NBC’s One Chicago franchise—Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med—secured renewals for the 2025-26 season, announced on May 6, 2025, ensuring Chicago Fire’s 14th season, Chicago P.D.’s 13th, and Chicago Med’s 11th. This decision reaffirms the franchise’s dominance, reaching nearly 46 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, with viewership up significantly year-over-year. However, the renewals come with cost-trimming measures, including shorter seasons and some cast members forgoing raises, reflecting broadcast TV’s budget-conscious landscape. Amid this, Chicago P.D.’s Patrick Flueger and Marina Squerciati, as Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess, captivate fans with their Season 12 wedding, a highlight that underscores the franchise’s emotional pull. Posts on X buzz with excitement, proving One Chicago’s staying power.
The One Chicago franchise, produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, has anchored NBC’s Wednesday nights since Chicago Fire debuted in 2012. Chicago P.D. followed in 2014, and Chicago Med in 2015, forming a powerhouse block that ranks among primetime’s top dramas. Chicago Fire averages 12.6 million viewers (+86%), Chicago P.D. 12 million (+114%), and Chicago Med 10.5 million (+57%), with Peacock streaming boosting numbers. The January 29, 2025, crossover “In the Trenches” marked a season high, showcasing the franchise’s interconnected storytelling. NBC’s renewal, announced via a Chicago Fire cast video on social media, was expected, but budget talks introduced trims: shorter episode orders and no 5% raises for some actors, a standard practice for aging shows.
Chicago P.D.’s Season 12, airing through May 2025, centers on Flueger and Squerciati’s Burzek, whose wedding in the finale is a fan milestone. Ruzek and Burgess, engaged for the third time in Season 11, have endured breakups, a miscarriage, and raising adopted daughter Makayla. Episode 20 (“Black Ice”), aired in early May, puts Ruzek in peril during a sex trafficking case, with Flueger’s intense performance and Squerciati’s anguished Burgess gripping viewers. X posts capture the tension: “Burzek’s wedding can’t come soon enough, but Ruzek better survive!” Squerciati’s Instagram, showing her in a lacy, long-sleeve gown from Mira Couture, fuels anticipation, while Flueger’s playful posts with co-star Ramona Edith Williams (Makayla) charm fans.
The renewals face a changing TV landscape. NBC’s addition of 180 hours of NBA programming in 2025-26 pressures scripted slots, and Wolf’s CBS shows (FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International) were canceled, raising stakes for One Chicago. Yet, the franchise’s ratings and Peacock success—topping the streamer’s charts—secure its place. Fans can stream on grok.com, x.com, or Grok iOS/Android apps, with free access (limited quotas) or SuperGrok for more. The iOS voice mode enhances the experience. X hashtags like #OneChicago and #ChicagoPD thrive, with fans praising Burzek and crossovers.
