John Oliver Urges ABC to Keep Doctor Odyssey, Mocks ‘Premise-Defying’ Season 8 Renewal for The Rookie

During Sunday’s installment of Last Week Tonight, the late-night host railed against the aforementioned broadcast network for dragging its feet on a Season 2 renewal for Ryan Murphy’s seafaring sudser, which stars Joshua Jackson as [checks notes] “Doctor Hot Boat.”

“I actually agree [with President Donald Trump] that ABC should be embarrassed — not for that entirely legitimate question [about accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar], but for the fact that, as of this taping, they still haven’t renewed Doctor Odyssey for Season 2,” Oliver pointed out. “What the f–k are you doing, ABC? It’s sexy ER on a boat! It’s The Pitt with sharks! It’s got — and I’m not even going to try and beat their tagline on this — ‘big deck energy.’”

After showing his studio audience a clip from the Doctor Odyssey pilot, wherein the series’ central throuple rush to the room of a cruiser with a broken penis, Oliver asked, “How is ABC renewing shows called The Rookie and Will Trent — whose premise is apparently just, ‘despite being dyslexic, he’s become a Special Agent in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’ — but they haven’t renewed the only show brave enough to answer the question, ‘What if sick, but boat?’

“I shouldn’t complain about the other shows,” Oliver continued, as he attempted to keep his composure. “I shouldn’t care that a show called and about a rookie is returning for its premise-defying eighth season, and I don’t begrudge any audience members for sticking around to find out if their favorite characters will or won’t Trent. All I’m saying is, ABC’s The View has been on since 1997, and Doctor Hot Boat is still in limbo.

“You’re a disgrace, ABC!” the HBO comedian exclaimed. “Your network is a disaster!”

Season 1 of Doctor Odyssey has been averaging 4.8 million total viewers (with delayed playback), right on par with what Grey’s Anatomy did in the Thursday hammock spot last year, and ranking No. 5 out of the 7 dramas ABC has aired this TV season. In the coveted 18-49 demo, it does not rank amongst broadcast TV’s Top 20 shows.

Ahead of the series’ freshman finale, TVLine asked Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich where things stand with the network’s renewal/cancellation decision, and when fans might expect one. As seen with the unveiling of ABC’s fall schedule, “Doctor Odyssey is not on our schedule currently,” he answered. “We’re in talks with [series creator] Ryan [Murphy], and we really look to him about what the next chapter might be.” As of press time, a decision still has not been made.