A show like Tracker has many, many stunts and action sequences. The CBS drama that's wrapping up its third season on the 2026 TV schedule has all this action because Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw can’t seem to stay away from danger. He’s been shot, beaten up, and was even in a car accident. Of course, trying to find missing people means going after some pretty bad guys, and from a production standpoint, that means lots of stunts. So, now we're three seasons in, and someone finally asked Hartley how often he does his own stunts.

It’s no secret that Colter has gotten himself into some trouble from time to time while trying to save people. It comes with the job. And that means, behind the scenes, a lot of time and planning have to go into figuring out these sequences so they're safe for Hartley and the stunt team. As an actor, he definitely has to take precautions when it comes to doing stunts, and he set the record straight while appearing on The Tonight Show after host Jimmy Fallon asked him if he’s getting better and better at doing stunts:

It is always fun to hear how much an actor does their own stunts, especially when they really want to do as much as they can. Of course, there’s only so much an actor is allowed to do stunt-wise before it gets too dangerous, though, and that’s when the stunt performers are brought in. To that point, while it sounds like the This Is Us actor is doing a good chunk of his own action sequences, he does have limits, as he explained:

Knowing that Hartley does some of his own stunts really makes watching Tracker even better. I’m always so fascinated by how much an actor does when it comes to stunts, especially when it’s for a project that relies so much on action. Even if it’s just fake fighting, the stunts are pretty great, and it's awesome that the actor does a lot of them. However, this also shows how important stunt doubles and the choreography are.

That being said, Season 3 has seen some impressive stunts. The midseason finale ended on a bloody cliffhanger that involved Colter getting into a car accident with a friend, who was shot. Whether or not the season finale will end on a similar major cliffhanger is unknown, but it can be assumed that there will be a lot of action involved.

There are still a few more episodes left of Tracker’s third season, so who knows what else will be in store for Colter. Jensen Ackles is set to return as his brother, Russell, for these final episodes, and whenever those two get together, it’s unpredictable what could happen.

New episodes of Tracker air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and they stream the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

While most shows will return this fall, Matlock Season 2 is over on the 2026 TV schedule, but not for good, thank goodness. Fans will be able to look forward to Season 3 in early 2027. Of course, there will be much to look forward to as we know the Kathy Bates-led legal drama digs into a new mystery. However, Jason Ritter has set his sights set on another thrilling CBS drama.

While Ritter has been busy with Matlock since its premiere back in 2024, he has still managed to take on other projects at the same time. For example, he appeared in the Peacock series Poker Face in 2025 and is set to recur in HBO's upcoming Lanterns series. So, him wanting to appear on another show, especially CBS, is possible, and he told Us Weekly what show he would love to be on.

Spoiler: It's Tracker, and he wants a crossover! Here's what he said about (hopefully) getting to work with fellow Eye Network peer Justin Hartley:

I feel like a crossover between Matlock and Tracker would be pretty great because there are so many storylines that could come out of it. Honestly, it sounds like Ritter has been thinking about this possibility for a while. Even if it weren’t a crossover, just seeing him on the show, whether it would be as someone who needs Colter’s help, an ally, or even as an enemy, would be so much fun. It's worth noting Ritter and Hartley are "friendly."

Tracker's guest stars have also been pretty great so far, so Ritter would fit right in. However, the best thing about Tracker is that it’s a case-of-the-week format, so if Matlock were to crossover with the other show, the characters could interact in interesting ways and then move on.

The actor admitted what he would truly be like in a Tracker situation, and I appreciate his honesty, because it’s what I would probably be like, too:

Just like Matlock, Tracker is coming back for another season, so who knows what could happen? I feel like fans would love to see a crossover between the two shows, but even just having Ritter playing a random character on Tracker would be entertaining. It's all probably dependent on what the writers would be able to come up with, and then scheduling, of course. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ritter didn’t let up on this dream until it's a reality, and since Tracker continues to be a hit at CBS, there's plenty of time for this to come down the pipeline.

If Ritter were to be on Tracker, it’s hard to predict what would actually happen, but if it means we get an embarrassing TikTok dance from him, or another viral moment, I'm in. For now, it seems like Ritter will have to keep campaigning for his role on Tracker, and fans can always watch him on Matlock, streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

It’s a well-known fact that people think Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters star Glen Powell looks like Tracker and This Is Us star Justin Hartley, but I have to be honest, I think there's a better doppelgänger pairing out there. In fact, there’s another TV actor I think looks much more like Hartley than Mr. Powell does, and he’s a current Hallmark TV star you probably know.

The Internet Loves Talking About How Glen Powell And Justin Hartley Look Alike

Listen, sometimes there are subtopics the Internet loves to talk about, and Glen Powell and Justin Hartley looking alike is one of them. At this point, the two actors are aware of the discourse, and the Twisters star even joked about it when THR once literally (and seemingly accidentally) mixed up Hartley with Powell on the red carpet. During the incident, Powell cheekily responded:

The outlet apologized for the incident writing,, “apologies! We have our glasses on now!” At the time, fellow celebrity Patrick Schwarzenegger also joked he “wanted in” on the body swap movie idea.

This has been going on forever, too, as fans on Reddit often think Powell and Harley look alike. The Internet is honestly very bad about mixing up celebrities. There are the people who think Burt Reynolds – RIP– and Tom Selleck are each other. Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley are also commonly mixed up for one another, which makes sense give their Star Wars arcs ages ago. There’s nothing like a good Internet switcheroo to prove a theory, but I still think Justin Hartley looks way more like Andrew Walker than he does the movie star a-lister.

I Actually Think Justin Hartley Looks More Like Andrew Walker

As evidence, let's take a look at this picture of Andrew Walker, an actor known for a slew of past and upcoming Hallmark projects, including popular series like Curious Caterer, Three Wise Me And A Boy and the recent Holiday Touchdown movie. If you aren’t familiar with any of these fun titles, this is what he looks like.

And this is Justin Hartley at the event in which he was literally mixed up with Glen Powell. Uncanny, right?

I appreciate they all have their own looks and styles and are totally different ages: Powell is 37, Justin Hartley is 49, and Andrew Walker is 46. Honestly, though, I stand by the fact it’s easy to mistake Glen for Justin and Andrew for Justin (though less so Glen and Andrew). In fact the first couple of times I saw Walker on my screen, I thought he was the guy who had played Green Arrow in Smallville, a guy who just so happens to be Justin Hartley.

The intriguing thing about this whole narrative is that Powell has worked his way up to doing big budget movies, Justin Hartley is a major tour de force on the network TV schedule and Andrew Walker is one of the most in-demand Hallmark actors. They all fill their niches at this point, despite people on the Internet (and myself) occasionally still clearly mixing them all up.

I’m not sure a body swap movie will ever be in the cards, but this situation always amuses me, and to be honest, the hard work of casting has already been done, here. Give the people what they want!

Smallville has long been a beloved DCTV property, and that remains the case more than a decade after the show completed its 10-season run. That enduring popularity has been so palpable that there are those who’ve been eager to see a continuation series of sorts. A revival has indeed been discussed in some form or fashion and, as a longtime fan, I’d be down to see that come to fruition. Now, I feel even more passionate about now being the time for such a show after hearing some recent comments shared by Justin Hartley.

Why Should A Smallville Revival Happen Now?

The superhero media landscape has obviously become so much more vast since The WB/CW’s Superman prequel series flew onto the small screen in 2001. It was a novelty at the time and ironically went on to create the spark that led to the inception of the Arrowverse. Now, even that latter franchise is done, and that’s in great part due to the rise of the DCU continuity. DC Studios co-presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran are cooking up some cool stuff, but I’d really love for the pair to bring back Smallville.

There’s an endearing quality to the property, which certainly has moments of action and suspense, but also places a heavy emphasis on the characters. Speaking of which, the cast is downright impeccable, as I still consider Tom Welling an excellent Clark Kent. Michael Rosenbaum also crushes the role of Lex Luthor, and I could imagine him sliding back into it. Also, I have to mention the talents of cast members like Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang) and Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen), who I’d love to see back in the fold.

Quite frankly, a revival project wouldn’t even necessarily need to be a show, as a TV movie could work as well. By the time an older Clark appears during the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, he’s given up his powers for unknown reasons. A movie could focus on that story, which could essentially be his final fight as Superman. Whatever the case, I’d love to see more from this specific continuity, and I’m encouraged after hearing Hartley share his thoughts on suiting up again.

How Would Justin Hartley Feel About Playing Green Arrow Again?

Since hanging up Oliver Queen’s bow and arrow in 2011, Justin Hartley has seen a considerable amount of success. He starred on the hit NBC drama This is Us and, right now, he’s headlining the CBS drama series Tracker. Hartley recently appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show to discuss his latest show, and the host brought up Smallville. She then asked if Hartley would be open to playing another hero, and he not only explained (in the YouTube clip) that he would play Green Arrow again, but he also explained why he’d like to return:

What I think would be really cool though, now that I'm older, I have different life experiences and I would approach it differently and I think it would be a different story. I'd like to jump back into that Green Arrow suit…. Maybe not that exact suit but something a little hipper.

Hartley has spoken fondly about working on Smallville and, on that note, he’s shared positive thoughts on his experience playing Green Arrow. Considering how Hartley has changed in the time since he last wore that jade outfit, I’d love to see him get another crack at it in some way. (And, yes, I’d agree that his superhero suit could use an upgrade.) Of course, if a sequel show were to happen, it would probably have to occur after Tracker is done (barring any kind of master scheduling). Or maybe Hartley could just recur on that theoretical show. Whatever the case, since the Smallville cast is getting older, the revival would need to happen sooner rather than later.

On that note, Welling and Rosenbaum have been trying to pitch an animated sequel series, though their efforts have seemingly stalled due to the changing of the guard at Warner Bros. (which is also now set to be acquired by Paramount Skydance). So a new Smallville show may be only a dream right now but, for the time being, I’m holding onto hope that it’ll happen. For now, fans can check out all 10 seasons of the original show with a Hulu subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the midseason premiere of Tracker, “The Fallout,” streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker has finally returned to CBS as part of the 2026 TV schedule to resume its third season, and the midseason premiere was not for the faint of heart. The episode resolved the terrifying cliffhanger from the midseason finale, which saw Justin Hartley’s Colter in serious danger. And that was only the beginning of his troubles. Now, Hartley is explaining why Colter’s world has been turned upside down, and I’m excited to see what’s to come!

In Sunday’s episode, “The Fallout,” Colter found himself in some serious trouble due to having been framed for murder. The situation centered around a conspiracy involving corrupt police and a kidnapping. With the help of Billie (Sofia Pernas), Colter had to run from the law and while, this may have been stressful for viewers, Hartley shared a different take. He told Deadline:

I was so excited to see how everything would turn out with Colter running from the police, rather than helping them, as it marked a stark change of pace for the show. While his name was cleared and the conspiracy was uncovered by the episode’s end, the ramifications of what went down could linger, which is great.

This story arc is a testament to the fact that the creative team behind Tracker is not afraid to take risks, and I can understand why Hartley would be so pleased with this storyline. While I was stressed the entire time I watched this installment, I appreciated it. All in all, I'd prefer a show that would keep me guessing from time to time instead of playing it safe. Up to this point,Tracker could be unpredictable at times, so a swing like this really bodes well for the show's future.

Yes, the road could get bumpy for Colter, but I'm confident that regardless of what comes his way, he'll overcome it, whether by himself or with the help of Reenie, Randy, Billie, or anyone else, no matter how injured he may be.

Fans are certainly in luck, as they'll be able to see more of Colter's adventures a bit longer. It's already been confirmed that the Hartley-led series has been renewed for Season 4. So the writers still have some narrative real estate to cover as well as some opportunities to shock viewers even further.

If Tracker's midseason premiere is anything to go by, viewers could be in for quite a ride throughout the duration of this season. More immediately, though, I'm just pleased that the show has finally returned. On that note, new episodes air on Sundays at 8 pm. ET on CBS, streaming the next day on Paramount+. We'll see if Colter manages to get into a situation that matches the danger of being framed for murder.

Three years have passed since This Is Us’ series finale shut the book on the Pearson family saga, and yet it’s pretty amazing how quickly those emotions can come flooding back. The NBC ensemble drama had a way of bringing the tears — both happy and sad — over its six-season run, and Justin Hartley’s reaction to rewatching one of the series’ most brutally heartbreaking scenes has me back in my feelings.

The series centered around the Pearson family: Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), his wife Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and their children, the Big Three — Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissie Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown), who they adopted after he was abandoned at a fire station. There was always tension between Kevin and Randall, especially after Jack died of heart failure following a house fire (sorry, Crock-Pot).

The sibling rivalry came to a head in the Season 4 finale, when the brothers went for the jugular, Randall telling Kevin that their father had died ashamed of him, and Kevin responding with an equally cruel sentiment, saying:

Justin Hartley relived that scene in a segment with People, and he wore the most pained expression on his face as he pleaded with his character:

Seeing the regret Justin Hartley had that Kevin could say that to his brother made me tear up in the same way it did when I first watched the scene back in 2020. It was awful, but it was also so authentic to the characters. Hartley explained:

That was also the beauty of This Is Us. The way the writers jumped around in time to explore the Big Three in different stages of their lives gave us so much context into their thoughts and actions. It also showed them as flawed characters, with Justin Hartley acknowledging the brothers could have handled the situation differently, but that’s often not what happens in real life.

Over the first four seasons we were shown so many layers to these characters that by the time Kevin and Randall faced off in that episode, we knew how much Randall struggled to fit in with his white family. We also knew how much Kevin resented the extra attention his brother got from their parents because of that, making their insults toward each other cut so deep. Justin Hartley said:

That’s a hard point to argue, with its cast and crew being nominated for dozens of Emmy Awards during its six seasons. It’s also hard to argue how much of an impact a show has had when simply rewatching a scene from five years ago can elicit all the same emotions it did the first time.

Luckily for us, we can still revisit any part of the Pearson family timeline, as all six seasons of This Is Us are available to stream with a Hulu subscription.

Jensen Ackles has remained plenty busy since playing Dean Winchester on Supernatural, which ended in 2020 after 15 seasons. Most recently, he starred in the crime drama Countdown on the 2025 TV schedule. Unfortunately, Prime canceled the show after one season. Luckily, he still has The Boys’ fifth and final season to look forward to, along with prequel series, Vought Rising. But if that doesn’t work out, another show wants him for a spinoff.

Tracker's Showrunner Would Love An Ackles-Fronted Spinoff

Aside from the multiple projects he has streaming with a Prime Video subscription, Ackles has also been appearing on CBS’ Tracker as Russell Shaw, the older brother of Justin Hartley’s Colter. He was first introduced in the first season as Colter’s estranged brother, but now that they’ve been learning more about their complicated family history, the two have been growing closer. Ackles guest starred in the two-part Season 3 premiere, but showrunner Elwood Reid tells TV Insider he would love nothing more than to snag him for more than just a guest appearance:

What kind of storylines Reid would have cooked up for a Russell spinoff is unknown, but there is much to learn about him. And it would be good to see what he’s doing when he’s not dealing with his brother. Of course, given Ackles’ commitment to Amazon, that might be hard to do, but it sounds like Reid would immediately give him a spinoff if he were able to.

What Ackles Has Going On At Amazon

Ackles and his wife, One Tree Hill star Danneel Ackles, entered a first-look deal at Amazon in 2023 for their production company Chaos Machine. This means that Amazon will be a priority for Ackles when it comes to projects he’s producing and acting in, such as Countdown. Also under the agreement will be the upcoming The Boys prequel, Vought Rising.

The series was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 and is set to follow the origins of Vought. Executive producers Paul Grellong and Eric Kripke shared that the series is a “twisted murder mystery” in the 1950s. Along with Ackles reprising his role as Soldier Boy, Aya Cash will reprise her role as Stormfront. The stacked ensemble cast also includes Mason Dye, Elizabeth Posey, Will Hochman, Jorden Myrie, Nicoló Pasetti, Ricky Staffieri, Brian J. Smith, and KiKi Layne.

Until Vought Rising premieres on Prime Video, it’s hard to predict how things will go. At the very least, if it doesn’t match the success of its predecessor, it sounds like Ackles won’t have any trouble landing another show. And it’s likely Russell Shaw will still be popping up on Tracker regardless, which will be better than nothing. Fans will just have to wait and see what happens.

Spoilers ahead for Part 1 of the Tracker Season 3 premiere, “The Process,” streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker finally premiered its third season on Sunday on the 2025 TV schedule, and it was as intense as ever. Following the events of the Season 2 finale, which saw Colter (Justin Hartley) finding out that his mother was more or less responsible for the death of his father, Ashton, the trauma still hasn't subsided. Big brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) reconnected with his sib, and the two tried to help find a missing mother and her daughter while also dealing with what really happened to their dad. Not the most traditional form of coping.

