"Chicago Fire," "Chicago P.D," and "Chicago Med." What do these three television programs all have in common with each other, other than all of them being adequate at best? That's right, they all take place in the city of Chicago, as exemplified through their uncreative show titles. "Chicago" has now become its own television franchise, essentially creating its own universe with three currently running shows that all overlap with each other, and whose characters often show up in more than one show. The different shows take a look at various organizations in Chicago, and the personal lives of the people who work there. Dick Wolf, the creator of the franchise, seems to have landed upon an unlikely hit in the television world. Wolf and his team are eager to further expand the Chicago franchise with even more programs. A fourth series, "Chicago Justice," did air for a little while, but was soon canceled. Still, potential ideas for expanding the franchise are constantly in development, and here are five potential ideas for the next show to join the Chicago TV universe.
1. “Chicago Improv”
As one of the world's leading cities for improv comedy, improv theaters and playhouses abound in the city of Chicago, one of the funniest and also most depressing places in the entire country. This series would take a look at the lives of a group of Chicago improvisers, exploring their day to day lives performing, as well as their personal lives, and the toll that doing improv can have on one's soul and relationships.
2. “Chicago Coffee”
People in Chicago love drinking coffee, which would make for another wonderful addition to the Chicago franchise. "Chicago Coffee" would explore the inner workings of a Chicago coffee shop, as well as the fading dreams of the baristas who work there. Maybe some of the baristas even perform improv on the weekends. The possibilities for crossovers between the shows are limitless.
3. "Chicago Grocery"
As with many other American cities, grocery stores are commonly found throughout the Chicago area, and this series would take an inside look at the lives of those who work in these awful places. The show would explore what it takes to be a cashier, as well as the qualities necessary for stocking shelves, all while exploring the backstories of the characters as they come to work each day, giving viewers a closer look at the grit and grime of the Chicago grocery world.
4. "Chicago Convenience"
What can I say, Chicago needs convenience stores, and fascinating things tend to happen in these places, making this another Chicago show practically begging to get produced. Convenience store employees often have great stories to tell, and the possibilities for series crossovers are so unbelievably plentiful. Maybe the convenience store gets robbed and the employees have to call the characters from "Chicago P.D.", or maybe a cashier from "Chicago Grocery" needs to slip in while on their lunch break and grab a soda. The possibilities are simply endless.
5. "Chicago Taxes"
Honestly, what could be more exciting than a whole hour of television devoted to watching tax professionals help people file their taxes? This series would keep viewers on the edge of their seats as the question arises of whether a certain client of the firm's would get their taxes done on time, all while maintaining the tone of a show within the Chicago franchise. Wow, now that's some good television.
If those in charge of the franchise are smart, they will soon put one or all of these ideas into production, further expanding the reach of the Chicago universe as more and more Chicago institutions are explored in overly dramatic and adequately written fashion, the true mark of the Chicago franchise. Hopefully, Dick Wolf listens to these ideas and produces them as soon as possible. In all honesty, however, I really can't understand how some of these have not yet been made. How on Earth was "Chicago Med" created before something with the brilliant uniqueness of "Chicago Grocery" or "Chicago Taxes?" The world didn't need any more medical shows to be perfectly honest. Instead, here are five brilliant ideas for where the Chicago franchise could go next. Now, all we can do is sit back and hope that one of these projects comes to fruition. Your move, Mr. Wolf.
