Odds are ‘great’ that ‘Chicago Fire,’ ‘Chicago P.D.’ will be renewed

PASADENA, Calif. — It may be premature to pop the champagne at Molly’s, but it’s not too early to put the bottle on ice: Odds are “great” that “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.” are coming back next season, NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt said.

“We’re thrilled with both of them,” Greenblatt said about the Dick Wolf-produced first-responder dramas at the TV critics’ press tour Friday.

“Chicago Fire” and its cop-related spinoff have proven to be strong performers for the Peacock Network, often dominating their respective Tuesday and Wednesday time slots among the advertiser-coveted adult demo of 18-to-49-year olds.

“Fire” averages 10.4 million total viewers (2.8 rating), while “P.D.” pulls down 9.7 million (2.5 rating). “Fire” rates as NBC’s No. 2 scripted series, trailing only “The Blacklist.”

“Chicago Fire” debuted in the fall of 2012 and currently is in its third season. Jesse Spencer and Taylor Kinney anchor a large ensemble cast that includes Monica Raymund, Charlie Barnett, Eamonn Walker, Naperville native David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Yuri Sardarov, Joe Minoso and Kara Killmer as firefighters and paramedics in Firehouse 51.

“Chicago P.D.,” now midway through its sophomore run, debuted as a midseason drama in January of 2014. It stemmed from a couple of characters — Chicago Police Detectives Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) and Antonio Dawson (Jon Seda) — who were introduced in the first season of fire.

Voight heads up an Intelligence Unit at District 21 whose universe includes law enforcers played by Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer, Patrick John Flueger, Marina Squerciati, Elias Koteas, Brian Geraghty, Harvey native LaRoyce Hawkins and veteran Chicago stage actress Amy Morton.

Filmed throughout the Chicago area and on soundstages at Cinespace Chicago in North Lawndale, both series ranks as the biggest players in the city’s booming TV production industry, which also includes Fox’s freshman hit drama, “Empire,” and USA Network’s comedy, “Sirens,” launching its second season Jan. 27.

Expect NBC to make an official renewal announcement in the coming weeks…

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