TheOne Chicagofranchise has an important reason for airingChicago FirebeforeChicago Medduring the 2025One Chicagocrossover. The franchise typically airs standalone episodes of each show, withChicago Medairing at 8 ET on Wednesday nights, followed byChicago FireandChicago PD.One Chicagocrossoversusually involve each segment of the show dealing with a different aspect of the same case. However, the shows are broadcast as separate segments rather than one three-hour show during these special events.
Crossovers used to be a regular event, but Dick Wolf Entertainment paused them after the COVID lockdowns because of safety concerns related to the pandemic. Thus, the 2025 special is the firstOne Chicagocrossoverin five years.This three-part story will feature the characters fromChicago Med,Chicago Fire, andChicago PDworking together after a gas explosionat a government building leads to a mass casualty event.
Chicago Fire Opens The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Despite Med’s Timeslot
The Two Shows Are Switching Places
The crossover event, titled “In the Trenches,” has led to a scheduling change forChicago Fireand Chicago Med on Wednesday, January 29.Instead ofChicago Medkicking off the evening, the story will begin with an episode ofChicago Fire,with the franchise’s medical drama taking the middle timeslot.Chicago PDwill air last, as it does normally. ThisOne Chicagoschedule change is for this week only; the shows will return to their regular timeslots on February 5.
8 ET
9 ET
“In the Trenches: Part III”
10 ET
These types of schedule changes are common during crossover episodes. The firstOne Chicagocrossover to feature all three shows also hadChicago Fireair beforeChicago Med, as did the most recent crossover in 2019.There have also been several crossovers involving onlyChicago FireandChicago PD, some of which began on the police drama rather than sticking to the regular schedule. These schedule changes are made to accommodate stories that begin at Firehouse 51 or at the police station and continue in the otherOneChicagoshows.
The 2025 One Chicago Crossover Story Is Kicked Off By A Firehouse 51 Call
The Three Teams Will Work Together After A Gas Explosion
In the case of the2025One Chicagocrossover, the story begins when Firehouse 51 gets a call related to a gas explosion. Thus,Chicago Fireairs first since the call is a typical story for the fire and rescue series. Telling the story this way is more logical — while the call will lead to a mass casualty event, Gaffney Medical Center won’t need to treat victims until after the rescue workers have gotten them safely out of the affected area. IfChicago Medwere to air first, the story of the rescue would have to be told via flashbacks, which would be a more confusing way to tell the story.
Chicago Firealmost always airs first during such events, so it is not surprising that the schedule has been changed for the latest crossover.
The description for 2025’sOne Chicagocrossover fits the pattern of many of these joint stories. Previous crossovers involve Firehouse 51 getting a call, leading to the need for the doctors onChicago Medto treat patients and the police to get involved with finding the people responsible for creating a life-threatening disaster. The format leads to exciting stories that explain logically why all three shows are involved with the same case.Chicago Firealmost always airs first during such events, so it is not surprising that the schedule has been changed for the latest crossover.
