9-1-1 Season 5 - What We Know So Far

Television programming has changed in many ways since the 1950s — for example, a time traveler from 1952 would have a hard time understanding "Vanilla Ice Goes Amish." But one way TV hasn't really changed is that procedural dramas are still popular. Whether it's doctors, cops, lawyers, or all three, Americans just love shows about folks who deal with society's emergencies.

And one medical procedural that proves it is still as popular as ever is "9-1-1," the Fox series about Los Angeles' first responders created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear. The series premiere of "9-1-1" was strong right out of the gate, attracting 6.8 million viewers. That was enough for Fox to renew "9-1-1" for a second season just weeks later.

The show is currently airing its fourth season, which will conclude on May 24. But it's not too early to look ahead to Season 5. Here's everything we know about the fifth season of "9-1-1."

Fox hasn't yet announced whether "9-1-1" will be getting a fifth season or when it might premiere. But if Fox does decide to pick up "9-1-1" for another season, the announcement should be coming soon. Fox renewed "9-1-1" for a fourth season on April 13, 2020, which was about a month before the Season 3 finale, per The Wrap. If Fox once again decides to renew "9-1-1" mid-season, it should make the call any day now. 

Based on its Season 4 ratings, "9-1-1" has a decent shot at getting another season. The Season 4 premiere attracted about 7 million viewers. That's a bit lower than the Season 3 finale, but it still won that Monday's prime time, per Deadline.

As for when a Season 5 might premiere, it would most likely be early 2022. The time between when Fox renewed "9-1-1" for a fourth season and "9-1-1's" Season 4 premiere was about nine months.

It's still way too early for any casting announcements about a hypothetical fifth season of "9-1-1." Likewise, it's even too early to say which of the main cast members will be returning for another season, as the fourth season still hasn't finished airing its episodes yet. It's still quite possible that one or more characters might be written off the show, like Connie Britton's Abby Clark was at the end of Season 1, via Deadline. Also entirely possible is that one or more "9-1-1" characters won't make it through Season 4. This is a show about people who put their lives on the line on a daily basis, after all.

Assuming everyone lives and wants to keep working for the LAFD's Station 118, the main cast should be returning. This would include Angela Bassett as LAPD sergeant Athena Nash and Peter Krause as LAFD captain and Athena's husband Bobby Nash. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kenneth Choi should be back as Maddie and Chimney. Other series regulars include Oliver Stark as the firefighter Buck, Aisha Hinds as the firefighter/paramedic Hen, and Ryan Guzman as firefighter Eddie. Corinne Massiah as Athena's daughter and Bobby's stepdaughter May, John Harlan Kim as Chimney's brother Albert, and Gavin McHugh as Eddie's son Christopher will likely also return.

Again, the fourth season hasn't even concluded yet, and since we don't know where Season 4 leaves off, it's impossible to say where a fifth season might start. Unless Ryan Murphy and company decide to shake things up and have members of Station 118 quit their jobs and open a country-western bar, it will probably be more of the same: Station 118 responding to a new disaster each week while navigating their tangled personal lives.

Maddie and Chimney had their child during the 10th episode of Season 4, so Season 5 will likely see them continuing to learn how to be new parents. May has undergone some changes during Season 4. She previously suffered a drug overdose and moved in with Athena and Bobby, but during Season 4, she moved out. Season 5 will likely involve May's struggles with independence and sobriety, along with Athena and Bobby's adjustment to having the house to themselves. Finally, Hen and her partner Karen had to give up their foster child during Season 4. Will they try to become foster parents again, or will their relationship change? 

Those are the big questions that should be answered among all the fires, earthquakes, and other emergencies happening in the background.