John Oliver Praises The Rookie’s Bold Eighth Season Renewal

Summary

  • The Rookie season 8 will premiere in January 2026, much to the excitement of fans.
  • John Oliver joked about the premise of The Rookie and other ABC shows on Last Week Tonight.
  • Despite Nolan no longer being a rookie, fans eagerly await the next season and enjoy Fillion’s performance.

The TV series titled “The Rookie” was recently renewed for its eighth season, and this news was discussed by John Oliver in a recent episode of his show “Last Week Tonight.” Interestingly, he also pointed out an aspect of the show that many fans may have already pondered over.

Fans eagerly anticipate joining Nolan and his entertaining circle in ABC’s autumn 2025 lineup, but they’ll have to wait a bit longer. The seventh season debuted in January 2025, and now it’s confirmed that The Rookie season 8 will air in January 2026. Until then, fans can tune in to hear what Oliver had to say about the hit procedural on the May 18th, 2025 episode of Last Week Tonight.

After The Rookie Season 8’s Renewal, John Oliver Made A Memorable Comment About The Premise

As reported by TV Line, John Oliver discussed the ABC shows that have been given another season, such as The Rookie and Will Trent. He expressed admiration for Doctor Odyssey, Ryan Murphy’s television drama that debuted in September 2024 but has yet to secure a renewal for a second season. Oliver commented on this by saying:

I needn’t grumble over other shows. I shouldn’t feel the least bit bothered that a series titled ‘The Rookie,’ which has defied expectations by returning for its eighth season, doesn’t faze me. Nor do I envy those who continue to watch in anticipation of whether their beloved characters will live or perish, namely Trent.

In his remarks, Oliver pointed out that the fundamental concept of The Rookie, as it initially aired in 2018, has evolved somewhat. Initially, John Nolan was depicted as a middle-aged newcomer to the police force, with the other characters being younger than him. However, now, Nolan is no longer a novice; he’s an accomplished LAPD officer. A significant development is the introduction of rookie Miles Penn (played by Deric Augustine). Other key characters include Seth Ridley (Patrick Keheler), who recently reappeared, Nolan’s wife Bailey Nune (portrayed by Jenna Dewan), officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez), and sergeants Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter).

In addition, Oliver playfully mentioned “Will Trent,” another ABC drama that airs on Tuesday evenings as well. This series revolves around the main character, who goes by the same name and is portrayed by Ramón Rodríguez. He serves as a special agent at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Both “Will Trent” and “The Rookie” boast impressive ratings and devoted followers, leaving fans hopeful that they would both be renewed for another season.

Absolutely, the initial concept of “The Rookie” is intriguing and keeps viewers hooked. However, it’s unlikely that Nolan could stay a rookie throughout the entire series. The narrative needs to evolve, and time must pass. If his career stagnation was prolonged, it might lead to frustration among viewers.

In the final episode of The Rookie season 7, titled “The Good, The Bad, and the Oscar,” which aired on May 13th, 2025, showrunner Alexi Hawley hinted at some thrilling action sequences. This installment centers around Nolan teaming up with Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) to locate the villainous Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave), who is expected to make a comeback in season 8. Despite no longer being a rookie, Nolan remains an optimistic and shrewd character that fans look forward to watching each week. Although he may not have accomplished what was intended in the season 7 finale, Nolan remains a lovable lead character, and viewers continue to appreciate Fillion’s portrayal. While there are some minor criticisms about the latest episode, fans remain excited for season 8.

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2025-05-19 23:25