NBC has relocated struggling Thursday dramas “Aquarius” and “Hannibal” to Saturdays, a night that's been home to many a dead show walking like “Hannibal.”
The problem is that “Aquarius” not only hasn't already been canceled like “Hannibal,” but has already been renewed for a second season.
The move, first reported by Joe Flint, comes as both shows have been flailing on Thursday nights, and is being done to appease NBC's local affiliates who aren't happy with getting such a terrible lead-in to their late local news. NBC had already committed to airing the rest of this third season of “Hannibal” – which, based on Bryan Fuller's comments at Comic-Con, seems increasingly likely to be its final season in this form – and moving it to Saturday allows them to do it without hurting the bottom line as much.
“Aquarius,” though, was renewed a few weeks ago, and NBC told Adweek's Jason Lynch that they had not wavered on that decision. As it is, whatever value the network sees in that show has to be coming from the deal to put the whole season online and On Demand right after the premiere, given that the traditional ratings have been so bad.
The move is effective immediately (“Dateline” will sub in for the dramas on Thursdays), which means my next “Hannibal” episode review will be up Saturday night at 11 Eastern.