a Scandal premieres January 5 at 10 p.m. after High Potential. The ABC News Studios series revisits tabloid stories involving figures such as Milli Vanilli and Octomom to look at what happened after the headlines faded.
On January 6, a two-episode Shifting Gears premiere opens Wednesday night at 8 p.m., followed by The Rookie at 9 and The Rookie North at 10. Jay Ellis stars in the spinoff as Alex Holland, a man who joins the Pierce County Police Department after a violent home invasion. His new beat takes him from the coast to rural forest, where help can be a long way off.
ABC’s Thursday dramas resume January 7: 9-1-1 at 8 p.m., 9-1-1: Nashville at 9 and Grey’s Anatomy at 10. Abbott Elementary returns January 13 at 8:31 p.m. The Grey’s Anatomy spinoff is set for the 2027–28 broadcast season.
American Idol Turns 25 and High Potential Follows the Super Bowl
ABC will mark American Idol’s anniversary with a special on February 1, a week before Season 25 premieres on February 8. Shark Tank moves to 10 p.m. that Monday. The live event schedule includes the Grammys on February 7, Super Bowl LXI on February 14 and the Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, on March 14.
ABC 2027 Midseason Schedule: January Through March
Times are ET/PT unless otherwise indicated, per ABC’s schedule announcement. The February 14 episode of High Potential follows Super Bowl coverage; ABC lists it at 10:15 p.m. More dates will be announced.
January 2027
| Date | Time | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, January 5 | 8:00 p.m. | Will Trent — Season 5 premiere |
| Tuesday, January 5 | 9:00 p.m. | High Potential — Season 3 premiere |
| Tuesday, January 5 | 10:00 p.m. | Surviving a Scandal — Series premiere |
| Wednesday, January 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Shifting Gears — Two-episode Season 3 premiere |
| Wednesday, January 6 | 9:00 p.m. | The Rookie — Season 9 premiere |
| Wednesday, January 6 | 10:00 p.m. | The Rookie North — Series premiere |
| Thursday, January 7 | 8:00 p.m. | 9-1-1 — Season 10 midseason return |
| Thursday, January 7 | 9:00 p.m. | 9-1-1: Nashville — Season 2 midseason return |
| Thursday, January 7 | 10:00 p.m. | Grey’s Anatomy — Season 23 midseason return |
| Wednesday, January 13 | 8:31 p.m. | Abbott Elementary — Season 6 midseason return |
| Friday, January 29 | 8:00 p.m. | Celebrity Jeopardy! — Season 5 premiere |
February 2027
| Date | Time | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, February 1 | 8:00 p.m. | American Idol at 25 — Anniversary special (working title) |
| Sunday, February 7 | 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT | The Grammy Awards — Live on ABC; streaming on Disney+ and Hulu |
| Monday, February 8 | 8:00 p.m. | American Idol — Season 25 premiere |
| Monday, February 8 | 10:00 p.m. | Shark Tank — New time slot |
| Sunday, February 14 | 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT | Super Bowl LXI — Live on ABC, ESPN and Disney+ |
| Sunday, February 14 | 10:15 p.m. (listed) | High Potential — Special episode following Super Bowl LXI |
March 2027
| Date | Time | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, March 14 | 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT | The Oscars — Live on ABC and Hulu |
| Sunday, March 21 | 7:00 p.m. | America’s Funniest Home Videos |
| Sunday, March 21 | 8:01 p.m. | The Bachelor — Season 30 premiere |
| Sunday, March 21 | 10:01 p.m. | What Would You Do? — Season 18 premiere |
Where to Watch ABC’s Midseason Lineup
ABC’s original programming streams the next day on Hulu. The Grammys stream live on Disney+ and Hulu, Super Bowl LXI airs on ABC and ESPN and streams on Disney+, and the Oscars air live on ABC and Hulu. Find more premiere and episode coverage in the Seat42F TV Series Hub.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
