High Potential, the new detective drama starringIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiavet Kaitlin Olson, continues to break records and surpasses a notable revival. Debuting on ABC in September, the three-time Emmy-nominated Olson plays Morgan Gillory, a cleaner who solves a particularly difficult case, steering the police away from the wrong suspect, and is then asked to work as a consultant with a seasoned detective. The procedural, which is based on the French seriesHPI, has quickly built up an audience since its debut.
Deadlinereveals that the detective drama has averaged 10.42 million viewers to becomeABC’s most-watched new show since the debut of theRoseannerevival,The Conners,six years earlier. Looking specifically atHigh Potential’s fifth episode, which aired on October 22, that installment garnered 6.83M viewers across seven days of linear viewing, which helped ABC win Tuesday’s 10 PM timeslot for the first time in four years. When taking into account viewership on Hulu, which streams the series and other platforms, that number for episode 5 leaps to 10.49 million viewers.
What The Ratings Success Means For High Potential
A Classic Formula Can Still Bring Magic
With a main cast that also includes Daniel Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, Matthew Lamb, and Judy Reyes,High Potentialvery intentionally fits into the mold of a special detective. It echoesMonk, in addition to other currently airing series likeElsbethandMatlock,which both air on CBS. However, what has helped the English-language remake of the French show to break out is a mix of the on-screen talent and the creative names involved in the production.
Kaitlin Olson’s Acclaimed New Police Show Sounds Like The Perfect Psych Replacement, 10 Years Later
Surprisingly, Kaitlin Olson’s hit new police show works as a great replacement for Pysch ten years after it ended its eight-season run on USA.
Olson, recently an Emmy nominee for her recurring role onHacks,isa strong lead that brings aspects of her popular portrayal ofDee Reynolds fromIt’s Always SunnytoHigh Potential. The adaptation is also the product of seasoned creative voices, namely with Drew Goddard, known for his work on such shows asLost,Alias, andBuffy the Vampire Slayer, serving as creator.
Diane Ruggiero-Wright, anotherVeronica Marsvet, is also an executive producer.
Rob Thomas was initially the showrunner, known for creatingVeronica MarsandiZombie, though he stepped down from the role. Todd Harthan, the executive producer and showrunner ofThe Resident, has since taken over. All three are veterans in the television space and bring that to the French adaptation, lifting what might otherwise be a repetitive formula.High Potentialis also skilled in its tone, breezy but knowing when to tap into its emotionality, withall of thesestrengths and ratings success all but confirming season 2 will be on the way.
Our Take On High Potential’s Success
The Show Is Already Mixing It Up
It’s Always Sunnyseason 17will be happening, butHigh Potentialis already proving to be more than just a weekly unsolved case. It has welcomedMayans M.C.alum JD Pardo as a potential love interest for Morgan, with his casual introduction in episode 6 fleshing out the show’s world and already complicating the established dynamic. It may be familiar, butit’s well-crafted and there’s a comfort in that.
High Potential
Cast
Morgan, a single mother of three with a brilliant but unconventional mind, partners with a methodical detective after solving a crime during her job as a cleaner. Together, they form an unlikely but effective duo, blending her unique problem-solving skills with his by-the-book approach to tackle challenging cases.
