When actors are pregnant, there are two options for TV shows. They can either write the pregnancy into the series, or they can play “hide the bump.” Jenna Dewan showed off her bump behind the scenes of The Rookie Season 6, but the show has chosen to hide the bump instead of write it in.
Dewan is expecting Baby No. 3. This is her second child with current fiancé Steve Kazee and her third child overall when including her daughter with Channing Tatum. She shared the news as work started on the series, and showrunner Alexi Hawley chose not to incorporate it in the storyline.
It’s not the right time for Bailey and Nolan to have a baby in The Rookie
The Rookie Season 6 started with Bailey and Nolan getting married. The two are very responsible in their lives, focusing on their careers and their lives together as a couple.
We have seen the two of them have a discussion about family and having children of their own. This hasn’t led to them agreeing to start trying for a family yet. It’s not off the cards, but it’s just not on them for the time being.
While the show could have opted for a surprise pregnancy, it doesn’t seem true to the characters and their journey. While Hawley hasn’t said why the baby bump wasn’t written in, it does seem like the characters are the reason for that. Sure, surprise pregnancies happen to the best of people, but the show has already opted for that with other characters already. Let’s have a storyline where the two are actively trying for a baby instead.
The series also gets a chance to show that it doesn’t need to incorporate every single real-life pregnancy. We’ve had a couple so far incorporated, and now we get to see how the costume department can effectively hide a baby bump.
It’s also possible that filming started later on in the pregnancy. Dewan hasn’t shared when her baby is due, but she was showing by the time the series was ready to air. It could be that Dewan was too far along when production was due to start to effectively write the pregnancy into the storyline without some sort of time jump.
There is always The Rookie Season 7. The series has been renewed, and we’re sure to see Bailey and Nolan continue their journey together as a couple.
The Rookie airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.