The showrunner of CBS’s FBI steps down shortly after news breaks that the crime procedural show has been renewed for three future seasons.
FBI has lost its showrunner. The crime procedural, which was co-created by Dick Wolf and Craig Turk, follows various cases taken on by the criminal division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation field office in New York City, boasting an ensemble cast that includes Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Jeremy Sisto, Alana de la Garza, John Boyd, and Katherine Renee Kane. The show, which was recently renewed for seasons 7, 8, and 9 in one major sweep, has also spawned a pair of interconnected spinoffs in Most Wanted and International.
Per Variety, showrunner Rick Eid is stepping down from his position ahead of FBI season 7. Eid, who has been with the show from the beginning, says that he is proud of the work he’s done and “intend[s] to remain involved with the show going forward” in his position as executive producer, but the show having its next three years guaranteed made for a perfect time for him to step back. Instead, he will be focusing on his duties as the showrunner of NBC’s Law & Order, another popular program in a Dick Wolf-created universe. Read Eid’s full quote below:
After six years of running two, or more, shows, and CBS now picking up FBI for three more years, this was the perfect time for me to step back and focus my efforts on running Law & Order and developing new projects. I’m extremely proud of FBI, and couldn’t be happier for the cast, crew and producers. While I will no longer be the day-to-day showrunner, I intend to remain involved with the show going forward.
Can FBI Function Without Its Original Showrunner?
Procedural Dramas Have Survived Many Showrunner Swaps In The Past
The showrunner exiting during this momentous occasion may seem like it could destabilize the flagship FBI show. However, showrunner turnover isn’t uncommon, especially in long-running procedural dramas. In fact, some of the longest-running shows in the genre have had major showrunner turnover, as Eid’s own Law & Order has had no fewer than six showrunners before he stepped in, and its spinoff Special Victims Unit has had seven, including Eid during season 18. Both shows are still going strong, with the former having run for 23 seasons so far and the latter having run for 25.
Even if FBI has trouble finding its feet after Eid’s exit, there should be ample time for it to get back on track. With three seasons already renewed, the show is relatively safe for the foreseeable future, unless it loses an unexpectedly huge chunk of its viewership in season 7 or undergoes a similarly major catastrophe behind the scenes. For whichever showrunner replaces Eid, just one season should be more than enough time to learn the ropes and right the ship if necessary in time to reach season 9 without putting a potential season 10 in danger.
The show will also continue to have the guidance of Eid and Dick Wolf as executive producers, so there seems very little risk of it running off course. One other buffer that secures its future is the fact that it’s the flagship program in the three-show franchise. If ratings are suffering, an FBI crossover with characters from one or both of the spinoffs should help boost viewership whenever it is needed.