The first part of the two-part Season 3 premiere gave audiences an emotional reunion after Russell finally tracked Colter down, and it’s the first time they’ve really spoken since the secret about their parents was revealed. But it’s not all great, as Russell shared he’s actually been in contact with their mom, though it’s not in the way fans may think. Showrunner Elwood Reid told TVLine that while Russell did briefly have contact with her, he has a different perspective about the whole situation than his brother:

For a long time, Colter believed that Russell was responsible for the death of their father, and it’s taken them a while for them to get back to normal over these first two seasons. But once Russell shared that someone else was on that cliff with Ashton that night, Colter wanted to dig deeper, and when he finally found out the truth, it was not easy.

Now that both brothers know the truth, and it was as shocking as ever, it’s not going to be easy going back to normal for the entire family. Of course, Mary’s lie won’t go away just like that, and it will continue throughout the season as Colter, Russell, and probably Dory (Melissa Roxburgh) work through what truly happened to their dad and strive to get more answers:

Since Tracker’s premiere, it’s been clear that the Shaw family is pretty complicated, but it’s now more complicated than ever. It’s unknown what exactly will happen as the two-part premiere continues next week, but Jensen Ackles will be appearing in multiple episodes of Season 3, and fans can likely expect more of their family history and drama to be aired out. Whether or not Roxburgh will be joining them is unknown, but it’s possible.

Fans will just have to wait and see how the secret continues to tear the Shaw family apart or keep some of them together when new episodes of Tracker air on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. There will be a lot more to look forward to, and no telling what will go down.

Tracker has made some big cast changes ahead of returning for Season 3 in the fall of the 2025 TV schedule, with the departures of Abby McEnany and Eric Graise leaving Justin Hartley and Fiona Rene as the only two series regulars left. Fortunately, cast cuts don't mean familiar faces can't return, and Countdown's Jensen Ackles has confirmed that he'll be back as Russell Shaw for Season 3. With that good news, I can't help but think it'd be great to see Hartley as a guest star on Ackles' Countdown if it returns for Season 2 on Prime Video.

Jensen Ackles' Return To Countdown

The timing couldn't be better for the official news that Jensen Ackles will reprise his role as Russell Shaw opposite Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, as the Supernatural vet recently shared what it's like working with the This Is Us alum. No details are available about Russell's next appearance other than that filming so early likely means he'll appear sooner rather than later in Season 3... and Russell will still have a beard, based on the fun video. Check out Ackles' announcement:

Well, credit to Jensen Ackles for mastering the art of dropping news without giving away any spoilers, because he didn't even say the word "Tracker" in his video! Any eagle-eyed viewer can be left with no doubt, however. Even if we considered the possibility that Ackles would somehow have taken on a totally different character on a different show who just also happens to be named Russell, the actor does slightly pan the camera over to see Hartley's "Colter" trailer.

Without much to go on to speculate, I can't help but also note that Ackles made sure to shout out the latest episode of Countdown, available streaming now with a Prime Video subscription. While the action-packed drama has yet to be renewed for Season 2, I think Justin Hartley needs to make a guest appearance if it does.

Could Justin Hartley Appear On Countdown Season 2?

Considering that Countdown kicked off by introducing and then killing a character played by Milo Ventimiglia, the This Is Us connection alone would make an appearance by Justin Hartley pretty fun. That's not to say he'd need to be killed off, but even a cameo might be enough. Plus, Ackles and Hartley are both alums of long-running shows on The WB/The CW. Hartley played Oliver Queen on Smallville, while Ackles had stints on Dawson's Creek and Smallville before landing his beloved role as Dean Winchester on Supernatural.

Clearly, the two have both come a long way from their days as CW stars, and with Jensen Ackles appearing on Tracker, why not Hartley on Countdown? Ackles seemingly has a packed schedule with Countdown, his The Boys spinoff, and now dropping in and out of Tracker from time to time. Surely Hartley could have a break in his Tracker calendar for even a tiny cameo, right?

Well, I can always hope! For now, fans of Jensen Ackles can just cross their fingers that Countdown is renewed for a second season, while Tracker viewers can keep counting down the days until the CBS drama returns in October.

After Tracker’s second season finale dug deeper into the complicated Shaw family history and revealed that Colter’s mother was responsible for his father’s death, Season 3 will likely continue to open up those wounds on the 2025 TV schedule. This hopefully means bringing back Colter’s siblings, including his brother Russell, who is played by Jensen Ackles. Even amid his busy schedule with Prime Video’s new crime drama Countdown and the upcoming The Boys prequel Vought Rising, he’s still making time for Tracker. Having appeared in a few episodes in earlier seasons, Ackles is opening up about what it’s really like working with pal Justin Hartley.

It may be surprising to know that Hartley and Ackles have actually known each other for quite a long time, and it’s actually one of the reasons why the Supernatural star is playing Russell in the first place. While the two were both on Smallville, Ackles’ character Jason Teague was long dead once Hartley’s version of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow came around, they were still on The CW at the same time and had likely become close through the various events they attended together.

For Ackles, he loves working with Hartley and playing his brother after knowing him for so long, as he told TV Insider:

Even though it’s still weird to see Ackles playing an older brother to someone other than Jared Padalecki, it has been fun to see his dynamic with someone else after all these years. And it’s better knowing how long Ackles and Hartley have known each other, which is why they make a great team, even with their strained on-screen relationship. But that’s not the only reason why Ackles loves working with Hartley on Tracker:

It’s been exciting to see Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley portray brothers. And now that Colter knows what he knows about his dad, it’s hard to predict how things will go down with Russell once he knows, especially since it was thought for a long time that he had something to do with their father’s death. It’s unknown how many episodes Ackles will be appearing in for Season 3, but it sounds like he’s looking forward to working with Hartley again and exploring more about the Shaw family.

With Ackles saying there's "probably a good chance" he'll be coming back for Season 3, there is still the question of whether or not Melissa Roxburgh will make an appearance as Colter and Russell’s sister, Dory. Just like Ackles, Roxburgh has been pretty busy with her own show, The Hunting Party, which is coming back for Season 2 this fall on NBC. It might be hard to bring her back, even for just one episode, but nothing is off the table yet.

If anything, fans will be able to look forward to probably seeing Russell Shaw back on their screens come Season 3 this fall, and he and Colter have a lot to catch up on. Tracker Season 3 premieres on Sunday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Meanwhile, the first two seasons are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker is returning for its third season this October as part of the 2025 TV schedule, and I'm pumped for new episodes. So far, the series has helped CBS dominate ratings-wise, and I'm eager to see if its audience grows amid the 2025-26 season. That aside, Season 2 ended with Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw discovering his mother had a hand in his father’s death, and there's no telling where the story will go from there. Unfortunately, that plot will have to unfold without two series regulars, who are exiting the show (and I'm annoyed).

Which Tracker Stars Are Leaving The Show?

TVLine reports that the aforementioned CBS drama is losing both Abby McEnany and Eric Graise ahead of Season 3. McEnany and Graise have been on the show since Season 1, portraying Colter’s handler Velma Bruin and master hacker Bobby Exley, respectively. Their exits follow that of Robin Weigert, who departed Tracker as Teddi Bruin prior to Season 2.

McEnany and Graise’s exits leave Justin Hartley and Fiona Rene as the last two remaining series regulars. Also, from a narrative standpoint, Colter is now without a permanent handler and hacker. At this point, it can only be speculated as to whether a new character will be introduced to serve as Colter's handler moving forward. Of course, the character certainly needs help with background research while he’s on the road.

As for a hacker, The Originals alum Chris Lane was brought on during the second season as Randy, Bobby’s cousin, who also is a hacker. So my immediate theory is that Randy could end up filling his cousin's role.

There could indeed be simple fixes to compensate for both Bobby and Velma's absences. However, that doesn't make me any less miffed that these moves fall in line with similar developments that have plagued other network shows as of late.

I’m Annoyed By These Tracker Departures And Others

Obviously, it’s not unusual for a show to lose a cast member or two over the course of its run, and it’s definitely disappointing that Tracker is losing not one but two series regulars after previously losing one. Let's face it, cast changes happen, whether because an actor wants to move on, the story calls for an exit, the budget dictates cuts or any other number of reasons.

However, these latest exits come at a very interesting time, where it feels like a considerable number of network TV shows are losing cast members and bringing new ones on. Quite frankly, I’m just tired of it.

In recent weeks, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, FBI, 9-1-1, Elsbeth and Fire Country have lost at least one actor ahead of their upcoming seasons. For example, Chicago Fire lost its third cast member ahead of Season 14. Again, it’s normal for this to happen, but it’s certainly more frustrating knowing that so many great shows are losing excellent actors around the same span of time. What's more is that said characters play varying roles of importance to their respective shows, and there is no way of knowing if they'll be written out effectively.

It's sad saying goodbye to a beloved character on a show, but it’s even more solemn when it occurs on a show multiple times. When it rains it pours, though, I'm not sure I can take another one of my favorite shows losing yet another cast member. Of course, that's just what happens in the TV business, I suppose and, when it comes to Tracker, I'm staying optimistic that the series will remain solid even without two of its OG stars.

Tracker Season 3 premieres on CBS on Sunday, October 19 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can prepare for the upcoming episodes by streaming the first two seasons with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker notched impressive ratings during its second season, so it was no surprise when the CBS drama was renewed for a third season. New episodes will air this fall amid the 2025 TV schedule, and production will get underway soon. The Justin Hartley-led series has been filled with twists and turns thus far, and there seems to be more to come. After the finale dropped more clues about what really happened the night Colter’s father died, Hartley is teasing an aspect of the Shaw family's history that's going to be explored.

In the Season 2 finale, Colter found out that his own mother hired a man to push his father off a cliff. It was a big reveal, and not just because of his mom's actions alone. Colter had also been searching for more answers after he long believed that his brother was responsible. Luckily, fans will be learning much more about the “why” when Tracker returns, as Hartley told Variety:

There are a lot of questions following the Season 2 finale, and there's surely a lot to unpack. Now that the show is really starting to further explore the Shaw patriarch's death, I'm curious as to how all of this will be resolved. Fans also have to consider the inevitable reactions from Russell (Jensen Ackles) and Dory (Michael Roxburgh), Colter's two siblings. This is definitely one of those shows that keeps viewers guessing, and Justin Hartley made a good point about why he likes that:

Tracker has occasionally brought up Colter’s father and what happened to him, and that's only grown due to conversations amongst the lead character and his siblings. As much as I'd love answers, I do enjoy the murkiness that the show presents. Surely, all of the answers won't come all at once, with various developments likely arising at different parts of the season. What I would imagine, though, is that when it's all said and done, Colter's view of his family could change. He may even have more questions about his childhood.

Aside from additional information on the Shaw family history, there still isn’t too much known about Tracker’s third season. It hasn't even been confirmed that Ackles and Roxburgh will be reprising their roles. Despite the level of uncertainty that exists behind the scenes, I'd really love to see a reunion between the Shaw siblings. All three of them have yet to appear on screen together (as Colter has met up with them on separate occasions), but I'd love to see them all together as they reckon with their past.

A premiere date for Tracker Season 3 has not yet been announced, and I'm eager to receive that information. Of course, I'll also be waiting intently to the answers on the Shaw family. For now, the first two seasons are streamable with a Paramount+ subscription.

Now that we're nearly at the halfway point of the 2025 TV schedule, it means the numbers have been tallied for the most-watched shows from 2024-2025 season, and while the program at the top of the list is no big shock, Justin Hartley's CBS drama Tracker pulled off a surprising win that only one other TV drama, Yellowstone, has pulled off in recent years.

To be expected, both NFL and NCAA football have a healthy presence in the overall totals, and CBS predictably stomped the competition in terms of programming, boasting 14 of TV's 20 biggest non-sports audiences, according to TVLine. Let's take a closer look at how Tracker's sophomore season managed to beat the odds and top its already impressive first year out.

Tracker Came In Second Only To Annual Champ Sunday NIght Football

Let's not beat around the bush here: Tracker's first season was a huge success for CBS, as viewers turned up in droves to see Justin Hartley's first big TV role after This Is Us. Season 1's average viewership of 10.84 million made it the top drama of the 2023-2024 season, though it came in third place behind ABC's #2 slot-holder Monday Night Football.

But those tides have turned, at least for one year, as Tracker's second season averaged a total of 11 million viewers per episode (with Live + 7 delayed-viewing measured). It's no wonder CBS gave it an early season renewal alongside other shows.

Monday Night Football? It fell to the third spot with 10.3 million viewers on average. Sorry, fellas.

Tracker Is The Only Drama To Top Both NFL And NCIS Besides Yellowstone Since 2017

While it's already rare for anything to beat either primetime NFL games or NCIS in total viewers, it's altogether rarer for a drama to do both. Yellowstone did it during the 2022-2023 season, and was the first cable series to pull off that kind of win since The Walking Dead's monster run on AMC. But it was back in 2017-2018 that another drama reached the #2 spot: This Is Us, which also starred Justin Hartley. If only he'd have been on Yellowstone at some point, he might be considered TV ratings' Holy Grail.

By and large, though, NCIS is almost always the go-to top dawg when it comes to scripted dramas. There were times when The Big Bang Theory and even the return of Roseanne pulled in bigger crowds, but McGee & Co. tend to hold the reins for hourlong fare.

For a caveat or two, Monday Night Football was an ESPN exclusive for quite a few years, where it wasn't as much of a ratings king, and only returned to ABC in a widespread capacity in 2022. Prior to that, CBS' scored quite a few wins with Thursday Night Football, though its scheduling was also sporadic due to NFL Network.

All things considered, Tracker's ratings win makes me even more anxious to see Luke Grimes' upcoming Yellowstone spinoff hitting CBS' Fall lineup, so that NCIS' biggest dramatic competition in the past decade or so can go head to head. My money is on Taylor Sheridan's universe, but I won't be shocked if Hartley comes out on top. We just have to wait the next few months for Season 3 to get here first.

CBS’s prime time lineup is stacked. From franchises like NCIS and FBI to comedies like Ghosts, the network is doing great. However, four of its newer shows – Fire Country, Tracker, Elsbeth and Matlock – are really thriving right now. So, with that in mind, and knowing that all these CBS staples have been renewed for more, Fire Country’s Max Thieriot spoke about all the shows, and he answered a question I never thought of before: which lead character would win in a fight?

As CBS prepares to air new episodes for many of its shows on the 2025 TV schedule, Max Thieriot went on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to chat about Fire Country’s return this Friday. During their chat, the host asked “Mr. CBS” about his show’s spinoff, Sheriff Country, which led to a sillier question about how the fire drama's hero would square up against the other protagonists in popular procedurals. Here’s how that back-and-forth went:

• Stephen Colbert: Who would win in a fight, Bode or Tracker?
• Max Thieriot: Oh, man, I mean, come on.
• Stephen Colbert: Alright, what if Elsbeth gets in there?

Now, when it comes to Bode vs. Justin Hartley’s Colter, it’s hard to say who’d win. We also don’t know what kind of fight they’d get in. If it’s based on their shows, Tracker might take the cake because when its renewal was announced, it was revealed that it brings in 18 million multiplatform viewers, while Fire Country delivers 10.6 million. However, if it’s based on the characters themselves, I think it’d be a draw.

Meanwhile, if Carrie Preson’s Elsbeth got in the mix, it’d be a totally different story. When asked what could happen if the lawyer-turned-crime-solver got in there, Thieriot joked:

You know, I’d have to agree. If Elsbeth were to face off against Colter and Bode, all bets would be off.

As a fan of The Good Wife and Elsbeth, I know how scrappy Preston’s character is – we’ve really seen it come out this season too, thanks to the storyline involving Michael Emerson’s Judge Crawford. And I think that would make her a contender in this fight.

Plus, she’s proven time and time again that she should never be underestimated. Her creativity, persistence and willingness to do what needs to be done makes her quite the fighter (well, a verbal one at least).

So, I 100% agree with Thieriot that if Elsbeth were in the mix here, it’d be hard to beat her. The guys might physically be bigger than her, but she’s low-key fearless and super scrappy, so they would need to watch their backs.

Adding to this fantastical fight, Colbert also asked what would happen if Kathy Bates’ Matlock entered the ring. In response, Fire Country’s co-creator made it clear as day that his character and Hartley’s would be taken down by the two women:

Truly, I think he’s right. Especially if this fight was a battle of wits, Bode and Colter wouldn’t stand a chance against the lawyers. That’s because if you’ve watched Elsbeth, The Good Wife and Matlock on CBS or with a Paramount+ subscription, you’d know they’re not just lawyers, they’re brilliant ones.

So, those guys better watch out if they ever end up in a courtroom (or a fighting ring for that matter).

