In American network television scheduling, a mid-season replacement is a television show that premieres in the second half of the traditional television season, usually between December and May. Mid-season replacements usually take place after a show that was in the fall schedule was canceled or put on hiatus, outside factors such as an actor's family emergency or personal illness led to a delay in the program's debut, a program was deliberately scheduled for mid-season (for example, shows NBC airs on Sunday nights after the NFL season ends, as it only takes up the first half of the television season), or a program had a shortened season for some other reason which resulted in a time slot that needed filling. A few shows in American television history have been perennial mid-season replacements. For example, American Idol aired from January to May each year from its second season onward, to great ratings success. CBS put reruns of the first season of Land of the Lost (1974) on its Saturday morning schedule in June 1985 (running to the end of December) and June 1987 (running until the new season began in September).Alex McNeil. Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. 4th Edition. New York: Penguin, 1996, 462.
An older and related concept is the summer replacement, which debuts between May and August, when a network's fall schedule is on hiatus. Summer replacements tend to be lower-profile shows with either low budgets or minimal prospects for renewal.
Notable mid-season replacement shows Series Original network Original air date Series replaced 24: Live Another DayFox May 5, 2014 The Following 3rd Rock from the SunNBC January 9, 1996NewsRadio 9-1-1FOX January 3, 2018Star A.P. BioNBC February 1, 2018 The Good Place AirwolfCBS January 22, 1984 Hour #1 of The CBS Saturday Night Movies Alcatraz Fox January 16, 2012 Terra Nova Alex, Inc. ABC March 28, 2018 Speechless AllegianceNBC February 5, 2015 Parenthood All in the FamilyCBS January 12, 1971 To Rome with Love American Dad!Fox February 6, 2005 The Sketch Show Andy Richter Controls the UniverseFox March 19, 2002 That '70s Show Are You There, Chelsea?NBC January 11, 2012 Free AgentsAwakeNBC March 1, 2012 The FirmB.A.D. CatsABCJanuary 4, 1980Fantasy Island Barnaby JonesCBS January 28, 1973Mannix Barney MillerABC January 23, 1975The Odd Couple BatmanABC January 12, 1966 The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietBarettaABCJanuary 17, 1975Kung Fu The Bionic WomanABC January 14, 1976 When Things Were Rotten The Black DonnellysNBC February 26, 2007 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Blind JusticeABC March 8, 2005 NYPD Blue BlossomNBC January 3, 1991 Ferris Bueller Bob's BurgersFox January 9, 2011 The Cleveland Show Body of ProofABC March 29, 2011 Detroit 1-8-7Boston CommonNBCMarch 21, 1996The Single Guy The Book of DanielNBC January 6, 2006Inconceivable Breaking InFox April 6, 2011 American Idol Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 relaunch on NBCNBCJanuary 10, 2019I Feel Bad Buffy the Vampire SlayerThe WB March 10, 1997 SavannahCHAOSCBSApril 1, 2011The Defenders The CapeNBC January 9, 2011 The Event CastleABC March 9, 2009 True Beauty The CatchABC March 24, 2016 How to Get Away with Murder ChampionsNBC March 8, 2018 Great News The Chicago CodeFox February 7, 2011 Lie to MeCity of AngelsCBSJanuary 16, 2000Cosby CoachABC February 28, 1989The Wonder Years ConvictionNBC March 3, 2006 The Book of Daniel Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorCBS February 16, 2011 Blue Bloods CutsUPN February 14, 2005 Second Time AroundD.C.The WBApril 2, 2000FelicityDaddioNBCMarch 23, 2000Jesse DaktariCBS January 11, 1966Rawhide DallasCBS April 2, 1978The Carol Burnett Show Dawson's CreekThe WB January 20, 1998 Syndicated programming DeceptionNBC January 7, 2013 