NBC Pulls the Plug on Brilliant Minds and Stumble Amid a Sweeping Lineup Overhaul

NBC swings the axe on its 2026–27 scripted slate, while Brilliant Minds will air its final six Season 2 episodes this summer.

If you were crossing your fingers for one last chance at 'Brilliant Minds' or hoping 'Stumble' might pull a second-season miracle, well, NBC just made things official—and, frankly, pretty final. In what feels like a predictable but still frustrating move, they've pulled the plug on both shows ahead of their big dog-and-pony upfront presentations for advertisers. Let's break down what happened, who's affected, and what comes next.

NBC Clears Out Two Underperformers

Just as networks are brushing up their lineups for the 2026-27 TV season, NBC has decided it's time to cut loose some deadweight—at least from a ratings perspective. So, here it is:

• 'Brilliant Minds': Cancelled after two seasons.
• 'Stumble': Axed after just one.

Neither decision is especially shocking if you've been even half-watching the ratings, since both shows have been stuck near the bottom of NBC's scripted slate this year. Sometimes even a recognizable star and a decent premise can't rescue a show from the raw numbers.

What Happens to 'Brilliant Minds'?

There is a small silver lining for fans of 'Brilliant Minds.' NBC didn't just toss it in the trash mid-story. The Zachary Quinto-fronted medical drama will get a (somewhat awkward) send-off, with its last six episodes dropping this summer. The episodes were actually finished a while ago but then yanked from the schedule earlier in the year—one of those classic tactics when a network's not sure what to do with a show on the bubble.

So, starting May 27, those remaining six episodes will air, letting viewers see things wrap up—just don't expect the red carpet. The series actually earned an 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Zachary Quinto got plenty of applause for his turn as Dr. Oliver Wolf. That makes the cancellation sting just a little more—guess that's network TV for you.

NBC will still air the final six episodes of 'Brilliant Minds' through the summer, so at least there’s a proper ending in sight, just not the one fans were hoping for.

'Stumble' Ends With a Whimper

'Stumble,' which took the mockumentary route to tell stories about a junior college cheer squad and starred Jenn Lyon, doesn’t get even that much closure. Canceled after only one season, all episodes have already aired, and that’s the end of the line. No un-aired stockpile, no cliffhanger resolution.

Why Now?

If you're wondering, the timing is pure business. Networks make these calls right around 'upfronts'—that's when they try to convince advertisers to buy air time for the next season. So, every show on the bubble either gets renewed, burned off, or dumped outright. Axing their lowest-rated scripted titles before the big sales pitch is par for the course.

The Bigger Picture

The truth is, network TV is a tough place to keep a scripted show alive right now. Having a good idea or even a star with legit chops isn’t always enough if you can’t pull in that live audience week after week. That’s basically the story for both cancellations—a rough reminder that critical praise (and even recognition) sometimes takes a back seat to cold, hard viewership numbers. For 'Brilliant Minds' fans there’s at least some closure coming; for 'Stumble,' the door's just closed for good.