Overall, this is all just in good fun, and it’s a fantastic reminder that CBS’s primetime lineup is fully back with all new episodes this week! While a crossover between these four shows is likely never going to happen, you can see them all back in action as Matlock and Elsbeth return on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, respectively, Fire Country makes its comeback on Friday at 9 p.m. ET, and Tracker rounds out the week on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Justin Hartley has been winning over the hearts of television watchers for decades now. While fans of the actor all have their favorite roles — mine happens to be his work as Kevin Pearson in NBC’s Thursday night hit series This Is Us — Hartley also has one moment in his career that he feels most proud of, and it perhaps shockingly has nothing to do with his iconic Green Arrow suit he wore on the DC super-drama Smallville.

Hartley shared a list of details with Us Weekly that even his biggest fans don’t know about him. In the middle of those factoids, the Tracker star shared what he feels is the proudest moment of his career, and it just so happens to tie directly to the CBS drama that returned to the 2025 TV schedule in February.

The action drama series is adapted for the screen from the 2019 novel The Never Game, and follows Colter Shaw (Hartley), an experienced survivalist who helps law enforcement and private citizens locate missing people and solve crimes. The first season was met with strong viewership, scoring the broadcast drama an early Season 2 renewal, and as of February 2025, it was picked up for a third season.

Hartley pulls double duty on the show, playing the lead role and also serving as one of the top executive producers alongside showrunner Ken Olin. It marks the first time the This Is Us star has produced television since getting his acting start in the early aughts.

It’s no surprise, then, that Hartley’s first foray into television producing ranks leagues above his days wearing the Green Arrow suit in Smallville. Though, I’m sure fans of the superhero drama would disagree. But don’t worry, Hartley did love his time playing the superhero.

In fact, the Tracker star said in the same interview that he’d love to play a superhero again, maybe even an older version of Green Arrow. If DC doesn’t take him up on the offer, I’m sure the ever-expanding MCU would be glad to welcome the Daytime Emmy nominee. Hopefully, we won't be waiting long to see him in an upcoming superhero movie.

For now, Hartley is kept busy with Tracker’s grueling schedule that has the entire team filming one high-action episode every week. Something even he thinks shouldn’t be possible but is clearly working for the show that managed to grow its ratings at the end of 2024, unlike many other CBS shows.

You can catch new episodes of Tracker every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The series is also available to stream with an active Paramount+ subscription.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 10 of Tracker Season 2, called "Nightingale" and available streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker put Colter Shaw on a case in Minnesota with a big potential payday in the latest episode of the 2025 TV schedule, but he was still shaking off the events of the midseason premiere and the confirmation after ten long years that Gina Picket was dead. Over the course of the hour, he discovered that the suspected murderous kidnapper (played by 9-1-1: Lone Star's Jim Parrack) was neither a murderer nor a kidnapper.

By the end, before he collected his $50,000 reward, Colter got a message from an unexpected source that I suspect means he's on his way toward being ready to reconnect with Dory... based on Justin Hartley's comments, anyway! Let's start at the beginning with "Nightingale."

What Colter Needed To Hear

Colter was withdrawn enough at the start of "Nightingale" that Velma could tell over the phone that Gina was still on his mind after he'd been so determined for so long to find her, but he perked up once he was on the case to track down Ben, the alleged kidnapper, before the worst could happen to the missing Angela. Ben's grandmother was certain of her grandson's innocence of the deaths of two bikers and a cop, and against all odds, she was correct by the end.

Ben hadn't kidnapped Angie; he'd saved her from a biker who was the real killer of the other three men. They were in hiding together, and Colter was captured long enough to pick up on some survivalist tendencies that he and Ben had in common from how they were raised. Colter didn't dive deep into the Shaw family lore while chatting with Ben, but he clearly saw some parallels.

And when all was said and done, they even agreed that they might have been friends under different circumstances. The person who had the message that Colter needed to hear wasn't Ben or Angie, though, but rather Ben's grandmother. She told him:

While it wasn't a grand speech from somebody who knows his whole story, he looked on the verge of tears when he heard those words from the woman who had hired him. It was a very sweet moment not just between the characters, but between the actors as well. Colter needed to hear that sentiment from somebody, and perhaps it hit him even harder to get it from a person he'd just met.

With a well-deserved win that didn't end in the death of the person he was searching for this time, he looked like a weight had lifted from his shoulders compared to how he started the episode. Now, he seems much more capable of moving forward than he did when saying goodbye to Camille in the midseason premiere last week. The Picket family tragedy chapter of his life seems to finally be over and increasingly behind him.

And that hopefully means a return to the Shaw family mysteries! Hartley teased as much when he mentioned the "family issues" as the upcoming "serialized element" to Tracker, with a lot of "questions to answer."

What About Dory?

I spoke with the This Is Us alum ahead of the midseason premiere, at which point Colter had been actively dodging calls from his sister. While Melissa Roxburgh has only appeared in one episode of Tracker so far as Dory, Colter learned in the Season 1 finale that his sister knew a lot more about their dad than she let on.

We haven't really seen him explore the aftermath of that bombshell, but I get the sense that Colter may nearly be ready for it after hearing directly from Justin Hartley... even if the character is "very uncomfortable" with elements of it. On the subject of Colter avoiding Dory's phone calls, Hartley explained:

Reuniting with Dory when he doesn't know the play is "very uncomfortable" for Colter, per the star, but after solving the Gina Picket mystery and taking some time to gather his thoughts, maybe the time is right. When he and Russell reunited early in Season 2 with Jensen Ackles' return, they didn't get too deeply into the family drama.

With Dory, that would be unavoidable after how Season 1 ended. So, with all of this said, is Melissa Roxburgh even returning to Tracker this year? I asked the leading man about the chances of seeing Dory again in Season 2, and he had good news:

It remains to be seen if/when Melissa Roxburgh does drop by Tracker again, but The Hunting Party – a.k.a. her new NBC show – has already wrapped filming on its first season. I'd still love to see a Shaw family reunion with Justin Hartley, Melissa Roxburgh, and Jensen Ackles all in the same episode, but for now, at least the odds seem great for Dory in the not-too-distant future. Based on the promo for the next episode, though, Colter might have more pressing problems than his dad's past. Take a look:

Keep tuning in to CBS on Sundays for new episodes of Tracker Season 2. The network recently announced the hit drama's renewal for the 2025-2026 TV season, along with another eight of its series. So, whatever happens for the Shaw family in the coming weeks, at least fans can count on Colter being back for Season 3 down the road.

We aren't even two months into the year, and the 2025 TV schedule has already been filled to the brim with great shows and networks have been taking notice and handing out renewals. In fact, CBS renewed nine shows on Thursday, including Justin Hartley’s hit drama Tracker, while Hulu picked up Sterling K. Brown’s Paradise for a second season. With the This Is Us stars sticking around on their respective shows, their former NBC co-stars are showing all the love, and I'm thrilled to see it!

The Members Of This Is Us’ Big Three Respond To Paradise’s Renewal

Paradise, which comes from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, dropped early on streaming services on January 26, two days before it was scheduled to premiere the first three episodes. Since then, the show has become quite a hit, leading Hulu to renew it with just six episodes under its belt.

Brown dropped the good news via the Paradise Instagram account, with “Season 2” written on his hand to celebrate, take a look:

Many fans took to the comments to share their happiness over the news, as well as some of the Paradise cast, including James Marsden.

But that’s not all. Brown’s This Is Us co-star Chrissy Metz couldn’t help but share some sisterly love for her on-screen brother and was as excited as ever to hear that more Paradise is on the way, commenting:

Additionally, Hartley liked Brown’s post about the show, proving that The Big Three will always be close.

Even though the NBC drama these actors worked on together ended in 2022, the cast is still like a family, and it’s so great to see, especially since we know the This Is Us cast still text each other.

Also, seeing this renewal has me thinking that since Brown is still working with Fogelman on Paradise, maybe another This Is Us reunion could happen on the show...or Hartley's series, Tracker.

The This Is Us Family Reacted To Tracker’s Renewal

Thursday was a big day for the This Is Us family when it came to renewals, because Tracker, which is executive produced by This Is Us producer and director Ken Olin, was also given a third-season pickup on CBS.

Justin Hartley posted a video to his Instagram telling the cast and crew the good news, and it’s wonderful, take a look:

The Pearson family was quick to show love to Hartley, with his on-screen mother, Mandy Moore, liking the post. Brown also took to the comments to share the love and hope that Tracker sticks around for years to come:

Tracker has had a few This Is Us reunions already, and with more on the way, it’s possible that more of the Pearson family or family friends will appear. However, fans will just have to wait and see.

At the very least, the love and support are pouring in from the cast, and I can’t get enough of it. Now, it's time to get excited about what's to come as you continue supporting these shows by streaming Paradise with a Hulu subscription and watching Tracker on CBS or with a Paramount+ subscription.

We're still just a couple of months into the 2025 TV schedule, and CBS already has great news for many of its current series. No fewer than nine shows have been renewed for the 2025-2026 TV season, with Ghosts even getting a double renewal. Tracker fans in particular have a lot to celebrate, as the renewal for Season 3 comes just days after Justin Hartley's drama returned from its winter break with a midseason premiere that delivered some long-awaited closure. The good news reminded me of what Hartley shared about why Tracker should be impossible to make, and it's clear that all the hard work paid off yet again.

When I spoke with Justin Hartley about Colter Shaw's determination to finally close a case that has been on his mind for a decade, he opened up about the shooting schedule to produce 22 episodes that air between October and (usually) mid-May. He shared that it "takes eight days for us to film one episode," and sometimes they just "have to take a break so that the writers can catch up, so the editors can catch up, so the shooting schedule can catch up."

Considering how action-packed Tracker is on a weekly basis – not to mention a variety of filming locations across Vancouver – I noted to the actor that it doesn't seem like it should be possible to film a full episode in just over a week. (You can find all episodes so far streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.) Hartley responded:

Justin Hartley had opened up about the "grueling" schedule for Season 1 that resulted in great ratings and an early renewal in 2024; that doesn't seem to have changed for Season 2. The This Is Us alum was clear that while he encountered actors who weren't entirely prepared for work elsewhere in his career, that didn't apply to Tracker. He went on:

When we spoke just days before the winter premiere in Tracker's new Season 2 time slot at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sundays, Hartley said that the show was just "finishing [Episode 16]" with something like "a month and a half left." All in all, despite how much time is left before Season 2 wraps, it's not shocking that the network gave an early renewal.

Per CBS' renewal announcement, Tracker currently ranks as the #1 entertainment series. Plus, the ratings after 35 days are even more impressive than the ratings after a week of availability. At the end of 2024, Tracker averaged an audience of 11.4 million viewers in Live+7 day totals. In Live+35, Tracker is hitting more than 18 million multiplatform viewers. Not only is that a massive total for a network TV drama, but it's a boost of 4% from the Season 1 totals last year.

So, what's next for Colter Shaw in the second half of Season 2? With the end of mystery about Gina Pickett's fate, the serialized story can switch back to the Shaw family drama. Whether that means a return of Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw remains to be seen, but Hartley teased that the odds of a return from Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw are good. As for Colter's first case following the winter return, check out the promo for the new episode on February 23:

Tracker kicks off CBS' new Sunday night lineup in the new year, followed by Morris Chestnut's freshman series Watson at 9 p.m. ET and Season 5 of Queen Latifah's The Equalizer at 10 p.m. ET. Of those three, only Tracker has renewed for a new season, although it's not surprising that Watson's fate has yet to be decided, as only two episodes so far have aired.

The other eight recently renewed shows in addition to Justin Hartley's hit drama are Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Elsbeth, Ghosts, Fire Country, NCIS, NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, and Hollywood Squares, joining previously renewed dramas FBI and Matlock.

Spoilers ahead for the winter premiere of Tracker, called "The Disciple" and available streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker is officially back after two months of hiatus and a big "To Be Continued" to resolve, with Colter heading into "The Disciple" seemingly closer than ever to finding out the truth about Gina's disappearance. Sadly – although not surprisingly, as Justin Hartley previously pointed out – the end was bittersweet; Gina had been dead for years before Colter caught the bad guy and found the truth about her, but now both Colter himself and Camille have some degree of closure. Hartley spoke with CinemaBlend regarding Tracker's first episode of the 2025 TV schedule, getting back to that Shaw drama, and what could have gone very wrong in making "The Disciple."

Even though the news that Gina has been dead for a long time wasn't exactly the best case scenario for Colter and Camille, they can move on. For Gina's sister, that means finally being free to travel without worrying about missing something. For Colter, it remains to be seen what his life looks like after resolving a mystery that has overshadowed him for a decade. On the subject of Colter's closure, Justin Hartley shared:

Getting any degree of closure surely couldn't have happened if Colter hadn't caught the killer as well as learned Gina's fate, and the reveal was a total shocker... for any fans who didn't know actor Nicholas Lea as the hard-to-kill Krycek from The X-Files and automatically distrust him, anyway.

In all seriousness, Lea's character of Noah Darview seemed pretty insignificant at first, with a tangential tie to The Farm. By the end, though, the big reveal came that Darview was the serial killer known as The Teacher, who had been prolific across the country over the years in not only committing murders, but also recruiting people to do dirty deeds for him.

So, what was it like to work with Nicholas Lea as he portrayed not only the main bad guy of the episode, but the killer behind the murder that had been driving Colter throughout the first half of Season 2? I asked Hartley that very question, and he shared:

Of course, catching The Teacher and finally closing the case on Gina's fate means closure for Camille arguably even more than Colter, and her decision to travel seemingly means that she won't be back any time soon. Was this the end of A Million Little Things vet Floriana Lima on Tracker? According to Hartley, fans shouldn't 100% rule it out. He said:

With the end of the Gina mystery, Tracker has wrapped its big serialized story of the season so far. There's still a full second half of Season 2 still to go, though, and ending one arc doesn't mean that CBS' hit drama is going to be entirely procedural moving forward. Justin Hartley previewed:

Returning to the Shaw family mystery hopefully means Colter gets some answers about that Season 1 finale bombshell about his sister, although he was still dodging Dory's calls as of the fall finale. My fingers are crossed to see both Jensen Ackles as Russell and Melissa Roxburgh as Dory back as Colter's siblings before the final credits roll on Season 2, and the odds seem quite good on at least Roxburgh, based on what Hartley has said. For his part, Ackles appeared in an early episode of Season 2.

Whatever the future holds for the drama of the Shaw family, the next case of the week – which will unfold on Sunday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS – should be an intense one, based on the promo. Take a look:

If you missed the winter premiere of Tracker or any of the earlier episodes, you can find them streaming now on Paramount+. I'm tempted to revisit the Russell and Dory episodes in particular in light of what Justin Hartley teased about the ongoing Shaw family drama. And why not the Season 1 finale as well? It certainly delivered a fun This Is Us reunion with Jennifer Morrison as well as the news about Dory back in 2024.

Tracker is finally returning to CBS in the 2025 TV schedule, nearly two and a half months after the winter finale ended on a "To Be Continued" with Colter getting a promising – albeit bloody – lead in his quest to find the long-lost Gina. Whether or not he can pull off his quest to find her is the biggest question, as he's been trying to solve this mystery for years and years now. Star Justin Hartley spoke with CinemaBlend about the first episode of the new year and why Colter isn't giving up. And it's going to get intense!

As anybody who has been watching Season 2 on CBS to add to the hit drama's high ratings or streaming with a Paramount+ subscription knows, the ongoing storyline has involved the disappearance of Gina Picket ten years ago, with Colter increasingly desperate to find answers for her sister, played by A Million Little Things alum Floriana Lima. Even with that ongoing storyline, Tracker episodes ending on a "To Be Continued" doesn't exactly happen every week.

So, when I spoke with Justin Hartley ahead of the winter premiere on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, I asked: does the first episode of 2025 truly pick up where the last episode of 2024 left off? The This Is Us alum explained:

Colter in fact got his big break of new information from Keaton, played by Bosch's Brent Sexton. The scoop from their not entirely willing source revealed that the man behind Gina's disappearance is known only as "Teacher," and the credits rolled before the bloodied man answered whether Gina was still alive or not.

With 2024 ending on Colter getting a break in the case but also aware of how much time has passed since he first looked into Gina's disappearance, how hopeful is he about finally getting answers? Hartley shared:

For better or worse, Colter isn't giving up on finding Gina and getting answers for Camille, and it seems like those answers could finally be within reach after ten years of wondering. In a fun twist – for viewers, anyway – this storyline has been unfolding throughout all of Season 2 so far, adding some extra depth to the usual procedural cases of the week. Hartley went on, expressing that he's a fan of that serialization:

Given that Tracker still has more than half a season left to go before summer hiatus kicks off, there's no guarantee that the "To Be Continued" finale and this weekend's midseason premiere will actually resolve Gina's story. Of course, there's plenty of lore in Colter's own family to drive the drama, and fans surely wouldn't mind returns from Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw and Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw if the stars align!

For now, check out a promo for Tracker's midseason return to CBS below:

Be sure to tune in to CBS on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET for the midseason premiere of Tracker Season 2, called "The Disciple." Justin Hartley's show becomes the lead-in to Morris Chesnut's freshman series Watson, which has mysteries of its own to resolve with a twist on typical Sherlock Holmes stories.