Revolution Dr. Quinn Medicine WomanCBS January 1, 1993Brooklyn Bridge DollhouseFox February 13, 2009 Don't Forget the Lyrics! Do No HarmNBC January 31, 2013 Rock Center with Brian Williams Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23ABC April 11, 2012 Happy Endings DynastyABC January 12, 1981Monday Night Football Eight Is EnoughABC March 15, 1977Rich Man, Poor Man: Book II EllenABC March 29, 1994Grace Under Fire Emergency!NBC January 15, 1972 The Good Life EmpireFox January 7, 2015 Red Band Society Falcon CrestCBS December 4, 1981The Incredible HulkFamCBSJanuary 10, 2019Murphy Brown Family GuyFox January 31, 1999 The X-Files Fangbone!Disney XD July 5, 2016 Counterfeit Cat Fashion StarNBC March 13, 2012 Parenthood The FirmNBC January 8, 2012 Prime Suspect The FollowingFox January 21, 2013 The Mob DoctorFor the PeopleCBSJanuary 31, 1965My Living DollFor LifeABCFebruary 11, 2020Emergence For Your LoveNBC March 17, 1998NewsRadio Fresh Off the BoatABC February 4, 2015 Selfie Friends with BenefitsNBC August 5, 2011FuturamaFOXMarch 28, 1999That '70s ShowGetting ByABCMarch 5, 1993Dinosaurs George LopezABC March 27, 2002 According to JimGood AdviceCBSApril 2, 1993BobGrapevine (2000 revival)CBSFebruary 28, 2000Ladies ManGreat NewsNBC April 25, 2017Trial & Error Grey's AnatomyABC March 27, 2005 Boston Legal Grounded for LifeFox January 10, 2001Normal, Ohio Happy DaysABC January 15, 1974 Temperatures Rising HannibalNBC April 4, 2013 Do No Harm Happy EndingsABC April 13, 2011 Mr. Sunshine Harry's LawNBC January 17, 2011 Chase High IncidentABC March 4, 1996Monday Night Football Hill Street BluesNBC January 15, 1981NBC Saturday Night at the MoviesHomicide: Life on the StreetNBCJanuary 31, 1993Seinfeld Human TargetFox January 17, 2010 So You Think You Can Dance Imaginary MaryABC March 29, 2017 The Real O'Neals The Incredible HulkCBS March 10, 1978 The CBS Friday Night Movies In Case of EmergencyABC January 3, 2007 It Takes a ThiefABC January 9, 1968 In the Heat of the NightNBC March 6, 1988 J.J. Starbuck The JeffersonsCBS January 18, 1975Friends and Lovers JAG Season 2 relaunch on CBSCBS January 17, 1997Mr. & Mrs. Smith Just Shoot Me!NBC March 4, 1997Men Behaving Badly Kate & AllieCBS March 19, 1984AfterMASHKate BrasherCBSFebruary 24, 2001Walker, Texas Ranger King of the HillFox January 12, 1997 Ned and Stacey Knots LandingCBS December 27, 1979Hawaii Five-O LA to VegasFox January 2, 2018 Brooklyn Nine-NineLateLineNBCMarch 17, 1998Just Shoot Me! Laverne & ShirleyABC January 27, 1976Welcome Back, Kotter Law & Order: Trial by JuryNBC March 3, 2005 Medical Investigation Living BiblicallyCBS February 26, 2018 9JKL Mad LoveCBS February 14, 2011 Rules of Engagement Malcolm in the MiddleFox January 9, 2000 Futurama Making HistoryFox March 5, 2017 Son of ZornMan from InterpolNBCJanuary 30, 1960It Could Be YouMarried... with ChildrenFox April 5, 1987Syndicated programming MediumNBC January 3, 2005 LAX The MickFox January 1, 2017 Brooklyn Nine-NineThe MillionaireCBS January 19, 1955Strike It Rich MoeshaUPN January 23, 1996Deadly Games Miss GuidedABC March 18, 2008 MoonlightingABC March 3, 1985 Mr. BelvedereABC March 15, 1985 Webster Mr. SunshineABC February 9, 2011 Cougar Town My Wife and KidsABC March 28, 2001Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Nanny and the ProfessorABC January 21, 1970The Flying Nun Napoleon DynamiteFox January 15, 2012 Allen Gregory Nash BridgesCBS March 29, 1996 American Gothic The Nick Cannon ShowNickelodeon January 12, 2002 The Brothers Garcia Night CourtNBC January 4, 1984 Family Ties The Norm ShowABC March 24, 1999 The Secret Lives of Men Notes from the UnderbellyABC April 12, 2007George Lopez Numb3rsCBS January 23, 2005 Dr. Vegas NYC 22CBS April 15, 2012 CSI: Miami The Odd CoupleCBS February 19, 2015 Two and a Half Men ParenthoodNBC