On February 14, the Chicago Fire time slot is reserved for S12E1 instead of the new episode. Why isn’t the fifth episode aired and what does it mean for the future?
Instead of Chicago Fire Season 12 Episode, the season premiere is scheduled to reroll on February 14.
Since this season is shortened by still needs to cover its time slots on NBC until May, there will be jump weeks.
Valentine’s Day was a logical choice for a jump week thanks to low viewership on holidays.
Chicago Fire will continue airing as usual after that, with Season 12 Episode 5 scheduled for February 21.
Chicago Fire Season 12 has only been with us for four episodes, and it’s already ceasing to air properly as the upcoming Valentine’s Day slot is reserved for the season premiere reroll instead of the new episode. This seemed alarming to some fans, but we assure you: there’s nothing to worry about, and Chicago Fire season 12 isn’t going anywhere.
Chicago Fire Resorts To Jump Weeks This Season
As you know, Season 12 is a shortened one: it consists of 13 episodes. At the same time, just like any other season, it’s supposed to end in May, meaning there’s a five-month gap that should be covered by these 13 episodes. By airing them every week, it’s impossible to do, and that’s where so-called “jump weeks” come in handy.
By throwing in a few weeks with older episodes, shows can draw out the duration of their shorter seasons, and that’s exactly what Chicago Fire is doing now. For the entirety of Season 12, get ready for jump weeks here and there as the network only has 13 weeks’ worth of new content to cover 20 weeks worth of airing time.
Valentine’s Day Week Is Sacrificed For A Reason
There’s hardly a reliable way to predict jump weeks in advance, but using rerolls on holidays is just common sense on the network’s part. Valentine’s Day spells “low viewership” anyway since many people will be busy celebrating, so airing an older Chicago Fire episode and keeping the new one in the fold is a wise decision.
In case you’re still feeling somewhat anxious about Chicago Fire’s airing schedule, worry not: Season 12 Episode 5 is already set to air on February 21, a week after Valentine’s Day. It seems like the season might continue at the usual pace for a couple more weeks at least, but watch out for national holidays and other low-viewership dates as those will likely call for more jump weeks.
