AceShowbiz - Animal Control has been officially renewed for a fifth season by Fox, the network announced on Thursday. This renewal arrives as the sitcom debuts its fourth season, which premiered on Sunday, December 28, and airs on Thursdays.

The decision to continue Animal Control into Season 5 reflects the series’ growing popularity and improved ratings. The fourth season premiere achieved the highest viewership in the show’s history, marking a rare achievement for a broadcast comedy. It is the first broadcast comedy in over 15 years to have a fourth season premiere that outperforms all three previous season debuts.

Adding to its success, the series has seen significant momentum from streaming audiences. The first three seasons of Animal Control have accumulated more than 1 billion minutes watched on Netflix. This impressive figure positions the show as the top acquired comedy series on the streaming platform in terms of total viewers, and third overall in minutes watched, trailing only behind Young Sheldon and Seinfeld.

Fox TV Network president Michael Thorn expressed enthusiasm about the renewal, stating, "With the writing, ensemble, and audience response all landing at new levels, renewing Animal Control was an easy decision." He highlighted the show’s creative growth, strong producing team, and lead star Joel McHale as key factors contributing to its success.

Animal Control centers around a team of local animal control officers whose work is complicated by the unpredictability of human behavior. The series stars Joel McHale as Frank, a quirky and opinionated animal control officer who, despite not attending college, is the most well-read person in the room.

Alongside McHale, the show features performances from Michael Rowland, Vella Lovell, Ravi V. Patel, and Grace Palmer. It is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios and executive produced by McHale, showrunner Tad Quill (known for Scrubs and The Moodys), Bob Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Sirens), Rob Greenberg (Frasier, How I Met Your Mother), and Dan Sterling (Long Shot, The Interview).

This renewal confirms that Animal Control will continue to build on its momentum with another season, promising more humor and insight into the quirky lives of animal control workers and their human interactions.