March 2, 2010The Jay Leno Show Parks and RecreationParks and Recreation was a mid-season replacement in its first, third, and seventh seasons. It was introduced as a mid-season replacement in the third season, to accommodate Amy Poehler's pregnancy, which was not written into the show. It was used as a mid-season replacement in its season finale to meet contractual obligations. NBC April 9, 2009 Kath & Kim Perfect CouplesNBC December 20, 2010 Perfect StrangersABC March 25, 1986Growing PainsThe PJsFOXJanuary 10, 1999Costello Quantum LeapNBC March 26, 1989 RainesNBC March 15, 2007 ER Ready for LoveNBC April 9, 2013 Smash The Real O'NealsABC March 2, 2016 The Muppets Red WidowABC March 3, 2013 666 Park Avenue RobCBS January 12, 2012 Rules of Engagement Roseanne (revival)ABC March 27, 2018 Fresh Off the Boat Rules of EngagementCBS February 5, 2007 The New Adventures of Old Christine Sanford and Son NBC January 14, 1972The D.A. Schoolhouse Rock! ABC January 15, 1973 commercialsScrubs Season 8 relaunch on ABCABCJanuary 6, 2009According to Jim Social StudiesUPN March 18, 1997Homeboys in Outer SpaceSome of My Best FriendsCBSFebruary 28, 2001Welcome to New YorkSpongeBob SquarePantsNickelodeonMay 1, 1999First hour of Nick-at-Nite Station 19ABCMarch 22, 2018How to Get Away with Murder Superior DonutsCBSFebruary 2, 2017 The Odd Couple Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesFox January 13, 2008 K-Ville That '80s ShowFox January 23, 2002 Malcolm in the Middle The Bob Cummings ShowNBC January 2, 1955The Hunter The BridgeCTV March 5, 2010 The Carrie DiariesThe CW January 14, 2013 90210 The Deep EndABC January 21, 2010 FlashForwardThe Enemy WithinNBCFebruary 25, 2019Manifest The FinderFox January 12, 2012 Bones The Knights of ProsperityABC January 3, 2007 The Lone GunmenFox March 4, 2001FreakyLinks The New Adventures of Old ChristineCBS March 13, 2006 Courting AlexThe OblongsThe WBApril 1, 2001For Your Love The OfficeNBC March 24, 2005 CommittedThe OthersNBCFebruary 5, 2000Freaks and Geeks The PracticeABC March 4, 1997 NYPD Blue The Return of Jezebel JamesFox March 14, 2008 The RiverABC February 7, 2012 Wife SwapThree SistersNBCJanuary 9, 2001DAGThunder AlleyABCMarch 9, 1994The CriticTitusFoxMarch 20, 2000Time of Your Life ScandalABC April 5, 2012 Private PracticeSchooledABCJanuary 9, 2019American Housewife Show Me the MoneyABC November 15, 2006 The SimpsonsFox December 17, 1989 Totally Hidden Video Sister, SisterABC April 1, 1994 The Six Million Dollar ManABC January 18, 1974Room 222 SmashNBC February 6, 2012Rock Center with Brian Williams So WeirdDisney January 18, 1999 Southland NBC April 9, 2009 ER Space Cases Nickelodeon March 2, 1996 All That Splitting Up TogetherABC March 27, 2018 The Mayor StackedFox April 13, 2005 Quintuplets Station ZeroMTV March 8, 1999Twenty-One (2000 revival)NBCJanuary 9, 2000Third WatchTwin PeaksABCApril 8, 1990The Young RidersThe OutsidersFoxMarch 25, 1990Booker The UnitCBS March 7, 2006 Love Monkey The UnusualsABC April 8, 2009 Life on MarsThe VillageNBCMarch 19, 2019New Amsterdam The Wonder YearsABC January 31, 1988Growing Pains ThreeThe WB February 2, 1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Three's CompanyABC March 15, 1977The Tony Randall Show Traffic LightFoxFebruary 8, 2011 Raising Hope, Running WildeTrial & ErrorNBCMarch 14, 2017This Is Us Unhappily Ever AfterThe WB January 11, 1995 Syndicated programming Walker, Texas RangerCBS April 21, 1993The Hat Squad Wanda at LargeFox March 26, 2003 Cedric the Entertainer PresentsWatching EllieNBCFebruary 26, 2002Three Sisters What About BrianABC April 16, 2006Miracle Workers Work ItABC January 3, 2012 Man UpZoe, Duncan, Jack and JaneThe WBJanuary 17, 1999Unhappily Ever After Zero HourABC February 14, 2013 Last Resort
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