The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1, "Czech Mate" -- NATHAN FILLION, JENNA DEWAN, MEKIA COX What to Watch on TV This Week: The Rookie, One Chicago, The Pitt, and More!

What to Watch on TV This Week: The Rookie, One Chicago, The Pitt, and More!

9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, Abbott Elementary, Brilliant Minds, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Doc, Grey's Anatomy, High Potential, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Shifting Gears, St. Denis Medical, The Hunting Party, The Pitt, The Rookie, What to Watch on TV, Will Trent

For the week of January 4th, TV rings in 2026 with a plethora of network TV returns. Since there are so many, let’s break down some highlights from both NBC and ABC.

On NBC we have important dramas like One Chicago, Law & OrderLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Brilliant Minds. Alongside this are the latest workplace comedies: St. Denis Medical and Happy’s Place.

With ABC we’ve got quite the lineup of crowd pleasers such as 9-1-19-1-1: Nashville, Grey’s AnatomyAbbott Elementary, The Rookie, and High Potential.

Not to mention the hit drama that took 2025 by storm, The Pitt, returns for what is teased as being a very intense Season 2.

Find our full list of suggestions for What to Watch on TV this week below. Mark your calendars accordingly!

When Calls the Heart Season 13 Episode 1

What to Watch on TV This Week:

When Calls the Heart Season 13 Premiere – Sunday, January 4th

When Calls the Heart Season 13 Episode 1, “Up in the Air,” premieres Sunday, January 4th at 9/8c on Hallmark Channel.

Episode Description: Hope Valley prepares for the opening of Goldie National Park; Elizabeth, Nathan, Allie and Little Jack return home, but is it for just the weekend?

St. Denis Medical Season 2.5 Premiere – Monday, January 5th

St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 9, “You’re In His Bubble Space,” airs Monday, January 5th at 8/7c on NBC.

Episode Description: Ron and Matt try to convince a child to get his shot; Alex helps Joyce with wedding planning; Bruce and Serena butt heads over Matt.

Brilliant Minds Season 2.5 Premiere – Monday, January 5th

Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 11, “10 Minutes,” airs Monday, January 5th at 10/9c on NBC.

Episode Description: Dr. Wolf and the team come together as one of their own fights for their life.

Brilliant Minds Season 2 Episode 11, "10 Minutes," - (l-r) Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Allison Hossack as Shauna, Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus, Henry Falk as Liam Marcus
BRILLIANT MINDS — “10 Minutes ” Episode 211 — Pictured: (l-r) Tamberla Perry as Dr. Carol Pierce, Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf, Allison Hossack as Shauna, Alex MacNicoll as Dr. Van Markus, Henry Falk as Liam Marcus — (Photo by: Pief Weyman/NBC)
Will Trent Season 4 Premiere – Tuesday, January 6th

Will Trent Season 4 Episode 1, “…Speaking of Sharks,” premieres Tuesday, January 6th at 8/7c on ABC.

Episode Description: Five months after the attack on the GBI, a figure from Will’s past escapes prison, forcing him to defy orders and launch a search that rips open old wounds and threatens to destroy everything he has fought to rebuild.

Doc Season 2.5 Premiere – Tuesday, January 6th

Doc Season 2 Episode 10, “Chief,” airs Tuesday, January 6th at 9/8c on FOX.

Episode Description: With the search underway to find out the truth about Amy’s hacked accounts, she and Sonya butt heads while treating a homeless patient; Jake and TJ help a distraught mother figure out why her daughter is in a coma.

High Potential 2.5 Premiere – Tuesday, January 6th

High Potential Season 2 Episode 8, “The One That Got Away: Part Two,” airs Tuesday, January 6th at 9/8c on ABC.

Episode Description: Morgan’s suspicions of Rhys grow deeper as the case of the missing Rembrandt artwork continues; Roman’s missing backpack causes problems for all involved.

The Rookie Season 8 Premiere – Tuesday, January 6th

The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1, “Czech Mate,” premieres Tuesday, January 6th at 10/9c on ABC.

Episode Description: The LAPD, FBI and Interpol work with Monica Stevens in Prague to target high-value terrorists operating within and outside the United States.

The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1, "Czech Mate" -- NATHAN FILLION, JENNA DEWAN, MEKIA COX
THE ROOKIE – “Czech Mate” – (Disney/Mike Taing) NATHAN FILLION, JENNA DEWAN, MEKIA COX
Shifting Gears Season 2.5 Premiere – Wednesday, January 7th

Shifting Gears Season 2 Episode 9, “Dog,” airs Wednesday, January 7th at 8/7c on ABC.

