If you need more proof that linear ratings for network TV aren’t the only bar for success, look no further than the series premiere of ABC’s High Potential. Led by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson, the series had soft live ratings while it aired following the season premiere of Dancing With the Stars, but it saw a big boost when digital platforms, Hulu and Disney+, were factored into its premiere ratings.

Per Variety, the series premiere of High Potential jumped a massive 220 percent from 3.5 million viewers to 11.5 million viewers after three days of viewing across all platforms, including Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. Even more impressive was its jump in the still very important for advertisers 18-49 demographic, where it surged 354 percent from a 0.35 rating to a 1.59 rating. These results are some of the highest for an ABC drama premiere since the premiere of Big Sky in 2020.

High Potential Proves Linear Ratings Aren’t The Only Answer

Network TV isn’t what it used to be, at least in terms of live viewers, so networks look to performance across all platforms to determine the success of a series. High Potential is successful on streamers, as it has hit Hulu’s Top 15 chart and claimed the No.1 position three days in a row. In other solid ratings news for the series, the Live+Same Day performance shows that High Potential was the most-watched broadcast series in its timeslot.

Created by Drew Goddard, whose TV credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, High Potential is based on the 2021 French series HPI and stars Olson as Morgan, a single mother juggling three kids who also has an IQ of 160. Morgan has more knowledge than meets the eye, which moves her from being a cleaning lady for the LAPD to being offered a consultant position to crack some of their cases. Despite her skills, she is at odds with her partner Karadec (Daniel Sunjata), a more by-the-book detective skeptical of Morgan’s knowledge. The series also stars Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, Matthew Lamb and Judy Reyes.

High Potential has garnered high praise from critics, registering 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus that reads, “With the ineffable Kaitlin Olson on hand to inject some spiky personality into a familiar formula, High Potential, is a solid procedural with plenty of upside.” Olson’s performance has been seen as a highlight by most critics, with many of them indicating she’s enough reason to give the series a shot.

High Potential
airs on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM and can be watched the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.