Justin Hartley’s Tracker Finally Gets A Worthy Competitor With ABC’s Bold New Crime Show

by

ABC’s new crime show could be the biggest challenge yet for CBS’s Tracker. Since its premiere in 2024, Tracker quickly became a ratings hit, even surpassing the long-running NCIS.

After playing Kevin Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us, Justin Hartley is back on network television with a new role in a series based on Jeffery Deaver’s The Never Game. The show offers a fresh look at Hartley’s talents, as he plays Colter Shaw, a man who makes a living by finding missing people. Viewers are quickly becoming captivated by Shaw’s adventures and the cases he takes on.

It’s remarkable how well the series has done, especially considering the big changes it’s gone through recently with Tracker. They’ve completely replaced the supporting cast and introduced new characters like Teddi, Velma, and Bobby. But as the third season unfolds, Tracker might face its first real challenge with the upcoming launch of a new crime show on ABC, starring Scott Speedman.

RJ Decker Has A Similar Premise To Tracker

CBS

ABC is planning a new show called RJ Decker for the 2025-2026 television season. Michael Speedman will star as the main character, a former newspaper photographer and ex-convict who reinvents himself as a private investigator in South Florida, a place known for both its beauty and its crime. The show is based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy and shares similarities with the show Tracker – both feature a solitary character navigating a dangerous criminal world, but neither is a police officer.

Colter usually searches for lost people, pets, or things, but Decker handles a much broader range of cases. According to ABC, Speedman’s character investigates everything from strange to truly bizarre situations. He gets help from his ex-wife, a journalist, her police detective wife, and a mysterious woman from his past who could be a powerful ally—or the reason he ends up back in prison. This gives Decker more freedom to explore complex storylines.

How RJ Decker Can End Tracker’s Network TV Domination

The first trailer for RJ Decker suggests the show has a strong chance of surpassing Tracker season 3. Although there’s no confirmed release date yet, ABC releasing a full trailer indicates the premiere is likely coming soon. The minute-long video highlights that Decker is a very different character than Colter, and this distinction could be a key strength for the show.

Colter is portrayed as a very direct and uncomplicated character, and how much viewers like him often depends on who he’s interacting with – that’s why his scenes with Jensen Ackles’ Russell work so well. Decker, however, is inherently entertaining. Despite being messy and disorganized, he’s good at his job. Many would agree he’s more consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly as his personality unfolds over time.

While success isn’t certain for RJ Decker, other elements will play a role. Still, based on what we’ve seen of the show so far, it’s well-placed to provide a different kind of hero compared to Tracker – particularly for viewers who prefer a more colorful and dramatic lead character.

Like our live coverage? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for the latest news on network TV shows, including exclusive insights from actors and the people behind the scenes. Just be sure to select “Network TV” in your newsletter preferences!

Read More

2026-01-07 20:58