Episode Description: When Matt refuses to let Carter bring a dog into “his” house, Riley starts to wonder if it’s time for her and the kids to find their own place; Gabe seeks Riley’s advice amid second thoughts about moving in with Amelie.

Abbott Elementary Season 5.5 Premiere – Wednesday, January 7th

Abbott Elementary Season 5 Episode 9, “Mall,” airs Wednesday, January 7th at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

Episode Description: Abbott Elementary returns from winter break at their new temporary school: an abandoned mall; the teachers deal with unique challenges that come with teaching in the new location.

Chicago Med Season 11.5 Premiere – Wednesday, January 7th

Chicago Med Season 11 Episode 8, “Triple Threat,” airs Wednesday, January 7th at 8/7c on NBC.

Episode Description: The doctors deal with the professional and personal fallout from the choices made during a city-wide power outage.

Chicago Fire Season 14.5 Premiere – Wednesday, January 7th

Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 8, “A Man Possessed,” airs Wednesday, January 7th at 9/8c on NBC.

Episode Description: When an act of arson harms someone close to the Firehouse 51 family, Severide must track down the perpetrator; impending budget cuts push Mouch and Pascal to get creative.

Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 7
CHICAGO FIRE — “Pierce The Vein” Episode 1407 — Pictured: Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide — (Photo by: Peter Gordon/NBC)
Chicago P.D. Season 13.5 Premiere – Wednesday, January 7th

Chicago P.D. Season 13 Episode 8, “Born Screaming,” airs Wednesday, January 7th at 10/9c on NBC.

Episode Description: Voight and the team work together to uncover the truth of the Bell case before more lives are lost.

9-1-1 Season 9.5 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 7, “Secrets,” airs Thursday, January 8th at 8/7c on ABC.

Episode Description: Hen’s attempts at keeping her mysterious health issues private are starting to impact more than just her physical well-being; Buck and Ravi decide Eddie needs a night out on the town.

9-1-1: Nashville Season 1.5 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 7, “You’ve Been Boarded,” airs Thursday, January 8th at 9/8c on ABC.

Episode Description: Nashville is under siege, with each missed ransom escalating the stakes; as the city descends into chaos, Don grows desperate after losing contact with Blythe and races to find her before it’s too late.

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22.5 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

Grey’s Anatomy Season 22 Episode 7, “Skyfall,” airs Thursday, January 8th at 10/9c on ABC.

Episode Description: The doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial handle Jo and her babies’ health while looking ahead to the implications of Webber’s cancer diagnosis.

The Pitt Season 2 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

The Pitt Season 2 Episode 1 premieres Thursday, January 8th at 9/8c on HBO Max.

Season Description: Season 2 centers on a chaotic Fourth of July weekend at the hospital, picking up 10 months after Season 1, with Dr. Michael Langdon returning from rehab, creating tension with Dr. Robby, who’s starting his sabbatical, while a system-wide computer failure forces the team to go “analog” and face escalating medical crises, character arcs, and a new baby-focused storyline, exploring resilience and trauma under extreme pressure.

The Pitt Season 2 INT. AMBULANCE BAY SC. 4
(Warrick Page/HBOMAX)
Law & Order Season 25.5 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

Law & Order Season 25 Episode 9, “Snowflakes,” airs Thursday, January 8th at 8/7c on NBC.

Episode Description: An injured woman’s sudden disappearance from the hospital leads to a murder investigation; as an eyewitness to the crime, Brady partners with Benson’s SVU to unravel a complex motive; an explosive discovery puts both squads in danger.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27.5 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 Episode 9, “Purity,” airs Thursday, January 8th at 9/8c on NBC.

Episode Description: The hunt for a murder suspect uncovers a crime with shocking legal and ethical implications; Bruno must protect his squad during a raid on a suspect’s home; Carisi and Price team up in court when Brady’s interrogation tactics undermine the case.

The Hunting Party Season 2 Premiere – Thursday, January 8th

The Hunting Party Season 2 Episode 1, airs Thursday, January 8th at 10/9c on NBC.

Episode Description: Bex Henderson must fight to have the Hunting Party team reinstated so that they can catch the infamous “Boogeyman” killer, Ron Simms, who is currently at large and targeting women who are searching for love.

Happy’s Place Season 2.5 Premiere – Friday, January 9th

Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 7, airs Friday, January 9th at 8/7c on NBC.

Season Description: In Season 2, Happy’s Place reopens its doors, and a long-buried secret comes to light that will test loyalties and shake things up inside the tavern. Through it all, Bobbie must remind everyone that family isn’t what you’re born into, but it’s the people that stand beside you, even in the workplace.

 

Related  What to Expect From 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 Episode 7: You've Been Boarded

Those are our picks for the week! What are you planning to watch? Share in the comments below!

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Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.

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