Tracker featured some great guest stars in its first season on CBS, with Jensen Ackles appearing as Colter Shaw’s brother Russell and Jennifer Morrison giving This Is Us fans the reunion everyone wanted. However, there was one casting decision that hit particularly close to home for Justin Hartley, as his wife Sofia Pernas appeared in one episode as fellow tracker Billie. The actor had a fun comment on how he got Pernas to join the show, and he revealed when and how often we might see her again, now that Season 2 has hit the 2024 TV schedule.

Justin Hartley didn’t have to call in any favors to get Sofia Pernas on board as his rival reward-seeker for Season 1’s “Lexington” (which can be streamed on Hulu or Paramount+, two of the best streaming services). He said on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? (via US Weekly) that it’s one of the perks of being married to an actress:

I'm sure it is fun to share that interest and have your spouse with you on set all day, and in general, when actors enjoy each other’s company off-screen, that chemistry can often be felt when the cameras are rolling as well.

That partnership isn’t something CBS was satisfied with ending after just one episode, so it seems Sofia Pernas will return to Tracker for Season 2, and sooner than you might realize. Justin Hartley said:

Sofia Pernas — who can be found on the 2024 movie calendar later this year as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast — is set to return in the episode “Bloodlines,” which, according to the Futon Critic will see Colter Shaw and Billie Matalon team up again when a high school baseball star goes missing. Not only that, but according to Justin Hartley, Billie will be making a “few” appearances this season.

That great news comes as Jensen Ackles made his Season 2 debut on October 20, and Jennifer Morrison is set to direct at least one episode in Season 2 — just like their This Is Us co-star Jon Huertas did in the series' first cycle — and following that bombshell Lizzy dropped in the Season 1 finale, Justin Hartley said he thinks her character will be back as well.

As for whether Melissa Roxburgh will reprise her role as Colter’s sister Dory, Justin Hartley said production on The Haunting Party — coming to NBC as part of the 2025 TV schedule — wraps before Tracker, so she may appear later in Tracker’s second season.

Catch Sofia Pernas reuniting with her real-life husband on Tracker, which airs at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, October 27, on CBS following 60 Minutes. Episodes can also be streamed the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

As Season 1 of Tracker unfolded and we learned more about Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw and his past, we were introduced to his siblings – Dory and Russell. Immediately, we wanted more of them. Now, as we get closer to Season 2’s premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, we know Jensen Ackles will be back as Russell, but will Melissa Roxburgh come back as Dory? Well, thankfully, Hartley has an update for us on that front.

Ahead of Tracker’s Season 2 premiere on October 13, Justin Hartley gave viewers some insight into what’s to come during an interview with TV Insider. He confirmed that Jensen Ackles will be back as Russell, and he opened up about the questions Colter still has about his siblings and specifically what Dory is hiding. Speaking of Dr. Dory Shaw, the This Is Us star revealed that he expects Roxburgh to reprise her role as his on-screen sister later on in Tracker’s sophomore season:

According to Roxburgh’s IMDb, she’s in pre-production on a series called The Haunting Part, which will come out in 2025. Reportedly, that show will have 10 episodes, while Tracker will have 22. So, it makes total sense that she'll have more time later in the season to return to the CBS drama.

So, while Ackles will be back, and Hartley provided some intriguing details about his return, including that his role in Episode 2 is “pretty heroic,” we’ll have to wait a while to find out how Dory plays into Season 2. Waiting for her return will be tough, however, I’m grateful that her on-screen bother confirmed she’ll be back. It makes it so that instead of wondering if she’ll reprise her role in general, we can start to theorize about how she’ll make her way back into this story, which is a lot more fun.

Back when Melissa Roxburgh joined Tracker, she told CinemaBlend that the choice to play Dory “was a no-brainer.” She explained that she’s great friends with Justin Hartley and she’s from Vancouver, where the series films, so she was thrilled to join the drama.

On top of that, Roxburgh also told us that she was excited to see Jensen Ackles on the show. She also noted that she worked with him on Supernatural years ago. While she didn’t confirm her return, she did say she “would love to come back and play.” So, I’d honestly be surprised if she didn’t return.

Thankfully, based on Justin Hartley’s latest update, it sounds like we don’t have to worry about that at all.

That wasn’t the only return he confirmed either! The actor revealed that his This Is Us co-star Jennifer Morrison, who appeared in the Season 1 finale of Tracker, will be back too to direct Episode 6. So, that opens a door for her character Lizzy to come back. Personally, I’d love to see her, Roxburgh and Ackles share a scene together. However, since they’re all very busy actors, that will have to stay a dream…for now.

Overall, it sounds like all the fan-faves from Tracker, including Melissa Roxburgh, are coming back for Season 2. Now the primary question revolves around when that will happen. As we learn more about that answer, we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Tracker will be back on the 2024 TV schedule soon for its second season after a whirlwind freshman installment, and the series is hotter than ever. The Justin Hartley-led CBS drama became an instant hit following its Super Bowl premiere. Plus, alongside Hartley's Colster Shaw, the show brought in his siblings played by Jensen Ackles and Melissa Roxburgh, making for a super fun (and well-cast) drama. So, with plenty of stories to be told, and many great actors to play them out, it seems natural that Tracker would expand. However, when it comes to a spinoff, one EP is explaining why they aren't trying to do that...yet.

With Tracker, there are definitely characters that could be explored more with spinoffs. Whether we're following Ackles and Roxburgh's Russell Shaw and Dory Shaw or Sofia Pernas’ Billie, which would be interesting since she is also a tracker, it feels like it'd be easy to make more quality series within this universe. It would give theTracker universe the chance to really dig into the backgrounds of some of the other characters since Colter is the central focal point of the flagship show, and I think many of us would love to see that happen.

However, showrunner and executive producer Elwood Reid told TVLine that may not be the best idea, at least for now:

It does make sense why Reid doesn’t want a spinoff right away. Tracker’s a very hot series right now, and Hartley has even been compared to fellow CBS star Mark Harmon. However, the show is still finding its legs, and it wants to expand this one universe first before creating others. While there are definitely other stories and characters that a spinoff can follow, it seems like Reid doesn’t want that to happen just yet.

Overall, Tracker is still pretty new, and there is a whole world left to explore and so many characters to meet.

Going into Season 2, Ackles is set to return for a few episodes, while Pernas is also reprising her role. Also, Colter is continuing to travel the country to find missing people, and he’s being introduced to new worlds and characters in every episode, as Reid pointed out:

Tracker could definitely benefit from including the guest stars more, if possible, especially if a character or certain story has spinoff potential.

It is nice that the show explores so many different stories in each episode and brings in new characters each week. However, there are so many stories I simply want more of, and a spinoff could solve that problem.

For example, it would be fun to see what Billie is doing as a tracker and perhaps dig deeper into her complicated backstory with Colter. It might be harder to have a show starring Jensen Ackles, even though that'd be amazing, since the Supernatural alum is busy with not one but two Amazon shows. Jennifer Morrison’s character could also be a possibility for a spinoff. Overall, the opportunities are out there, and I hope that someday one of these characters gets their own show.

That being said, it’s clear that Tracker has spinoff potential, and the flagship show likely won’t be going anywhere anytime soon if it continues on the track it’s on now – no pun intended. There is time for a spinoff and opportunities to expand the series and explore the current characters and storylines. However, that time is not right now...but maybe someday it will happen.

Tracker was the breakout hit of the early 2024 TV schedule, and CBS isn't wasting any this fall by bringing the drama back earlier than expected. Leading man Justin Hartley reunited with Season 1 guest star and Supernatural alum Jensen Ackles for an early episode of Season 2 to thicken the plot about the skeletons in the Shaw family closet. Hartley has opened up with some details about what brings Russell back to reunite with his brother.

Jensen Ackles' first appearance on Tracker came with plenty of Supernatural Easter eggs and some answers for Justin Hartley's Colter. It appears that Russell had nothing to do with the death of their father after all, but that revelation was followed by a bombshell that their sister Dory knows more than she let on when Melissa Roxburgh debuted in the role. Speaking with TV Insider, Hartley previewed about Ackles' return:

Dory seemed to be the normal, well-adjusted Shaw sibling compared to Russell and Colter, but that may not be the case after all. Answers on that front may come sooner rather than later, as Ackles will rejoin Hartley in the second episode of Season 2. Then again, this is Tracker we're talking about; any answers could well just come with more questions. The star went on:

Hartley went on to share that Melissa Roxburgh may be back since production on her new show will end before Tracker's second season, and Jennifer Morrison's return to direct Episode 6 could also lead to her character from the Season 1 finale returning at some point. (Season 1 is available streaming with a Paramount+ subscription now.)

I for one had some concerns that Jensen Ackles wouldn't be available to reprise his role as Russell after news broke that he'd be starring in a new spinoff of The Boys, but that clearly won't be the case. Tracker is losing a series regular for Season 2, however, and it remains to be seen how Teddi's absence is explained without actress Robin Weigert.

For now, it's a waiting game with the Season 2 premiere of Tracker still weeks away. The first episode since the Season 1 finale in the spring airs on CBS on Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m. ET. That's at least earlier than the original plan for the end of October, and earlier than many of CBS' other hits, including NCIS and the FBIs.

The weeks are counting down until the return of Tracker in the 2024 TV schedule, to hopefully pick up where the Season 1 finale left off with Colter facing a bombshell reveal about his own family. So far, not too many details are available about what’s to come aside from the good news about the premiere date, but Jensen Ackles confirmed that he’ll be back as Russell Shaw early in Season 2. Upon looking back at what the Supernatural alum shared, I couldn’t help but remember what Justin Hartley told CinemaBlend in the spring about filming the finale.

Jensen Ackles confirmed his return on Instagram, allaying any fears that his upcoming spinoff of The Boys would prevent him from returning to Tracker. His caption said this about filming his second episode of the hit CBS series:

Admittedly, that caption is really just a succinct way to announce his return without dropping any spoilers about how Tracker picks up for Russell and Colter, but Ackles mentioning Vancouver as a “beautiful city” reminded me of Justin Hartley opening up about filming on location to end Season 1.

I was fortunate enough to speak with the star back in the spring for the Season 1 finale, including about his This Is Us reunion and the dire straits Colter was facing. He also opened up about how he recruited Jensen Ackles to play his on-screen brother and how he managed his grueling schedule as Tracker became a massive network TV hit.

Having already seen the finale at the time, I noted that I would be tempted to watch it a second time just to fully appreciate the scenery on the water as Colter completed his job of finding his friend’s daughter. Hartley responded:

The finale was of course set in a small town and not the city of Vancouver, but “beautiful” seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to filming Tracker. Acknowledging that the beautiful location was also where somebody died in the finale, though, Hartley joked:

Colter wasn’t laughing by the end of the hour after he learned some troubling news about his father and that his sister knew a whole lot more than she let on in the episode that featured Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw. The finale concluded with Colter grabbing a surfboard and running into the water as the sun set, with The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” playing over the soundtrack.

It was visually stunning, but after the emotional ride of the episode’s job, it was also easy to understand why he’d just need a bit of a break from his life to go surfing. Justin Harltey had his own take:

Now, months later, it’s not too much longer before fans get to get back into Colter’s head after what he learned in the Season 1 finale. Jensen Ackles didn’t state if he’d appear in the Season 2 premiere, but it’s a safe bet that his episode is early in the season. The show also has to set up one character’s exit after the actor's departure was announced over the summer.

Tracker returns to CBS for Season 2 on Sunday, October 13 at 8 p.m. ET. In the meantime, you can always revisit the full first season – including that high-stakes but beautiful finale – streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Justin Hartley returned to network TV early in the 2024 TV schedule for Tracker as his first series regular gig since the end of This Is Us back in 2022. The new CBS drama was an immediate hit, becoming the show that topped the ratings in the 2023-2024 TV season. He embraced what he described as the "grueling" schedule to play Colter Shaw, and he'll be back on the airwaves come fall. Ken Olin, who worked with Hartley on both This Is Us and Tracker, gave the actor some well-earned praise and a comparison to NCIS icon Mark Harmon.

Ken Olin was an executive producer and director for NBC's This Is Us before coming to CBS to re-team with Justin Hartley and fill the same roles. Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Olin shared how Hartley is similar to both NCIS' Mark Harmon and another TV great:

Considering that Mark Harmon's NCIS character is so iconic that a prequel series based on Gibbs is set to premiere on CBS in the fall, that's a pretty flattering comparison! The late James Garner also had a lot of TV experience that spanned both drama and comedy, on shows like The Rockford Files and 8 Simple Rules. CBS certainly wasted no time in renewing Tracker for Season 2 and letting Hartley recruit guest stars like Jennifer Morrison and Jensen Ackles.

Ken Olin also wasn't the only one recently singing the star's praises. CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach told the outlet:

There really was no denying that Justin Hartley was a TV star even before Tracker became such a big hit earlier this year. Prior to This Is Us, he had healthy runs on shows like The Young and the Restless, Mistresses, and Smallville. Suffice it to say that his career would have been quite different if he'd played Oliver Queen on The CW's Arrow after playing a very different version on Smallville! All in all, his current CBS hit may have cemented his status as a TV leading man, since he was previously part of more ensemble series.

While it's certainly too early to predict if Hartley could have as long a tenure on CBS as Mark Harmon – who starred in eighteen seasons of NCIS before departing early in Season 19 – I think it's safe to say that plenty of eyes will be on Sunday nights when Tracker returns in the fall. The Season 1 finale ended on a bombshell reveal for Colter, and fallout is sure to come in Season 2... hopefully with Jensen Ackles and/or Melissa Roxburgh back as Colter's siblings.

The finale ended on Colter getting some concerning news about Roxburgh's Dory and the door was very much still open on Ackles' Russell following his episode (with some Supernatural Easter eggs), so my fingers are crossed to see the Shaw siblings back together at some point in the new season.

Tracker returns for Season 2 on Sunday, October 27 on CBS. If you want to revisit Justin Hartley's first round as a CBS leading man, you can find the full first season streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Summer hiatus has started for network television's biggest shows, but no series had as successful a spring as CBS' Tracker. With Justin Hartley's first series regular gig since the end of This Is Us, the new drama rode a post-Super Bowl premiere slot to an early renewal for Season 2 and some massive ratings. The actor spoke with CinemaBlend about the show's early success and his intense schedule.

Just days after the Season 1 finale dropped a Shaw family bombshell on Colter, CBS announced that Tracker became the #1 non-sports show on television for the 2023-2024 TV season with an average 11.58 million viewers per episode and upward of 81 million viewers from its debut in February. This was the first instance of a freshman show ranking at #1 since Survivor did so back in the 2000-2001 season. Talk about some great news on the Tracker front following the finale!

Of course, nobody had to wait until after the finale to learn how well Tracker was doing in the ratings. When I spoke with Justin Hartley about his first season as Colter Shaw, he opened up regarding whether the early Season 2 renewal – which was after only four episodes had aired – affected the plans for how Season 1 could end, saying:

Justin Hartley didn't have to wait too long to learn that working his "grueling" schedule paid off in the form of being picked up for Season 2. It energized him as an actor, but did it affect the writing since the writers would be able to plan ahead for the Season 1 finale and a second season? The star said:

It's no surprise that Hartley had an intense schedule on Tracker, and not just because he's the sole leading man this time around rather than one of several leads like on This Is Us. In addition to starring in CBS' mega hit, he is an executive producer. When I asked what it has been like for him starring as well as producing, he said:

Executive producer Ken Olin certainly had a list of hit shows to his name before Tracker, including Alias, Brothers & Sisters, and This Is Us. It's no wonder he has had some expertise to impart on Justin Hartley! And those are only two of the Tracker contributers who came to the show with experience from This Is Us. Jon Huertas stepped behind the camera to direct an episode, and Jennifer Morrison was the central guest star for the Season 1 finale.

As for what to expect from Season 2, Tracker won't return with new episodes in the 2024 TV schedule until the fall, although there are plenty of summer options to check out. Based on how Season 1 ended, though, I'm taking heart with what Justin Hartley told us about casting Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw and Melissa Roxburgh's comments about returning as Dory Shaw. For now, you can always revisit every episode of the show so far streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker debuted on CBS in the 2024 TV schedule not only as Justin Hartley's return to primetime as a series regular after This Is Us, but the show that would land the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot. The series rose to become television's #1 show for the 2023-2024 TV season and guaranteed that Hartley could continue playing Colter Shaw at least into a second season. The star was also able to recruit some standout guest stars, and he spoke with CinemaBlend about arguably the most highly-anticipated of Season 1: Jensen Ackles.

Jensen Ackles starred on Supernatural for fifteen seasons before moving onto roles on shows including The Boys and Big Sky. Justin Hartley and Ackles are both veterans of The CW and longtime friends, so it only seemed natural that he would play Russell Shaw, Colter's brother. The episode that reunited the Shaw brothers also included some fun Supernatural Easter eggs. When I spoke with Hartley ahead of his This Is Us reunion with Jennifer Morrison, he also reflected on recruiting Ackles to the show:

The episode introducing Russell Shaw in present day didn't exactly end with the promise that he'd appear on a weekly basis, but just like with Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw, the door feels very much open for another sibling reunion. With Hartley describing Russel as "a great role that we can bring back," it's possible that Jensen Ackles' one episode of Season 1 is just the first of many. As it turns out, though, Ackles landed the role in a pretty unconventional way, as Hartley explained:

Well before Tracker debuted in that post-Super Bowl slot (and quickly earned a Season 2 renewal), CBS was going all-out on promoting Justin Hartley's new show during NFL games. Apparently, through a few degrees of separation, that resulted in Hartley effectively recruiting Jensen Ackles to come on board Tracker. Based on some behind-the-scenes pics of their episode, it's easy to believe the star when he said it was a fun time!

Not all shows are able to recruit fairly big TV names early on, but the last few episodes of Tracker Season 1 alone featured Manifest's Melissa Roxburgh, This Is Us' Jennifer Morrison (also of House and Once Upon a Time), and of course Jensen Ackles. Justin Hartley reflected on the show's guest stars so far, saying:

Unfortunately, CBS is out of Tracker episodes for the foreseeable future, but you can always revisit the full first season streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. When the show does return for Season 2 in the fall, it will switch time slots slightly to air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Warning: spoilers are ahead for the Season 1 finale of Tracker, called "The Storm."

Tracker spent the last couple episodes before the Season 1 finale dropping more and more clues about what really happened the night that Colter's father died all those years ago, and the last episode of the 2024 TV schedule didn't disappoint in thickening that particular plot. After Colter went all-out to find the daughter of childhood friend Lizzy (played by This Is Us alum Jennifer Morrison), she had a bombshell to drop on Colter. Justin Hartley spoke with CinemaBlend about the game-changer and what comes next.

How Tracker Season 1 Ended

Just when it seemed that Colter had finished the job and was going to head off into the hiatus with no new burdens to bear, Lizzy told Colter that his dad and her mom had been having an affair when they worked together. Colter responded that there's a lot he didn't and doesn't know because he only has pieces of the puzzle. And it turns out that the affair wasn't even the big news that Lizzy had for him.

When her mom had died the previous year, she found a hidden file box under the bed full of Ashton Shaw's research papers and "very personal" journals, and that sparked a memory that Ashton had visited Lizzy's mom shortly before he died. They argued, hugged, and he gave her the box. And if that wasn't enough to blow Colter's mind already, Lizzy revealed that she'd sent the box to Dory, who neglected to tell her brother that when Melissa Roxburgh guest-starred earlier this season.

He had a lot to think about, but told Lizzy that he wasn't going to do anything about it for now. The Season 1 finale ended with "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones playing as Colter walked into the ocean with a surfboard, and I'm surely not the only viewer relieved that CBS had already renewed Tracker before this very open ending!

What Justin Hartley Told Us About The Ending

When I spoke with Justin Hartley about reuniting with Jennifer Morrison after their mutual This Is Us days, we also discussed the events of those final scenes of the Season 1 finale. I asked the Tracker star if the news about the affair changes Colter's perception of his father or if he's more numb to bombshells by this point, and Hartley shared:

Colter wouldn't be as great at finding missing people if he wasn't like "a dog with a bone" about catching clues to solve mysteries, and news that his father was having an affair with his childhood friend's mom has wider implications implications than just cheating. Instead of Russell initially seeming like the most obvious culprit in killing Ashton, Lizzy's dad had a great reason to want revenge on Ashton all along. Hartley continued:

While Colter pretty much kept his cool in front of Lizzy after hearing about their parents' affair and that Dory is keeping secrets from him despite seeming to want to completely wash her hands of it, it was clear from the very last scene that it had affected him. Hartley shared some insight into how this affected his character:

A "freefall" might not bode particularly well for Colter if he wants to start jobs again ASAP in Season 2, but it certainly should be fun for fans to watch! It's easy to be sympathetic to Tracker's leading man, however, as he received bombshell after bombshell over just a few weeks. Melissa Roxburgh debuted as Dory in Episode 11, followed by Jensen Ackles' arrival in Episode 12 (complete with Supernatural Easter eggs), followed by the finale on May 19. Justin Hartley weighed in on Colter getting so many reveals so quickly, saying:

Suffice it to say, Colter has a lot to think about after he comes back from blowing off some steam in the ocean! Justin Hartley went on to share some ideas for Season 2 based on how he interpreted the script for the series finale:

After how Season 1 ended, one of my biggest questions is definitely whether Melissa Roxburgh and Jensen Ackles will reprise their roles sooner rather than later in Season 2. It seems that Dory might be the Shaw sibling with a lot to hide instead of Russell, as Colter had believed for so long, but only time will tell.

Tracker will return to CBS for Season 2 on Sundays in the fall. For now, you can revisit the full first season streaming with a Paramount+ subscription, and check back with CinemaBlend for more from Justin Hartley in the coming days.

CBS' Tracker is on the verge of wrapping its first season in the 2024 TV schedule, and to say that the show has been a success is an understatement after the Super Bowl premiere. The disappearance for Colter to investigate in the Season 1 finale on May 19 will hit closer to home than usual for him, as an old family friend will need his help, and she'll be played by none other than Justin Hartley's fellow This Is Us alum Jennifer Morrison. Hartley spoke with CinemaBlend about the finale and working with Morrison again.

In the Season 1 finale, called "The Storm," Colter will try to help Jennifer Morrison's Lizzy after the disappearance of her daughter in a small town, after the daughter had already been declared an accidental drowning. Both Justin Hartley and Morrison are definitely playing different characters than they did on This Is Us, and the Tracker star opened up about the story behind her arrival on the CBS drama:

Tracker definitely did recruit its fair share of standout guest stars in the first season. Hartley's real-life wife Sofia Pernas appeared on the show after they previously shared the screen on NBC's Quantum Leap, followed by Manifest alum Melissa Roxburgh as Dory Shaw and Supernatural vet Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw. Apparently, Hartley also knew that Jennifer Morrison would be the right choice for Lizzy in Tracker's finale, and pitched the idea to his fellow executive producers. The star went on:

Jennifer Morrison was already established in the entertainment industry thanks to gigs like House and Once Upon a Time, but This Is Us was the first time she worked with Justin Hartley, and it was enough for him to know she'd fit right in for the Tracker first season finale.

The first season has combined Colter investigating disappearances with dropping crumbs about his mysterious past with his father's death, with some episodes – like those introducing the present day versions of his siblings – heavier on the Shaw family lore than others. I asked Hartley about the balance between the case and Colter's backstory in the finale, and he previewed:

Fans will have to tune in to find out just how the job is resolved this time around, but they can count on the finale being "heavier" on Colter's personal life and history than the average Tracker episode. For all that the character's life is much more extreme than most of us will (hopefully) ever experience, elements of it certainly sound relatable for real life! Hartley continued:

Viewers will get some answers in the Season 1 finale, and seemingly start asking some whole new questions by the time the final credits roll to set up Season 2. For now, check out the promo for what to expect from Colter's final on-screen adventure this spring:

Tune in to CBS on Sunday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET for the Season 1 finale of Tracker, and revisit earlier episodes streaming with a Paramount+ subscription now. The show will return to Sundays in the fall, and it sounds like there could be a lot for Season 2 to pick up on for Colter.

After Melissa Roxburgh joined Tracker as Colter Shaw's complicated sister, Dr. Dory Shaw, another family reunion is on the way. Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles is appearing as Colter's brother, Russell Shaw, on the hit CBS drama this month. Ackles previously shared some BTS photos with Justin Hartley, who is a longtime friend of his. Amid the excitement for their turn as brothers, one of the series' stars shared thoughts on why they make such a great (and handsome) duo.

Tracker has brought up Russell on a few occasions, revealing that he and Colter don’t have the best relationship. While that may be the case for them, it is the complete opposite for Jensen Ackles and Justin Hartley. The former CW stars may not be brothers in real life, but star Eric Graise pointed out to ET that they both have something about them that makes their on-screen dynamic believable. It wouldn’t be surprising if they picked it up during their time on the network once known for steamy YA dramas, superheroes and the supernatural:

There's just something about that "CW" smolder that is definitely irresistible. Just based on the teases of the episode, it seems like it’s going to be an intriguing installment. The Shaw family is complicated and, even though Justin Hartley’s real-life relationships with his on-screen siblings are anything but, they are the perfect people to showcase just how complicated that familial dynamic is. And, of course, what's also great about the two male actors appearing together on screen is that they're both easy on the eyes.

As for what will bring Russell back into the picture, he'll be enlisting the help of his estranged brother when a former army buddy goes missing after exhibiting paranoid behavior for several weeks. As a result, the brothers are led to the world of Special Forces missions, shady off-the-books programs and conspiracy theories. This will surely give them some time to talk through their issues, but it’s possible that they'll need to take on more than one investigation to get through all of their family drama.

Luckily, Season 2 of Tracker is happening, so it’s possible Jensen Ackles could return after his debut. Much of that will probably all depend on how the upcoming episode goes. To me, if we don’t get Ackles and Justin Hartley together again, it would be disappointing. Also, I'd love to have the chance to see all three Shaw siblings together, as it could make for an interesting storyline. The notion of seeing Melissa Roxburgh join them is too sweet. Fans have seen how great of a team Hartley and Roxburgh make alone, and I have no doubt that teaming them with Ackles could be fun.

It's hard to tell just what will happen in the new episode of Tracker, but I'm hopeful that both Justin Hartley and Jensen Ackles will more than bring their acting chops and chemistry (as well as their good looks) to the proceedings. The episode airs this Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS as part of the 2024 TV schedule. You can also catch up on past episodes using a Paramount+ subscription.

Justin Hartley’s Tracker is continuing to be a huge success on the 2024 TV schedule. The series marks Hartley’s first major TV role since This Is Us ended in 2022. While fans may have said goodbye to the Pearson family and their friends, it seems like Hartley is still keeping them close to him. After his on-screen stepdad, Jon Huertas directed an episode, Tracker is setting up another This Is Us reunion, this time involving Jennifer Morrison.

Morrison recurred on This Is Us as veteran Cassidy Sharp, beginning in Season 4. Her character's life intertwined with Hartley’s Kevin Pearson, and they quickly became a beloved duo, as Cassidy was often someone Kevin could go to. According to Collider, Morrison will be appearing in the Season 1 finale of Tracker, and Hartley told the outlet what to expect from Morrison’s “key role” and this exciting reunion:

It sounds like the finale will be a pretty intense one, and there’s no telling how it will all go down. However, this tease has me excited to see just how Morrison's character interacts with Hartley's. Overall, it will be exciting to see these two together again, and it could very well be another stepping stone to getting even more This Is Us stars to come on Tracker. 

These last few episodes of the CBS drama’s first season are really digging into Colter’s family. Manifest star Melissa Roxburgh will be portraying Colter’s little sister, Dr. Dory Shaw, in this Sunday’s episode, while Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles will play his brother, Russell Shaw, the following week. 

The Shaw family seems to have a complex dynamic, and hopefully, Morrison’s character doesn’t further complicate it. However, there's no denying that whatever role she plays will make the story deeper and more exciting as we learn more about Colter's past. 

Whatever happens in these final episodes of the season, hopefully, the series will continue to grow these storylines. Season 2 of Tracker is already greenlit, meaning depending on the flow of plot and schedules, it’s possible the finale won’t be the last time fans see Jennifer Morrison on the series. Knowing the chemistry the two actors had on This is Us, I'm sure their dynamic in the CBS drama will be just as entertaining to watch, so I'm already hoping we get more of it.  

Along with this reunion, Justin Hartley has previously expressed interest in having a This Is Us reunion on Tracker, and he jokingly threw around the idea that Colter could come across Milo Ventimiglia’s Jack Pearson. Crazier things have certainly happened on television, so you never know. 

In the meantime, fans will be able to look forward to a This Is Us reunion when Jennifer Morrison guest stars on the Season 1 finale of Tracker airing on Sunday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Justin Hartley’s new series Tracker is just getting bigger and bigger. The CBS drama has been a ratings success, and it has already been renewed for a second season. On top of that, the casting is A+ as Manifest star Melissa Roxburgh is joining the show as Hartley’s sister. Now the lead actor has announced that Supernatural alum Jensen Ackles will play his brother, and The Boys actor celebrated the news by posting some fun BTS photos with his CW pal.

Ackles and Hartley were both on the network that was once known for steamy YA dramas, superheroes, and the supernatural, literally, however their paths never crossed on-screen. For example, they were both on Smallville, however, Hartley didn’t come on as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow until Season 6 and Ackles was Jason Teagues in only the fourth season. However, given the fact that Ackles stayed on The CW for 15 years because of Supernatural, and Hartley also guest starred on Hart of Dixie, their paths likely crossed in real life over the years.

Now that the two are actually working together on Tracker, and playing brothers at that, they are making sure to document it. Jensen Ackles took to Instagram to share some fun pictures of him and Justin Hartley, captioning the post, “Working with old pals never gets old.” Now I desperately need the episode to air:

Since the duo will be playing brothers, it helps that they go way back. While Tracker viewers don’t know too much about Russell, the series has occasionally brought up the drama between him and Colter. So, it will surely be interesting to see how their first on-screen meeting goes down. Plus, with Melissa Roxburgh also being brought on as a Shaw sibling, it seems like Colter will be flooded with reunions, which could be a good or a bad thing for him, but either way, it'll make for great TV.

Hopefully, all this casting news leads to Hartley, Ackles, and Roxburgh on screen together, because they are all incredible talents, and I'd love to learn more about Colter's family. I'd also love to see how Hartely and Ackles' real-life friendship translates to the screen. 

It would be a shame to have Colter reunite with his siblings and not have them all be together, so hopefully, it’s only just a matter of time. Even if it doesn’t happen with Season 1, there is a guaranteed Season 2 on the way.

As of now, no concrete details have been released about Ackles’ appearance, but just going off of the pictures and videos that he and Hartley have posted, the wait will surely be worth it. It’s always fun when actors who are longtime friends work together, and Ackles and Hartley are no exception. 

While we wait for their on-screen interaction, fans can watch new episodes of Tracker at 9 p.m. ET on CBS on the 2024 TV schedule or stream them the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tracker quickly became a hit for CBS in the 2024 TV schedule, and the freshman drama is treating fans to some fun guest stars before the end of the first season. Following the arrival of Manifest alum Melissa Roxburgh as Colter's sister, none other than Jensen Ackles of Supernatural and The Boys will turn up as Colter's brother. Star Justin Hartley's first look at Ackles on set should get any fan excited to see them on screen together, and the Supernatural fan in me is flashing back to Ackles' days as Dean Winchester.

What can I say? When a show runs for fifteen seasons and more than 300 episodes, sometimes you're going to flash back to it. In the video that Justin Hartley posted with the Supernatural vet, I could immediately see why the two actors are a good physical match to play brothers... and Ackles certainly has experience playing a character with a complicated relationship with his brother, courtesy of the better part of two decades working with Jared Padalecki as the Winchester brothers. Check out the video from Justin Hartley with the Tracker guest star:

One brother being serious and trying to get something done, while the other – played by Jensen Ackles – goofs off and messes with them? Try and judge me for flashing back to the Winchester brothers from Supernatural! Of course, the parallels are bound to be limited. Is Colter going to drink demon blood, a la Sam Winchester? Almost certainly not, but there are sure to be complications based on what we've learned of Colter's brother over the series so far.

I have to give kudos to Tracker for casting Ackles; not only is he physically believable as Justin Hartley's brother, but – as anybody who went from watching him on Supernatural to watching him on The Boys knows – he's a versatile actor with talent to spare. So, when can you expect Ackles to debut as Colter's brother? According to Variety, the actor will arrive in the May 12 episode of Tracker, when Russell recruits Colter's assistance in finding an old pal from the Army. That will be the penultimate episode of the season, as the finale airs on May 19.

Given that CBS wasted no time in renewing Tracker for Season 2 after it crushed following its Super Bowl Sunday premiere slot, the May 12 episode could be just the first of a recurring gig for Ackles, although we can certainly only speculate at this time. I doubt that Tracker will add Colter's brother in the penultimate episode of Season 1 and then immediately kill him off.

Still, only time will tell. Keep tuning in to CBS on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET for new episodes of Tracker until the first season wraps on May 19. You can also revisit earlier episodes streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Also, if the Jensen Ackles casting news put you in the mood for some Supernatural, you can find all fifteen seasons of that show streaming via Netflix subscription now.

While Justin Hartley’s new show Tracker has proven itself to be a success on the 2024 TV schedule, he can’t seem to stay away from his previous series, This Is Us. The latest episode of the CBS drama included a This Is Us reunion when Hartley’s former on-screen step-dad Jon Huertas directed. Even though teaming up sounds like a dream for the close-knit cast, actually filming the episode sounds like a bit of a nightmare.

