The popular police drama The Rookie is changing timeslots again. Currently in its eighth season, the show remains a strong performer for ABC. While Season 8 premiered last week, ABC has decided to move the day it airs to better reach viewers.
ABC is changing the night viewers can watch The Rookie. Starting January 26th, the show will air on Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern, following the premiere of American Idol. A new series, RJ Decker starring Scott Speedman, will then take its place on Tuesdays, beginning March 3rd.
ABC’s Tuesday night schedule is getting a boost with the shows Will Trent, High Potential, and the new addition, RJ Decker. Fans of The Rookie will also be happy to hear that the final 15 episodes will air consecutively without any breaks.
The Rookie Season 8 Sets New Streaming Record
Even after eight seasons, The Rookie remains incredibly popular with viewers. Streaming numbers are consistently strong, particularly for its most recent episode, which reached 7.88 million viewers across ABC, Hulu, Disney+, and other platforms within three days. This is a significant increase from the 7.40 million viewers who tuned in for the premiere of the previous season.
Most viewers watch The Rookie on streaming, as episodes become available on Hulu the day after they air. This likely influenced ABC’s decision to change the show’s timeslot, confident that its audience would continue to watch it. High Potential also helps draw viewers to RJ Decker.
I’ve been a fan of The Rookie for a while now, and it’s honestly amazing how adaptable it is! It’s not the first time ABC has moved it around – they’ve switched it between Tuesdays and Sundays over its seven seasons. It really took off during the pandemic, and I guess they’re still figuring out where it fits best, which is understandable for a show that’s become so popular.
Nathan Fillion Returns to TV for The Rookie
Nathan Fillion, known for his popular roles in shows like Firefly and Castle, returned to network television in 2018 with The Rookie. The series, created by Alexi Hawley, stars Fillion as John Nolan, an older newcomer to the Los Angeles Police Department. The cast also includes Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Mekia Cox, Melissa O’Neill, and Eric Winter.
Although the first spin-off series, The Rookie: Feds, didn’t last beyond one season, another one is already being developed. Recently, show creator Terry Hawley shared some details about what will set this new series apart.
Hawley stated that The Rookie: North will have a distinct feel separate from the original series. He believes filming in the Pacific Northwest will create a visually unique atmosphere.
He explained that most police patrol shows focus on major cities like Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Most police shows don’t realistically portray life in the areas where most Americans actually live – places that are a mix of city, suburbs, and more rural communities. That’s one thing that makes The Rookie: North stand out.
The Rookie moves to Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET, Jan. 26 on ABC.
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2026-01-15 01:15