The Disney executive who signed off on the death of Peter Krause‘s 9-1-1 character, Bobby, is weighing in on the backlash.
“As a viewer, it was incredibly emotional,” president of Disney Television Group Craig Erwich told Deadline on Tuesday, May 13. “He’s a beloved character.”
Erwich specifically praised Angela Bassett for her performance as Krause’s onscreen wife, adding, “There was so much grist for the mill for Angela Bassett, who I thought gave such an incredible performance in both the episode where he died and the funeral.”
While fans have expressed their displeasure with the story line, Erwich stood by it.
“Ultimately, it’s about the creative, and it was a decision that [showrunner] Tim Minear came to us with, and we supported him, as we always do,” Erwich noted. “It was a really great night of television that created a massive amount — not just of viewing, but really social conversation.”
He continued: “I think it’ll give us a lot of momentum going into Thursdays next year. And it’ll be a great lead-off for 9-1-1: Nashville, which will be a huge priority for us.”
Krause, 59, has been with 9-1-1 since it premiered on Fox in 2018. Following its move to ABC, the drama threw Us for a loop last month when Krause’s character Bobby was secretly infected with a rare and fatal virus.
“I’ve heard that many fans are upset by this loss and they have a right to be. It is a loss. That said, it was more than a bold creative choice on a bold show. Bobby Nash was written in sacrifice and he was built for this,” Krause shared in a statement at the time. “First responders risk their lives on the job so that others can see another day. His story arc honors them. We at 9-1-1 salute all the incredible men and women who do these dangerous jobs and strive to keep us safe.”
Krause elaborated on saying goodbye to the show during an interview with Good Morning America, adding, “He was willing to sacrifice himself so that others could see another day. And I will miss everybody dearly. This was my workplace for eight years, eight seasons.”
According to Minear, killing off a major character was always part of the plan.
“I had been toying with the idea for a couple of seasons, actually, maybe even longer, feeling like at some point I’m going to have to do this,” he told Deadline in April. “And then once I came up with this idea for the lab leak episode, that’s when it solidified for me that it was time to do it, it felt like a real opportunity to give somebody an epic Wrath of Khan–like death.”
Minear called Bobby’s death — and Krause’s exit — a “wrenching decision.”
“I adore Peter, and he’s so great on the show, really the backbone of the show in so many ways, which is why it was both a terrifying decision but also, creatively, I just knew that it would be so meaningful and have such repercussions and give me so much story for the show,” he said. “Once I had made that choice, suddenly the world of the show seems so much more real to me, just feeling the grief of the characters and feeling just how that nuclear bomb going off in the center of that universe affected everything. Suddenly, everything just felt weirdly more alive to me.”
While 9-1-1 viewers process the major onscreen loss, the show’s creatives are looking ahead at the franchise’s future. 9-1-1: Lone Star recently wrapped its run on Fox, but 9-1-1: Nashville is set to premiere on ABC in the fall.
The upcoming series stars Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, LeAnn Rimes and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Details on their characters have yet to be released, but O’Donnell’s character Captain Don Sharpe is described as “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest firehouse with his beloved son.” Don is a “devoted husband and family man, but he has his secrets.”
9-1-1 airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET
