‘Chicago Fire’ and ‘Chicago P.D.’ renewed by NBC for next season

This one calls for a celebration at Molly’s: NBC announced Thursday that “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.” have been renewed for next season, making official what had been suspected given the series’ strong performances for the network.

“We’re thrilled with both of them,” NBC Entertainment head Robert Greenblatt said about the Dick Wolf-produced first-responder dramas at the TV critics’ press tour last month in Pasadena, California.

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“Chicago Fire” and its cop-related spinoff have been boons 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.

With ratings that trail only “The Blacklist” among NBC’s scripted series, “Fire” has been averaging 10.1 million total viewers and a 2.8 rating in the key demo.

“P.D.” has been pulling down 9.4 million viewers (up 14 percent from its freshman run) and a 2.3 rating among adults — a 10 percent uptick since last season.

Lt. Matt Casey (Jesse Spencer) and Lt. Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) on “Chicago Fire.”

“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 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 are an integral part of the city’s booming TV production industry, which also includes Fox’s new smash hit “Empire” and USA Network’s comedy “Sirens,” which launched its second season Jan. 27.

NBC also announced it will bring back dramas “The Blacklist” for a third season and “Grimm” for season five. Another re-up went to Wolf’s long-running drama “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” That one, which had a highly rated crossover with “Fire” and “P.D.” earlier this season, is heading into its 17th installment, making it the longest-running drama currently on TV.

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