#Transplant: Season Two; NBC Renews Canadian Medical Drama

(CTV)

NBC finished airing the first season of the Transplant TV show earlier this week but we now know that the medical drama isn’t gone for good. The peacock network has picked up the rights to air the second season of the series.

The Transplant TV show stars Hamza Haq, Laurence Leboeuf, John Hannah, Jim Watson, Ayisha Issa, Linda E. Smith, and Torri Higginson. Doctor Bashir Hamed (Haq) is a charismatic Syrian doctor with battle-tested skills in emergency medicine. He and his younger sister, Amira (Gulamgaus), flee their war-torn homeland and become refugees, struggling to forge a new life in Canada. When a horrific truck crash nearly kills a senior doctor right in front of him, Bash saves the doctor’s life and earns a residency in the biggest Emergency Department of the best hospital in Toronto. Through it all, Bash tries to meet the demands of his new country and a new job, while trying to pay the bills, raise his little sister and carve out a new life for them both in this unfamiliar land.

On NBC, the first season of Transplant averaged a 0.44 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.50 million viewers. The series ranks seventh in the demo when compared to other scripted NBC TV shows of this season.

Transplant originates on CTV in Canada and it’s performed very well in the ratings. The series was renewed for a second season north of the border in June, prior to NBC’s launch.

Production on season two has been delayed due to the ongoing pandemic but word is that CTV is expecting to film in Montreal in January. A 2021 premiere date seems likely for both CTV and NBC.

Here’s the press release:

“TRANSPLANT” IN EXCELLENT HEALTH AS NBC MEDICAL DRAMA RENEWED FOR SEASON TWO

Canadian Import Is a Stateside Hit and Will Return With More Tales from York Memorial Hospital

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Dec. 11, 2020 – NBC’s hit medical drama “Transplant,” one of the biggest success stories of the year, is returning for a second season.

NBC acquired “Transplant” earlier this year after having been a hit in Canada on CTV and continues its goal to bring the best entertainment to its audience through traditional and non-traditional pipelines.

The series centers on Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Hamza Haq), a Syrian doctor with battle-tested skills in emergency medicine who fled his country with his younger sister, Amira. Together they struggle to build a new life in Canada as Bash strives to rebuild his career in medicine.

In its first season on NBC, “Transplant” has averaged a 0.7 rating in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall in “live plus seven day” Nielsens, with the premiere having grown to a 1.8 in 18-49 with digital and linear viewing. “Transplant” has scored as one of television’s most time-shifted shows through its NBC run, with each of its first seven original telecasts ranking as the #1 drama of the week in “live plus three day” lift.

In linear and digital viewing to date, “Transplant” is averaging 7.7 million total viewers, more than doubling its 3.5 million “live plus same day” performance.

In its first season on CTV, “Transplant” was the most-watched Canadian original series and saw audience growth as the season progressed.

When “Transplant” premiered in September on NBC, the Wall Street Journal said, “The series will make its debut as the best medical show on American television” while the Hollywood Reporter called the “Transplant” pilot “especially good.” TV Guide labeled the series “compelling.”

“Transplant” stars Hamza Haq (“Quantico”), Laurence Leboeuf (“The Disappearance”), John Hannah (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Jim Watson (“Mary Kills People”) and Ayisha Issa (“Polar”).

The show was created by Joseph Kay, who served as executive producer on season one along with Jocelyn Deschenes, Bruno Dube, Randy Lennox, Virginia Rankin, Jeremy Spry and Tara Woodbury.

Developed at CTV, “Transplant” is produced by Sphere Media in association with CTV and NBCUniversal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. NBCUniversal Global Distribution handles worldwide distribution for the series.

What do you think? Do you enjoy the Transplant TV show? Do you plan to watch season two?