Huertas is no stranger to directing, but when it came to Tracker, things were not what he has been used to with gigs like This is Us, in which he directed two episodes outside of the myriad he starred in. The actor spoke to People about what it was like being on set of the freshman series in Vancouver, and unfortunately, Mother Nature absolutely came into play: Yes, there was snow. Huertas noted:

Of course, filming on location means that anything can happen, but it sounds like a total nightmare. Between the cast and crew freezing their butts off on top of having to rework the surroundings to make sure the filming works both for on-screen and behind-the-scenes purposes, it sounds like it was a bit of a tough ..sledding, pun intended. Luckily, Huertas said he figured out how "he had to adjust" and add in the extra element for the story:

Even though Jon Huertas was able to adjust, it still doesn’t sound like it was that easy. After all, there had already been plans for the entire episode, locations and all. Unpredictable weather put a wrench in his plans, but I guess that's what happens when you commit to filming in Canada.

Meanwhile, with Huertas directing Tracker, could fans expect another This Is Us reunion to happen, whether it be on screen or off? This Is Us came to an end in 2022, but it’s clear that the cast is still as close as ever. Justin Hartley previously (and jokingly) shared that his character Colter Shaw could find Milo Ventimiglia’s Jack Pearson from This Is Us, teasing that maybe he never died! Despite the two shows being on different networks, having the two actors reunite would still be great for all the crossover fans, of which there seem to be many. 

Or if anyone else from the NBC drama guest starred, perhaps there could at least be some kind of reference? Either way, after Huertas, I desperately need more.

Since Season 2 of Tracker is happening, hopefully, this won’t be the last time Jon Huertas directs. If and when the next time he does, I'm hoping Mother Nature will be a lot nicer. However, if he does have to deal with another problem while directing, at least we know he's a man who can "adjust" on the fly. 

Justin Hartley made a very triumphant return to network TV with Tracker, debuting on CBS just under two years after the end of This Is Us on NBC. Now, he's set to team up with another veteran of an NBC drama, with Melissa Roxburgh of Manifest fame coming on board the series in the 2024 TV schedule to play another member of the Shaw family, and he had a message for fans while welcoming the actress to the show.

Tracker has touched on Colter's complicated past with his family over the first season so far, but an upcoming episode will be the first introduction of Dory as an adult, with Melissa Roxburgh taking on the role after starring in four seasons of Manifest. Take a look at the two actors together as well as Justin Hartley's message:

Well, this won't be the first time that either actor plays a sibling in primetime television, although I'm guessing it's very safe to say that any complications between Colter and Dory won't be nearly as sci-fi as what Melissa Roxburgh and Josh Dallas performed on Manifest during the three seasons on NBC and one on Netflix for subscribers. It's unlikely that Colter's relationship with Dory is quite the same as Kevin's was with his sister Kate on This Is Us as well.

As for when you can see Justin Hartley and Melissa Roxburgh as the Shaw brother and sister, TVLine reports that the Manifest alum will make her guest appearance in the new episode of Tracker on Sunday, May 5 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Hartley also had another message for fans. In a separate Instagram post about an interview, he also wrote this:

At the time of writing, Roxburgh is only confirmed for one episode of Tracker, and Season 1 will come to an end just a couple of weeks after her debut with the finale on May 19. Assuming Dory is still alive and well at the end of her episode on May 5, the show could always bring her back. Just a few weeks after the new drama premiered, CBS renewed it for a second season, and Justin Hartley's This Is Us family showed plenty of support.

Some of the show's early success is undoubtedly due to the series premiere immediately following the 2024 Super Bowl, and Hartley credited his time on This Is Us for him getting that opportunity. This Is Us actually nabbed the post-Super Bowl slot on NBC back in 2018, for one of its most memorable and heartbreaking episodes.

If you want to revisit Justin Hartley's time as Kevin Pearson while waiting for more of him as Colter Shaw, you can find all six seasons of This Is Us streaming with a Hulu subscription. New episodes of Tracker continue airing on Sundays on CBS, and you can catch up on any you might have missed so far streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

This year’s Super Bowl Sunday was a major occasion for several reasons. Obviously, it was a night filled with football, as the Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers. And there were plenty of funny SB LVIII commercials. On top of all that though, the night marked the debut of CBS’ Tracker, which stars Justin Hartley. The drama series premiered after the big game, and it would seem that said programming placement paid off. That’s because Hartley’s 2024 TV schedule entry has already been renewed for a second season and, of course, some of his This Is Us peeps showed support.

News of Tracker’s renewal arrived this week, and the leading man himself marked the occasion. He did so by taking to Instagram to share a post that included the official announcement. The actor also included a brief caption through which he expressed gratitude to the fans for making the freshman series a hit. You can check out the post in its entirety down below: 

I have to say, this is very impressive. It’s not often that a show gets picked up for Season 2 less than a month after its premiere. But, then again, one could definitely attribute at least part of this buzz to the time slot that the first episode aired in. The Super Bowl typically garners significant viewership, so a series – whether it be old or new – can definitely benefit from all of those eyes if it airs later in the night. So it would seem that congratulations are definitely in order. 

The former Kevin Pearson actor’s announcement is lovely enough, but it’s made even sweeter by the fact that some of his co-stars from This Is Us commented. One person to do so was his on-screen brother, Sterling K. Brown, who played Randall Pearson. The Oscar-nominated star provided a jovial response, which began with a question that fans were probably wondering as well:

The other star who reacted to the big news was Kate Pearson actress Chrissy Metz. She conveyed nothing but excitement when acknowledging her former cast member’s good fortune: 

I’m not surprised that the bonds amongst the This Is Us family still appear to be strong, and I’m also not shocked that this renewal happened. It centers around a lone-wolf survivalist named Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), who helps private citizens using his extensive tracking skills. Critics were high on Tracker, as they lauded its direction as well as Hartley’s performance. CinemaBlend’s own Laura Hurley also praised it while making a case for why viewers should stick around after the Super Bowl to watch it. 

It would seem that the Eye Network definitely has a hit on their hands and, if you ask Justin Hartley, TIS deserves credit for helping to bolster it in that regard in addition to the Super Bowl slot. As Season 1 continues, fans are sure to have a sense of comfort knowing that another season is on the way. And I’d also imagine that Hartley’s colleagues will continue to cheer him on as it all plays out.

New episodes of Tracker air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and you can also stream the show using a Paramount+ subscription. Those who want to see the lead star and his co-stars on their former show can also check out all six seasons of This Is Us using a Netflix subscription.

There are plenty of stories about TV casts that didn’t gel behind the scenes once the cameras stopped rolling. Grey’s Anatomy, for example, made headlines for disagreements between its actors in the early years, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air famously recast Aunt Viv amid Will Smith’s (now-resolved) feud with Janet Hubert. As many other examples as there are, This Is Us is definitely not one of those shows. In fact, nearly two years after the Pearson saga came to an end, Justin Hartley said the cast still texts each other.

Justin Hartley and the rest of the cast of NBC’s heart-wrenching drama may have moved on to new projects, but the This Is Us actors certainly haven’t forgotten about the people who played their family members for six years. The Kevin Pearson portrayer relayed a great story about the still-active group chat when People asked who from the show he still kept in touch with. Hartley responded: 

Mandy Moore may be younger than Justin Hartley and Sterling K. Brown — who, along with Chrissy Metz, played the children of Moore’s character Rebecca — but somehow it’s not hard to picture her sending them maternal wisdom via text or making fun of them with some “ridiculous” video. 

Justin Hartley is now starring in Tracker on CBS, which critics called a hit for the Eye Network, but it’s obvious in the way he talks about his previous show that it had a huge impact on his life and career. In fact, the actor said he credits This Is Us for Tracker getting that sweet post-Super Bowl premiere slot. He’s also going to reunite with his TV stepfather Jon Huertas, who is reportedly directing an upcoming episode of Tracker, and Hartley said he’s looking forward to “spending a ton of time together.”

Even before This Is Us ended, it was obvious how much the cast members meant to each other. What other actors go viral for doing the Wobble during downtime on set? Sterling K. Brown also made an emotional plea for Mandy Moore to win an Emmy Award for her tough storyline in the final season, as Rebecca’s health deteriorated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Since the series finale, Chrissy Metz has said she “desperately” misses the show, reflecting on how life-changing it was for her and for its fans as well. The cast members have continued to celebrate each other’s personal and professional achievements, including Sterling K. Brown’s Academy Award nomination for his role in American Fiction. Justin Hartley always knew his Big Three brother was worthy of such recognition, though, as he told the magazine: 

We may not be getting any new stories from the timeline-jumping Pearson drama, but it still feels good to know the love is still there between the actors. You can relive all six seasons of This Is Us on streaming with a Netflix subscription or a Hulu subscription. 

Companies pay millions of dollars to be a part of Super Bowl Sunday, when people all over the world will be gathered around their TVs to enjoy any combination of football, the best commercials and musical performances. It’s not lost on Justin Hartley how fortunate he is to have his new series Tracker debuting on CBS after the big game, and he voiced appreciation for how being on This Is Us made this opportunity possible.

Tracker is Justin Hartley’s first leading role on television since the six-season drama This Is Us wrapped on NBC in 2022, and it’s no secret how much fans grew to love Kevin Pearson and the rest of his family on the timeline-jumping, tear-jerking family saga. In fact, Hartley told NewsWeek that Tracker — and its enviable post-Super Bowl premiere timeslot — wouldn’t have been possible with it. He said: 

It’s safe to say that plenty of those who tune into Tracker’s premiere will be fans of This Is Us who are curious about Justin Hartley’s new project — as well as the promise that Hartley goes shirtless 5 minutes into the episode — but Colter Shaw definitely sounds like a completely different character than Kevin Pearson, who was also known to doff his shirt as the star of the fictional sitcom The Manny.

It's more than just the fan support though. Justin Hartley explained that it was This Is Us producer Ken Olin who introduced the actor to the Jeffery Deaver book The Never Game that Tracker is based on. Before the final season of the NBC drama, Hartley said he and Olin were already talking about working together again, and the actor recalled: 

Justin Hartley said he and Ken Olin started looking at writers for the show that would become Tracker while This Is Us Season 6 was filming. The actor continued: 

It’s a pretty big vote of confidence from the Eye Network to nab that timeslot, and the reviews of Tracker’s first episodes seem to be in support of that. Many critics think CBS has a new hit on their hands, with CinemaBlend's own Laura Hurley saying Super Bowl viewers definitely need to stick around for Tracker after the Lombardi Trophy is awarded to either the 49ers or Chiefs.

Justin Hartley may have moved on to other projects following This Is Us, but like so many of its loyal viewers, the series isn’t one he’ll forget anytime soon. Tracker premieres February 11 following the Super Bowl and will continue to air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. You can see Hartley on This Is Us by streaming all six seasons with a Netflix subscription or Hulu subscription. 

The Super Bowl is always guaranteed to draw a ton of viewers, whether for the football showdown of the year or the plethora of star-studded commercials that up the ante from usual Sunday ads. This also means that the show that airs directly after the big game is getting a strong push by the network; for the enviable time slot in the 2024 premiere schedule, CBS is debuting new drama Tracker, starring This Is Us alum Justin Hartley. And I can safely say that viewers of the San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs game should stick around for Tracker! 

What To Expect From Tracker After The Super Bowl

The new show is based on the bestselling novel called The Never Game, penned by Jeffery Deaver before being adapted to TV for CBS. Justin Hartley leaves his This Is Us role as Kevin Pearson squarely behind him as he embodies the character of Colter Shaw, whose survivalist skills – which, as you might guess, include tracking – help him solve mysteries and collect the rewards. 

There’s more to the equation, as he has a complicated past with his own family to contend with, but the format is fairly straightforward in a procedural way that has been hugely successful for NBC for decades. (See: the NCIS, CSI, and FBI franchises.) The first episode airs directly after the Super Bowl on February 11, and is called “Klamath Falls,” which… will make complete sense if you tune in! 

For the first case of the series, Colter will investigate the case of a missing teenage boy seemingly abducted by his birth father. Despite being on the road, he’ll have the help from some familiar faces in his life, including his handlers and attorney Reenie Greene. As indicated by the trailer, there’s plenty of action, and Hartley displays a commanding yet also soothing presence that proves he has range beyond Kevin Pearson. 

Is Colter only in this job for the money, or is he motivated by more than rewards? Critics seem to largely agree that Hartley is a suitable leading man for his first solo series, even if the format isn’t entirely unique. 

Why Super Bowl Viewers Should Stick Around After The Game

Having seen the episode, I can say that there are more reasons than Justin Hartley going shirtless to give the show a shot. Without spoiling anything, I tend to have faith in any procedural that CBS puts on the air, as the network has found the winning recipe with that format over the years. 

Hartley already proved his acting skills on This Is Us; for all that Colter is definitely not Kevin Pearson 2.0, fans of that NBC drama should enjoy seeing a new side of the actor on Tracker. The premise is also much more straightforward than The Company You Keep, which was his TV dad Milo Ventimiglia’s first attempt at a return to primetime in 2023. (It was ultimately a first-season victim in the spring 2023 cancellation bloodbath.) This is a show that gets off to an easy-to-follow start.

And to be honest… if you’re already watching the Super Bowl, why not just stay tuned to CBS for an extra hour to give the show a chance? Tracker’s official time slot after getting the post-Super Bowl slot will be on CBS Sundays at 9 p.m. ET (and streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), so it’s not as if the show is debuting on Super Bowl Sunday only to be moved over to Wednesdays or Thursdays. If you’re still on the fence, take a look at the trailer:

While there’s no official time for the first episode of Tracker, you can expect Justin Hartley’s new show to arrive on CBS following whenever the Super Bowl ends on February 11. If you’re more a fan of Hartley than of the NFL (or the commercials between football plays), you can always check out a rundown of his TV shows prior to both Tracker and This Is Us. 

Justin Hartley will always be recognized for his starring role on the long-running NBC drama series, This Is Us, but the actor (who is sometimes confused with Glen Powell) had a rather prolific small-screen career long before he played Kevin Pearson for six seasons. With Hartley’s latest offering, CBS’ Tracker, being one of the biggest series on the 2024 TV calendar so far, we thought it would be fun to go back and look at other shows that featured the actor over the years.

From major parts on shows like Smallville to one-off appearances on crime dramas like CSI: NY and Cold Case, Hartley’s done a little bit of everything throughout his career. Let’s take a look at 10 of those shows right now, including two different soap operas.

Passions (2002 - 2006)

Like countless other major stars, Justin Hartley got his start on a soap opera, specifically NBC’s Passions. Similar to other soaps, Passions was heavy on romance, double-crossing, and drama, and Hartley’s Nicholas Foxworth Crane experienced it all throughout the actor’s four years on the show. It’s hard to find clips where the actor isn’t either hooking up with someone, shirtless, or involved in some far-fetched and over-the-top scheme.

But in case you’ve never watched an episode of Passions (which you should change right now), you should know that the soap opera features all kinds of paranormal shenanigans and other dramatic twists. It’s wild, to say the least. 

CSI: NY (2007)

Justin Hartley made an appearance during a CSI: NY Season 3 episode in which a music mogul is found murdered in his penthouse apartment, but he was only around for one scene. Hartley, who played an across-the-hall neighbor to the victim, was shirtless when speaking with the detectives trying to get information about the case in a scene that is barely a couple of minutes long. But this wouldn’t be the last time the actor appeared on a CBS crime procedural in 2007.

Cold Case (2007)

The Cold Case Season 5 episode titled “Justice” saw Justin Hartley take on the role of college valedictorian Mike Delaney, a character who was murdered just hours after his graduation. The case is brought up years later after someone vandalized his grave, which leads to Det. Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) and her team uncovering the fact that Mike was allegedly a serial rapist who was on the receiving end of revenge and street justice after his many victims couldn’t find help through the proper channels. 

Smallville (2006 - 2011)

Though the Aquaman TV show, which would have seen Justin Hartley play Arthur Curry, never came to fruition after a failed pilot, the actor would appear in a major capacity on another DC Comics series. From 2006 to 2011, Hartley portrayed Oliver Queen, aka, Green Arrow, on the longrunning Superman prequel series on The WB/The CW. The introduction of Oliver Queen in the show’s sixth season was well-received by fans of the series, and Hartley himself had a blast playing the iconic DC superhero.

Hartley ended up remaining on the series through its conclusion and was part of some of the major storylines throughout his time hanging out with Tom Welling's Clark Kent and the rest of the large ensemble cast of DC characters. It’s just a bummer that a planned spinoff never happened because Hartley made it sound awesome. 

Chuck (2011) 

Justin Hartley had several one-off performances throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including a wild turn as Wesley Sneijder on the NBC action-comedy series Chuck. In this 2011 episode titled “Chuck Versus the Bearded Bandit”, Wesley fakes his own kidnapping so that he can work with the federal government to put his brother away. But no one let Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) or the rest of his team know of the situation, which makes the situation even more of a mess.

Hart Of Dixie (2012)

Remember Hart of Dixie, the medical drama series following heart surgeon Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) as she moves to Alabama to take over a doctor’s office? Well, the show, which ran on The CW for four seasons before being cancelled in 2015, featured another one of Justin Hartley’s great one-off roles. In the 2012 episode titled “Bachelorettes & Bullets,” Hartley played Jesse Kinsella, the brother of Zoe’s future husband, Wade (Wilson Bethel). 

Emily Owens, M.D. (2012 - 2013)

Justin Hartley continued his run on The CW in 2012 when he joined the Emily Owens, M.D. cast as Will Collins, a first-year surgical intern and former friend of Mami Gummer’s titular character. Throughout the show’s first and only season, Will fails time and time again to realize that Emily has a crush on him, which causes some major tension between the two doctors and pretty much everyone else at Denver Memorial Hospital.

Revenge (2013 - 2014)

Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ iconic novel The Count of Monte Cristo, Revenge spent four seasons following Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) as she set out to get back at the families from the Hamptons beach community that harmed her years earlier. A lot of characters came and went during the show’s 89-episode run, including Justin Hartley’s Patrick Osbourne, the long-lost son of antagonist Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe), who showed up during the show’s third season.

Mistresses (2014 - 2016)

In 2014, Justin Hartley joined the cast of Mistresses, an ABC drama series about four female friends navigating life, love, and their respective professions in Los Angeles. Hartley entered the picture as Scott Trosman, a successful plastic surgeon who meets and falls for Josslyn "Joss" Carver (Jes Macallan), resulting in an intense and long-running relationship where the pair learn a great deal about themselves and each other (especially the doctor’s obsession with shoes). Hartley would stick around until the show was cancelled by ABC in 2016.

The Young And The Restless (2014 - 2016)

Justin Hartley got his start in soap operas and so it wasn’t all that surprising in 2014 when the in-demand actor took his talents to The Young and the Restless. During his time on the show, Hartley played Adam Newman, the son of series mainstays Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Hope Wilson (Signy Coleman), and was given a tremendous amount of screentime and major arcs. Hartley left the long-running soap in September 2016 when he joined the cast of This Is Us, per TheWrap.

These are just a few of Justin Hartley’s TV appearances and we didn’t even get into all his movie roles from over the years. But hey, maybe we’ll revisit Hartley’s film efforts if Tracker is a success on CBS and with Paramount+ subscribers.

Millions of people will be tuned into CBS on February 11 for Super Bowl LVIII, but whether you’re there for the football, the commercials, Usher’s halftime show or those cutaway shots to Taylor Swift, there will be an extra treat for those who keep watching after the confetti has fallen. Justin Hartley returns to TV with Tracker, his first leading role since This Is Us. So is the action drama worth sticking around for? Critics had the opportunity to screen the first three episodes, and many are calling this a win for the Eye Network.

From what we know about Tracker, Justin Hartley plays lone wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, who uses his top-notch tracking skills to solve mysteries for a variety of people including law enforcement. It seems like a vote of confidence from CBS to be given the post-Super Bowl time slot, so let’s see what the critics have to say, starting with B+C’s review of Tracker. Michael Malone thinks it’s a good option for the post-football crowd, and some will be especially delighted that Hartley goes shirtless in the first five minutes. Malone writes: 

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times rates Tracker 3 stars out of 4, calling it the “very definition of comfort-viewing,” with Justin Hartley looking great — acting-wise and physically — as the anti-hero with a heart of gold. Co-stars Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany already have spinoff potential, Roeper says, as married couple Velma and Teddi, respectively, who comprise Colter’s support team. More from the review: 

Terry Terrones of Paste notes that Justin Hartley has always held his own in ensembles, but Tracker proves his leading-man capabilities. While the first episodes could use more action (or lean into the "dad drama" of it all with a dog or some punny dialogue, the critic says), this appears to be another hit for CBS. Terrones continues: 

Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune rates the series so far 2.5 out of 4, saying that Justin Hartley is a solid lead, and with a little finessing, all of the ingredients are there to make Tracker a hit show. Metz writes: 

Tracey Phillipps of SoManyShows calls the series a “rewarding” experience, echoing others’ opinions that Justin Hartley gives leading-man energy. Colter Shaw is stronger and more resourceful than his character on This Is Us, and the critic says Tracker should please fans of both Kevin Pearson and those who read the Jeffery Deaver book this series is based on. According to Phillipps' review: 

The critics seem mostly pleased to see Justin Hartley on the screen again, so we should all consider staying glued to the TV a little longer Sunday evening to be sure to catch Tracker following the Super Bowl. Episodes will continue to air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. Be sure to also take a look at our 2024 TV schedule to see what other premieres are headed our way. 

For those of us who fell in love with the This Is Us cast all those years ago, we’re no stranger to Justin Hartley and the fact that he’s in fantastic shape. Now, he’ll be going shirtless in his series on the 2024 TV schedule, CBS’ Tracker, and it will happen literally five minutes into the first episode. So, considering the drama is premiering right after the Super Bowl, Hartley shared his take on showing his body to the world, and it’s fantastic. 

Justin Hartley has been a heartthrob since his This Is Us days when his character Kevin would have to be shirtless on the set of his fictional TV show The Manny. On Tracker, the actor’s character Colter Shaw isn’t an actor, he’s a lone-wolf survivalist who helps track criminals and people of interest. So his reason for being ripped is a bit different. However, in both cases, he’s had a sense of humor about it all, and he has taken everything in stride. For example, while speaking about his upcoming shirtless moment in Tracker with ET, he said:

Hartley is not just the star of Tracker, he’s also an executive producer. So, with his producer powers, he was able to decide where his shirtless scene ended up being in the episode. Exactly 4 minutes and 52 seconds into Tracker’s pilot was what they landed on, and the actor/EP explained why, saying:

For context, this interview was conducted on the set of Tracker, and Hartley was referring to Colter’s Airstream that he travels and lives in. So, considering how high-action his job is, and the limited living space he’s working with, it kind of makes sense that he’s in great shape and that we see how he lives from day to day early in the show. Apparently, that situation also means we’ll see him shirtless, and who can complain about that?

Tracker is a highly anticipated show, and the fact that it's airing after the Super Bowl means CBS has a lot of confidence in it. Considering there’s already a lot of love out there for Justin Hartley because of his This Is Us fame, and taking his fun takes on the show into account, I can see why the network has slated the drama in such a coveted spot.

Adding to the excitement, this will be Hartley’s first project post-This Is Us that will see him back in a series regular role. This Is Us ended in 2022, so I’m assuming many fans are like me, and they’ve been waiting to see the Kevin Pearson actor return to the small screen in a major way.

Luckily we won’t have to wait long to see Justin Hartley back on TV (and you really won’t have to wait long to see him shirtless), because Tracker premieres right after the Super Bowl ends on February 11 on CBS. And if you want to go back and double-check that Hartley’s shirtless scene does indeed come less than five minutes into the pilot, you can stream it the next day with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Two years after concluding his run as Kevin Pearson on the highly-decorated prestige show, This Is Us, Justin Hartley will soon lead a new series. But instead of being a drama on NBC about multiple generations of a single family and the tragedies and triumphs they endured, Hartley will serve as the focal point of Tracker, a CBS action series about a survivalist with a knack for finding missing persons and solving complex mysteries.

Before Tracker makes its highly-anticipated debut and joins shows like Fire Country and NCIS on the 2024 TV schedule, we have a few key details you may want to know about the new show, including when and how you can watch it, who’ll be sharing the screen with Hartley, and what we can expect from the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation. Well, let’s get into it…

What Is The Tracker Premiere Date?

CBS must have a lot of faith in Tracker as the new show is slated to premiere immediately after Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11th. If you’re looking for action, drama, and some high-stakes thrills after experiencing the massive sports and pop culture event, keep your TV set on CBS to see what it’s all about.

How To Watch Tracker

The premiere episode of Tracker, and every episode after that, will air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday nights on CBS throughout the first season. You will also be able to watch the new show with a Paramount+ subscription, but there are some finer details you may want to know before watching. 

If you want to watch episodes of Tracker as they air live, you will need Paramount+ with Showtime, essentially the streaming service's premium version. Those with a basic subscription can also watch the show, but episodes will not be available until the following day.

The Tracker Trailer Is Full Of Daring Rescues, Witty Banter, And A Break-In At A Burger Bin

After offering a quick glimpse into the new upcoming series in the form of a December 2023 teaser, CBS started the new year by releasing the first Tracker trailer, an extensive look at the world, characters, and dangers of Justin Hartley’s new show. From saving people in the wild to giving potential clients his pay demands (no up-front fees but a major check after a successful job) to interacting with his team, Hartley’s Colter Shaw does a little of everything…

This also includes breaking into the security room of a Burger Bin to obtain key footage of a missing person when he wasn’t willing to wait for “corporate” to give the search the green light. This whole situation leads to some witty banter, which is hopefully an indication of the show’s dialogue and not overly serious tone.

Justin Hartley Leads The Tracker Cast

Like many of the great shows already airing on CBS, Tracker won’t be a one-man show, and Justin Hartley will share the screen with a small group of talented actors. Here are the major players who will be a significant part of the upcoming series.

Justin Hartley (Colter Shaw)

Leading the pack is Justin Hartley, who, as mentioned earlier, will be taking on the role of the show’s central figure: Colter Shaw. In addition to his well-known portrayal of Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, Hartley has also appeared on shows like Smallville, Revenge, Mistresses, and The Young and the Restless throughout his TV career.

Abby McEnany (Velma Bruin)

Abby McEnany, who previously appeared on shows like And Just Like That… and Work in Progress, will show up on Tracker as Velma Bruin, one of Colter’s handlers and trusted allies.

Robin Weigert (Teddi Bruin)

Taking on the role of Teddi Bruin, Colter’s other handler and Velma’s wife, is Robin Weigert, who fans of the Deadwood cast will immediately recognize as Calamity Jane from the HBO Western series. In recent years, she’s also had roles on Big Little Lies, Castle Rock, and American Horror Story: Double Feature.

Eric Graise (Bobby Exley)

Eric Graise will take on the role of Bobby Exley, Colter’s go-to computer expert and occasional verbal sparring partner for the devoted rescuer. Before Tracker, Graise appeared on shows like Locke & Key, Teenage Bounty Hunters, and Queer as Folk.

Fiona Rene (Reenie Greene)

And then there is Fiona Rene, who is slated to take on the role of Reenie Greene, a great legal mind who can help Colter out in a bind, but only if they’re getting along. Over the years, Rene has appeared on shows like The Lincoln Lawyer, Fire Country, and The Rookie, to name a few.

Tracker Follows Lone-Wolf Survivalist Colter Shaw As He Tracks And Rescues Missing People And Solves Mysteries

When Tracker takes to the air following Super Bowl LVIII, it will follow Justin Hartley’s Colter Shaw as he tracks and rescues people missing in various locations throughout the United States in hopes of securing some hefty rewards. As detailed in the trailer above, the lone-wolf survivalist will have to learn to work as part of a team to help private citizens and law enforcement agencies track down these missing folks, all while learning ways to deal with his own family.

Tracker Is Based On Jeffrey Deaver’s Novel, The Never Game

If the basic premise of Tracker and its main character, Colter Shaw, sound familiar, it could have something to do with the fact that it is based on Jeffrey Deaver’s novel, The Never Game. In fact, at one point in the show’s development, it was going to carry the same name as the book on which it is based before being changed to Tracker.

The novel, which was published by Penguin Random House, follows Colter as he is hired by the father of a woman who has gone missing in Silicon Valley, leading the accomplished tracker and reward seeker to Northern California to solve the mystery. But, when another person goes missing in a similar manner, Colter finds himself in a twisted game of life and death. The New York Times Book Review named it a Crime Novel of the Year in 2019. 

How Many Episodes Of Tracker Will There Be?

CBS has yet to announce an exact number of episodes for Tracker. With the series premiering halfway through the 2023-2024 TV season, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the first season consisted of 10 to 12 episodes. 

Tracker Is Rated TV-14

Tracker has been given a TV-14 rating, according to the show’s Paramount+ page. There hasn’t been an explanation for the rating, but it isn’t all that surprising considering the violence and language featured in the first series trailer.

Expect to hear more about Tracker in the coming weeks before its February 11th premiere. In the meantime, check out the CBS Winter TV schedule for all the details on other new and returning shows on the network. 

Glen Powell and Justin Hartley have had very different careers and have an 11-year age difference. Despite that, they've ben mistaken for each other. While most movie fans would probably be able to identify both actors, casual viewers might be thrown off by the blonde hair and the tall stature if they were ever to appear together. Just recently, a major publication accidentally identified the This Is Us actor as Powell at the Golden Globes, prompting a hilarious response from the Anyone But You star. 

Over the weekend, a number of major celebrities attended the Golden Globes, including Justin Hartley, who is about to star in CBS' Tracker, his first major TV role since This Is Us. The Emmy nominee arrived at the awards show looking handsome as ever and wearing a dapper tan suit. You can see a photo of the actor from the evening:

The Hollywood Reporter shared an image of Hartley from the red carpet on X with the caption: 

The entertainment publication was quickly corrected by a host of fans and the post was taken down, but not before the post was screen-grabbed and went viral on the Internet. The Top Gun: Maverick star himself saw the post and had a hilarious reaction to the mistake. He said on X:

The Top Gun: Maverick actor was clearly a good sport about the whole situation and saw it as an opportunity to joke about doing a project with the Smallville alum. While I didn’t see the resemblance at first, it started to sink in while I looked over side by side pictures. They're both major stars in their own right and, hopefully, they both had a good laugh about the post. And judging by Powell’s response, this must happen more frequently than one would think.

The Story Behind Why Glen Powell Is So Sensitive To Getting Mixed Up With Justin Hartley

Glen Powell was likely quick to jump online and respond because he’s used to people making this mistake. Back in 2018, the Scream Queens alum participated in an interview with The Ringer, during which he talked about some of his run-ins with fans. Powell revealed that he flat-out asks admirers if they believe he's the This is Us star. He said at the time: 

The A-lister may still be mistaken for Justin Hartley, but I certainly wouldn't be let down if I ran into him. His star has risen greatly since 2018, and he's slowly becoming a major name in Hollywood. He headlined a studio rom-com with Sydney Sweeney and has a number of high profile projects ahead of him on the 2024 movie schedule. He's the star of the upcoming Richard Linklater film Hit Man and will be leading the standalone Twister sequel alongside Daisy Edgar Jones. Powell is likely to keep rising as time goes, so he probably won’t have to be worried about being mistaken for Justin Hartley much longer.

The body-switch movie may be a long shot, but you can still see Glen Powell in Anyone But You, which is currently in theaters nationwide. You can also check out fellow blonde heartthrob Justin Hartley on Tracker, which will air on CBS on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET as part of the 2024 TV schedule. Episodes will subsequently be available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

Justin Hartley is set to return to TV in his first leading role since This Is Us, but it’s merely a coincidence that Netflix has a new series called The Manny that premiered at roughly the same time. The situation has proven confusing for some fans of the NBC Pearson family saga that ended in 2022, as Hartley’s character Kevin was an actor on a show-within-the-show called The Manny. This Is Us fans took to social media with their thoughts, and I feel exactly the same way.

The Manny is a Mexican rom-com series about — you guessed it — a male nanny who shows up to help a stressed-out executive care for her three children. This show, which can be streamed now with a Netflix subscription, is unrelated to both Justin Hartley’s upcoming CBS drama Tracker and the fictional series from This Is Us, but those facts didn’t keep this fan from writing on X (Twitter): 

I have to admit, Kevin Pearson’s version of The Manny was the first thing I thought about when I heard about the Netflix series from Carolina Rivera, who wrote for Jane the Virgin and Roswell, New Mexico. But after watching the trailer, there didn’t actually seem to be much inspiration taken from This Is Us — and certainly no utterings of the catchphrase, “Manny say whaaaat?”

Still, many fans who are still missing the NBC drama seemed certain (and amusedly so) that The Manny drew inspiration from Justin Hartley’s character, with other X posts reading: 

• I thought Justin Hartley was the Manny. How they gonna take something from This Is Us? Hollywood really running out of ideas. – iamreneejai
• Saw this coming for a while. The writers of This is Us gave us two tv shows for the price of one! – namitishere
• Netflix really took the concept of The Manny from This Is Us and made a show lol – moweezyana
• Wait they made a show called The Manny. That’s gotta be some type of copyright infringement. That was a show on This Is Us. – CallonJo_

As a This Is Us fan myself, I totally understand how these viewers are having trouble not connecting the two. Even though This Is Us’ faux sitcom looked dumb as hell, I’d be willing to give it a shot, especially if it meant more Kevin Pearson! Heck, back when we were all excited about a possible This Is Us spinoff, I threw out The Manny as a possibility for NBC to continue the Pearsons’ story. 

