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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →ABC decided to end The Good Doctor and announced on January 11, 2024 that the seventh season would be the last. Co-showrunner Liz Friedman said the network told the team it was time to end the show. Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich said he wanted showrunner David Shore and his team to have the chance to write a proper ending. The reporting confirms who made the call and why the writers had time to plan the finale. It does not establish a business reason, such as ratings or production costs.
Who made the decision, and when
ABC made the decision to end the series. ABC Audio reported the announcement on January 11, 2024, and identified season 7 as the final season. The same report described the drama as well-performing and noted that it had ranked as the #1 entertainment show in the Monday 10 p.m. hour among viewers aged 18–49 during the prior season. That is a slot-specific ranking from one season. It is not an overall audience rank, and the announcement did not present it as a reason for ending the show.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Good Doctor (2017) - Season 01 | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Good Doctor, The - Season 02 | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Good Doctor, The (2017) - Season 3 | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Good Doctor: Season 5 [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qhHRgr-KL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Good Doctor: Season 5 [DVD] | $31.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Good Doctor (2017) - Season 4 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What Liz Friedman said about the ending
Friedman, who served as co-showrunner and executive producer, gave the clearest account of how the decision reached the production team. In a TV Insider interview dated February 15, 2024, she said: “Why end it now? Well, ABC told us it was time to end it.”
Her account also explains why the timing mattered to the writers. Knowing the end date in advance let them decide how to conclude the series and build a culmination of Shaun Murphy’s story. The network chose the ending point. The creative team then had time to shape what came before it.
#1 Best Overall
- Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, joins a prestigious surgical unit and must work harder than ever before to prove to his colleagues that his extraordinary medical gifts will save lives.
What the Disney boss said
Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group, described the network group’s intent for the finale. Forbes, in its season guide dated February 19, 2024, attributed his remarks to Deadline. Forbes reported that he wanted “to give David and his team the opportunity to write a proper ending to this series.” He also called the show “beloved to ABC viewers and beloved to us as well.”
Those remarks explain the purpose behind the timing. They do not show that Erwich personally made the cancellation call. The reporting places that decision with ABC, and Friedman’s account matches it.
Rank #2
- Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital?s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun faces new interpersonal challenges while taking on even more difficult medical cases than ever before.
Why writers can plan an ending
Shore has said publicly that a showrunner expects to hear the news from the network eventually. In remarks reported by Deadline and syndicated by Yahoo on February 11, 2024, he said: “One day, I will get a phone call from the network telling me the show is ending.” He was discussing how series endings can be anticipated and planned, not describing this show’s cancellation specifically.
Season 7 at a glance
| Item | Reported detail | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Final season announced | January 11, 2024 | ABC Audio, 2024 |
| Final season premiere | February 20, 2024, on ABC | Season guide reported by Forbes, 2024 |
| Episodes in final season | 10 | Forbes, 2024 |
| Streaming | Forbes reported episodes were expected on Hulu the day after each broadcast | Forbes, 2024; availability outside the United States not confirmed |
| Production credits | Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios on Sony’s official series page; ABC Signature in ABC Audio’s announcement | Sony Pictures official series page; ABC Audio, 2024 |
The season guide linked the shorter 10-episode run to production delays after the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. That is context for the season’s size. It is not presented as the reason the series ended.
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- Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital?s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun works harder than he ever has before as he starts dating, while navigating his environment and relationships to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.
What is not established
- The business reason. The reporting does not cite declining ratings, production costs, cast contract costs, or a programming change at ABC. Any explanation of that kind would be speculation.
- Ownership. Sony’s page lists Sony Pictures Television and ABC Studios, which was part of Disney Television Studios. The naming differences between sources do not show a change in ownership.
- Current availability. Sony’s page points viewers to ABC and Hulu. Current streaming access in each country is not confirmed by the reporting.
To judge the ending decision, separate three things: ABC’s decision and its timing, Erwich’s stated aim of a proper finale, and the business theories that the reporting does not support.
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