ABC is not afraid to try new things.
Over many years of covering their annual fall drama slate, I’ve seen scores of shows come and go. The network has tested the waters (with measures of success and failure) with gritty dramas featuring big name talent (Alaska Daily, Big Sky), sexy spies (The Company You Keep, Whiskey Cavalier), and feel good fare (A Million Little Things, Once Upon a Time), among many others.
Disappointingly, female-led dramas seem to suffer the reaper’s axe more than most. Last year, ABC canceled all but one new drama (Will Trent), in a trend that seems to follow the network from year to year. The days of Scandal, Revenge, and How to Get Away with Murder dominating the weekly lineup are long gone, and going by 2023’s canceled show list, it’s probably safe to say ABC is struggling to find a way to keep a new drama with a female lead on the air for very long.
This year the Network is trying something new. Or rather it’s not. Which brings us to new female-led rookie drama High Potential, due to hit our screens on Tuesday, 17 Sept.
What’s different about High Potential is that it’s not trying to be that different at all. The series, a straight up police procedural with dollops of humor, introduces us to scrappy and self-sufficient mother of 3 Morgan (Kaitlin Olson of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Hacks fame), who also happens to have a genius-level IQ.
Morgan works as a janitor in the offices of the LAPD. Having accidentally disturbed an evidence box and whiteboard, Morgan uses her big brain to correctly identify a suspect as a victim. Morgan relabels the board, but her actions are caught on CCTV, and the next morning, the tough but fair Lieutenant Selena (Judy Reyes) demands that she explain herself. And when she does, Selena quickly sees how Morgan could be an advantage to the force as a consultant.
Morgan is soon partnered with a by-the-book seasoned detective Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), who doesn’t take kindly to her methods, chirpy and irreverent demeanour, or loud attire. Forced to work together, this odd couple soon form an unstoppable partnership, and the show runs for at least 4 seasons. Or so ABC hopes.
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With High Potential the network has leaned unapologetically into a formula that will be both familiar and comforting to fans, and after last year’s round up of traumatised investigators, gritty detectives, and conflicted CIA agents, it might just be what keeps audiences awake this TV season.
The show is clearly setting up a will they won’t they scenario between Morgan and Karadec, and it’s fun to see the underestimated Morgan solve murders, run rings around the LAPD, and earn the grudging respect of her reluctant partner. In many ways High Potential is reminiscent of ABC’s Castle (2009-2016), and Lucifer (FOX, Netflix, 2016-2021) in which a highly talented individual is partnered with a ‘straight’ or by-the-book character with fun and romance following. We all know the formula.
Will a little nostalgia and familiarity help keep High Potential on our TV screens beyond 2024? With ABC’s recent luck, it’s certainly worth a shot.
High Potential is written by Drew Goddard (The Good Place, The Martian) and stars Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata.
Also starring are Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Ozdil, Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot and Judy Reyes as Selena.
It premieres Tuesday, 17 Sept. at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Follow @TVPulseMag on X for more High Potential scoop this TV Season.
