The Good Doctor, one of ABC’s top-rated series, will conclude after its upcoming seventh season.
The last season will air on Tuesdays starting February 20 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Co-showrunners David Shore and Liz Friedman and fellow executive producer Erin Gunn said their series was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Still, it was time to bid farewell to the characters of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
“We are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done and the message we’ve been privileged to be part of,” they said in a joint statement. “We look forward to giving our fantastic fans, the truly extraordinary Freddie Highmore, the rest of our talented actors (and friends), and the best crew in the business the series ending that you all deserve.”
The Good Doctor departs along with Station 19, a spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy, which is also leaving after its upcoming seventh season. The series has consistently been one of ABC’s top-performing broadcast shows over the past six seasons, and viewership jumps 30-40% through streaming platforms the week following an episode’s airing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The series debuted in 2017 and follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgeon with autism played by Freddie Highmore, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. Christina Chang, Richard Schiff, Will Yun Lee, Fiona Gubelmann, Paige Spara, Noah Galvin, and Bria Samoné Henderson complete the current cast.
“Playing Dr. Shaun Murphy has been an immense privilege and one of the most remarkable and rewarding experiences of my life,” said Highmore, who also serves as executive producer. “I will always be grateful to David, Liz, and Erin, as well as the hugely talented – and lovely – cast, writers, and crew who made this show possible. Caring deeply is what got us here.”
The show has been a hit with fans for its heartfelt plots and aspirational presentation of autism within the medical communities. However, some advocacy groups spoke out against the show’s portrayal of autism. Autism Ontario surveyed patients on the spectrum, many of whom enjoyed Highmore’s performance, while some said the series presented “stereotypical portrayals.”
The series’ popularity inspired a short-lived spinoff attempt, The Good Lawyer, which aired as a backdoor pilot in the sixth season. ABC passed on the project following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.
The Good Doctor airs on ABC, and seasons are scattered throughout streaming services, including Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Google Play, and Vudu.
Image credit: ABC
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