I have no doubt Netflix’s The Manny is a better quality show than Kevin Pearson’s fictional version, and that series is available now to stream on Netflix. Justin Hartley’s Tracker, meanwhile, is set to premiere at 10:30 p.m. ET Sunday, February 11, and old episodes of This Is Us can be streamed with a Hulu subscription. 

While we came to know and adore Justin Hartley as the lovable actor Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, his show on the 2024 TV schedule, Tracker, has him taking on a whole new role, as the "reward-seeker" Colter Shaw. However, that doesn’t mean the actor isn’t still thinking about the connections between the NBC hit and his upcoming CBS show. He even has a silly idea for a crossover, and even though he was joking about it, I’m serious, and I’d like to see this reunion happen. 

This Is Us came to an end in 2022, and Tracker will be Hartley’s first lead role on TV since the NBC drama. Of course, because the actor played Kevin Pearson for six seasons, he’s very connected to the character and the This Is Us cast. With all that in mind, ET asked him about both his new show as well as his previous one, and he came up with a fantastic crossover idea for Tracker and This Is Us, saying:

Of course, one of the major point points in This Is Us, specifically the first few seasons, was the death of Kevin, Kate and Randall’s dad Jack (played by Milo Ventimiglia). While we know he died from smoke inhalation when their house burned down, Hartely is proposing that maybe his on-screen dad didn’t die. So, in this imaginary crossover event, his Tracker character Colter would possibly work with the Pearson triplets to go on a mission to find Jack.

I think we were all grabbing for the tissues during the tragic episode of This Is Us where we learned how Jack died. So, I assume many of us would love to see a happier alternate ending for the beloved patriarch of the Pearson family. 

However, that’s simply a far-fetched dream, and This Is Us was one of many shows to end in 2022. Its finale is long gone, and the Pearson’s story has been over for a while now. Justin Hartley did say though that Kevin will always be with him, and you can feel a bit of the same charisma he brought to his Pearson triplet in his new character Colter. Speaking about prepping for Tracker, and his love for Kevin, Justin Hartley said:

While it’s challenging to leave a character behind and develop a new one, Justin Hartley seems to have done it with grace, and his This Is Us co-stars have celebrated Tracker with him. Even though a crossover is unlikely, it seems like this actor’s on-screen family can’t wait for his new CBS show, and I’m in the same boat.

Even though I think Hartley’s idea for a This Is Us and Tracker crossover is genius, and I’d love to see it, it likely won’t happen. However, it’s always possible for actors like Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia to show up as guest stars. 

If any of the above fantasies happen, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. As for what you can do, you can check out Justin Hartley’s new show Tracker when it premieres on February 11 right after the Super Bowl on CBS or the next day with a Paramount+ subscription. Plus, you can always go back and stream all six seasons of This Is Us with a Hulu subscription. 

Soap Operas are not usually the first thing we think of when we think of “Prestige Television” but they have been popular since the dawn of TV and without them, some of our favorite stars might not have ever gotten their big break. In honor of that, we’ve compiled quite a list of famous actors who started out in soap operas. 

Brad Pitt (Another World)

There aren’t many bigger stars in the world than Brad Pitt. While he famously made his first mark in pop culture in Thelma & Louise, his first professional, credited acting role came on the soap Another World. The Ocean’s Eleven star played a character named Chris on two episodes in 1987. Little did anyone know just how famous he would soon be. 

Leonardo DiCaprio (Santa Barbara)

Pitt’s co-star in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio, is also one of the biggest stars in the world. Like Pitt, DiCaprio also can point to a turn on a soap opera early in his career as a launching pad. DiCaprio had a smattering of bit parts before starring in Santa Barbara, but it was five episodes on the soap that really got his career moving. 

Demi Moore (General Hospital)

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Demi Moore was box office gold with films like St. Elmo’s Fire, A Few Good Men, and Ghost. Moore earned a then-unprecedented $12.5 million with her role in Striptease, but she got her start much more modestly as reporter Jackie Templeton in 85 episodes of General Hospital from 1982 until 1984. 

Marisa Tomei (As The World Turns)

Marisa Tomei’s career went into the stratosphere with her Academy Award-winning turn in My Cousin Vinny in 1992. She’s since been nominated for two more Oscars in her lauded career that all started with the role of Marcy Thompson, as a series regular on As The World Turns for three seasons. 

Alec Baldwin (The Doctors)

The Doctors debuted on NBC in April of 1963, on the very same day as General Hospital premiered on ABC. Unlike GH, which is still on the air, The Doctors lasted only a mere 20 years, but like GH, it helped launch a lot of careers. Alec Baldwin was one of those actors who appeared on the soap, as the character Billy Aldrich for a few years in the early 1980s, years before his big breaks would come in Beetlejuice and The Hunt For Red October. 

Kathy Bates (The Doctors)

Another actor who got her start on the oft-forgotten The Doctors is the great Kathy Bates. Bates worked hard while scratching out a living as an actor in New York City. After scoring just one bit part in the movie Taking Off in 1971, it was another 6 years before she would land a big role, this time on The Doctors.

Laurence Fishburne (One Life To Live)

Laurence Fishburne famously made waves as a teenager starring (as Larry Fishburne) in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece Apocalypse Now. While the role made him famous, his career started years earlier as Josh Hall in One Life To Live. Fishburne was only 11 years old when he debuted on the show.

Jordana Brewster (As The World Turns)

Jordana Brewster is a star in one of the biggest film franchises in history as Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious movies. She got her start in one of the biggest soap operas in history as well. After a quick one-off on All My Children in 1995, Brewster landed a regular role on As The World Turns later that same year. She remained on the show for 118 episodes over the next six years. 

Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless)

For over a decade, Shemar Moore starred as Derek Morgan on the beloved Criminal Minds and then on S.W.A.T for six years. Neither was his first long-time role on television, however, as Moore got his start on eight seasons of The Young and the Restless as Malcolm Winters, a role he’s returned to a number of times, most recently in 2023. 

Tom Selleck (The Young And The Restless)

Another actor who got his start on The Young and the Restless is the legendary TV star Tom Selleck. After bouncing around in bit parts for most of the ‘70s. The Blue Bloods star found a semi-regular role on the soap in 1974. He would later own TV in the ‘80s as Thomas Magnum on one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Magnum PI.

Meg Ryan (As The World Turns)

Meg Ryan was America’s sweetheart in the 1980s and '90s. Before she starred in numerous rom-coms, from When Harry Met Sally To You’ve Got Mail, she was Steve Andropoulos’ sweetheart Betsy on As The World Turns. She would play the role for three years, before snagging a role in a little movie called Top Gun, and off she went to stardom. 

Lauryn Hill (As The World Turns)

It’s not just actors who got their start on soap operas. Singer and rapper Ms. Lauryn Hill is famous for her amazing neo-soul album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, but seven years before that, and before The Fugees, she starred as Kira Johnson on As The World Turns.

Taye Diggs (Guiding Light)

This one is a bit of a stretch because Taye Diggs had already put together a great career on Broadway, starring in the original cast of Rent and other shows. He did, however, get his regular screen time on Guiding Light in 1997, after a couple of smaller parts on TV. 

Julianne Moore (As The World Turns)

Julianne Moore has won a slew of awards in her career. The Boogie Nights star can boast five Oscar nominations and one win, she has an Emmy, multiple Golden Globe and SAG awards, and even one Daytime Emmy, which she won for Best Actress on the soap As The World Turns in 1988.

David Hasselhoff (The Young And The Restless)

Baywatch might have been a soap opera on the beach, but it wasn’t the first time David Hasselhoff starred in one. The Hoff played Snapper Foster (yes, that’s the name of the character) for seven years in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s on The Young and the Restless, before scoring his gig on Knight Rider. While starring on Knight Rider, The Hoff also appeared on one episode of Santa Barbara.

Mark Hamill (General Hospital)

Stars Wars has often been described as a “space opera” so it only makes sense that Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, got his start on a soap opera. The future superstar started smaller, with a role as Kent Murray on General Hospital for a couple of years right before Star Wars became the biggest thing, well, ever. 

Josh Duhamel (All My Children)

Transformers star Josh Duhamel has starred in 39 movies and had roles on 18 TV shows, including Las Vegas and Jupiter Rising, and it all started with a breakout role on ABC’s All My Children in 1999. He starred on the soap opera for a few years, before moving on, but did return briefly in 2011 to reprise his role as Leo du Pres. He even won a Daytime Emmy in 2002 for his performance. 

Kelly Ripa (All My Children)

Kelly Ripa has been everyone’s favorite morning talk show host for years now and over 30 years ago, she was a dancer on Dance Party USA. Her first serious acting gig came in 1990 as Hayley Vaughan on All My Children, a role she would play for more than a decade. Not only did it jumpstart her career, but the soap played an even more important role in her life, as that’s how she met her husband, Mark Consuelos.

Mark Consuelos (All My Children)

That’s right, Mark Consuelos also began his career on All My Children, playing Mateo Santos on the show for six years. The Riverdale star was a huge hit on the show, and like Ripa, returned in 2010 to help celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary. Consuelos and Ripa married in 1996 while starring on the show together and now almost 30 years later are still working together as co-hosts on Live.

Ryan Phillippe (One Life To Live)

From I Know What You Last Summer to Cruel Intentions, Ryan Phillippe played some iconic parts in the 1990s. It was One Life To Live where he landed his first one, though, in 1992. In the ‘00s, he got more serious, with major roles in Gosford Park and Crash, but none of it might have happened with the soap opera casting him as a teenager. 

Amber Tamblyn (General Hospital)

Amber Tamblyn wasn’t even a teen when she landed her first on-screen role on General Hospital in 1995. The 127 Hours star played Emily Quatermaine for six seasons on the soap.

John Stamos (General Hospital)

Before playing Uncle Jesse on Full House, and before playing bongos for The Beach Boys, John Stamos was breaking hearts as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital for three seasons in the early ‘80s. Stamos even earned a nomination for a Daytime Emmy for the role in 1983.

Mario Van Peebles (One Life To Live)

Mario Van Peebles made his permanent mark on film with his direction of the 1991 classic New Jack City. The cult classic was huge at the time, and Van Peebles has been acting and directing in TV and film ever since, but his career really got going a decade prior to New Jack City when he appeared as Doc Gilmore in One Life To Live in 1982 and 1983. 

Hayden Panettiere (One Life To Live)

“Save the cheerleader, save the world” is a now-legendary catchphrase from the TV series Heroes and the cheerleader was, of course, the great Hayden Panettiere. Panettiere had already scored numerous credits before Heroes, including her first role as a five-year-old One Life To Live for 26 episodes in the mid-'90s. She followed that up as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light for four seasons.

Justin Hartley (Passions)

Justin Harley was part of the cast that made more TV viewers cry than any other as a part of the brilliant ensemble on This Is Us. Hartley got his start probably making daytime TV fans emotional on the short-lived (by soap opera standards) Passions. After becoming a series regular on Smallville, he returned to daytime TV on The Young and the Restless before landing his award-winning gig on This Is Us. 

Robin Wright (Santa Barbara)

In 1987 Robin Wright became part of cinema history with her role as Buttercup in the much-beloved The Princess Bride. It took a few years of starring on the soap Santa Barbara before she would get that breakout role, but she’s been on top ever since, with iconic roles on the Netflix series House of Cards and in movies like Wonder Woman 1984, which is pretty fitting, as that was the year she started on Santa Barbara.

Lindsay Lohan (Guiding Light and Another World)

Lindsay Lohan’s first movie role was actually two roles in 1998’s The Parent Trap. She immediately endeared herself to audiences, and that love only grew with Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. She’s had an up-and-down career since, but like so many others, that career started as a kid on a soap. Two soaps, actually. First, a brief one-off on Guiding Light, with a reoccurring role on Another World for two seasons. 

Kevin Kline (Search For Tomorrow)

Search for Tomorrow is one of those soaps that despite running for more than 35 years, it’s completely forgotten about today. It was canceled in 1986, but it was around long enough for Kevin Kline to make his first on-screen appearance. The classically trained Kline returned to the stage after leaving the show, but in 1982 he found himself in a role in Sophie’s Choice alongside Meryl Streep, and he’s never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

Harvard grad Tommy Lee Jones actually got his first role in the classic Love Story but it was a minor “blink and you’ll miss it” type of role. It was probably his 21 episodes on One Life To Live in the early 1970s that really jumpstarted his now-legendary career. 

Tom Berenger (One Life To Live)

Speaking of One Life to Live in the ‘70s, Platoon star Tom Berenger overlapped with Jones for one season on the long-running soap. Berenger played Tim Siegel for 66 episodes from 1975 until his character’s death just after getting married in the 1976 season. Classic soap opera plot!  

While budgets of soap operas might not be that of prime-time TV, there is undoubtedly plenty of talent on these shows, and has been for many years, as this amazing of list famous actors who started out in soap operas proves. 

Now that he is no longer Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, Justin Hartley has been taking on new roles since the heart-wrenching NBC drama came to an end. His first major This Is Us TV follow-up, The Never Game, got a pilot commitment in 2021, with CBS giving the pilot order earlier this year. Now, Hartley is officially coming to primetime with a new show, and his This Is Us co-stars are celebrating alongside with him.

The Never Game has been ordered to series for CBS’ 2023-24 schedule as a drama based on Jeffery Deaver's popular novel of the same name, according to Deadline. The news is definitely exciting, especially since Justin Hartley’s been working on the project for quite some time now. The actor took to Instagram to share his excitement:

Justin Hartley isn’t the only one celebrating. Despite This Is Us being among the many shows that came to an end in 2022, the cast came out to support him in his new endeavor. Members of his former on-screen family took to the comments to congratulate him, including his fellow Pearson sibling, Chrissy Metz, who showed her excitement in almost all caps:

It’s not the Pearson Big Three without the third Pearson sibling, and Sterling K. Brown delivered. Just like their on-screen sister, Brown also took the all-caps route, and his short message said a lot about his support for Hartley:

Mama Pearson herself, Mandy Moore, also shared her celebratory thoughts after sharing the screen with Hartley for so many years on the NBC drama:

Justin Hartley executive produces The Never Game with former This Is Us EP Ken Olin, who will also direct the pilot. So while This Is Us is over, the new series is still bringing some of the cast and crew together, albeit in different ways. Perhaps there could be more reunions on The Never Game? Either way, fans of This Is Us can look forward to seeing a new side of Hartley, based on what the new series will be about.

The Never Game is based on the bestselling novel by Jeffery Deaver. Hartley portrays Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who wanders the country and uses his tracking skills to solve mysteries while also dealing with his broken family. Hartley will be joined by Robin Weigert, Abby McEnany, Eric Graise, Fiona Rene, and Mary McDonnell. No other details have been released about the project, but knowing that it’s finally been ordered to series is worth celebrating. 

The Never Game will be part of the 2023-24 schedule on CBS, so in the meantime, check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to in the new year. Watch all six seasons of This Is Us on Hulu with a subscription to keep you occupied!

Although This Is Us ended only earlier this year, some of the stars haven’t wasted any time in picking up new gigs, including Justin Hartley. The actor returned to NBC with his newest role in the October 10 episode of the new series Quantum Leap, and he has explained why came to the new show. 

Justin Hartley guest starred as Jake, a bounty hunter, on the reboot of the popular ‘80s series alongside his wife, Sofia Pernas. Quantum Leap marks Hartley’s first follow-up to This Is Us and gave him the chance to improvise. He explained to E! News:

Given the success of This Is Us, Quantum Leap having the "same kind of vibe" tracks as something that would appeal to Justin Hartley, on top of being able to act alongside his wife. Even though the role was just for one episode, seeing him back on TV, and on NBC no less, was a joy. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time he’ll be on the network.

Meanwhile, Justin Hartley is working on another follow-up, this time on CBS. The Never Game was given a pilot order from the network over the summer. Hartley is going to be busy on the series, as he’s not only starring in it but serving as an executive producer alongside Ken Olin, a former EP on This Is Us. So fans may be able to look forward to some This Is Us Easter eggs and perhaps even a reunion or two. One can hope, anyway!

It’s hard to think about the fact that the cast of This Is Us is moving on to other roles, even though it’s already been several months since the drama aired its finale. Although it came to an emotional end, the cast clearly had fun filming the final batch of episodes, as shown by their hilarious wobble video. It’s also nice to see them working on other projects. Since The Never Game is only in its pilot stage, it may be a while until we find out if it goes to series, but at least Hartley’s Quantum Leap appearance allowed fans to see him in front of the camera again.

Although Quantum Leap was able to snag Justin Hartley for an episode, they may not be able to get an original star. Scott Bakula has been open about his decision to not return, but it seems like the series is doing just fine without him. NBC recently gave the series a full-season order, meaning that it’s on the track to possibly being renewed for Season 2.

Don’t miss new episodes of Quantum Leap on Mondays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to in the coming months as the year comes to a close.