There's a cause Tracker is TV's greatest present — and all of it has to do with main man Justin Hartley.
Earlier than introducing Us to Colter Shaw, Hartley acquired his begin on cleaning soap operas, together with Passions and Younger and the Stressed. He then moved on to Smallville, Revenge and Mistresses forward of his fan-favorite position as Kevin Pearson on NBC's This Is Us. Hartley walked away from the hit sequence with three nominations for the Critics' Selection Tv Awards and finally branched out with film roles in A Unhealthy Mothers Christmas, Senior 12 months, The Noel Diary and extra.
Nevertheless it was Hartley's ardour mission — Tracker — that proved that the actor is aware of what TV followers need. The present, which premiered in February 2024, shortly discovered success after being coined the most-watched broadcast premiere since NCIS‘ last episode with Mark Harmon in September 2021. Its common viewership was reported to be 18.2 million per episode, based on Paramount+ and broadcast measurements.
Selection‘s annual listing of the 12 months's 100 most-watched primetime telecasts revealed that Tracker episodes earned 15 prime spots. Regardless of making Us wait 11 weeks for brand spanking new episodes, the second season dominated viewership with the season 2 premiere bringing in 8.3 million complete viewers — a virtually 10 p.c enhance in viewership from the season 1 finale. The season 2 premiere additionally marked the present's highest viewers because the sequence debuted in February 2024 after the Tremendous Bowl.
On the middle of the sequence is Hartley's Colter, who welcomes the viewers week to week whereas fixing numerous lacking circumstances throughout the nation.
“One of many issues I actually love about Colter and the way in which we've constructed him is that he doesn't apologize for his masculinity,” Hartley informed Males's Journal in August. “I feel that's what persons are on the lookout for. You're asking your self, ‘What sort of individuals do I need to hang around with?' And notably: ‘What sort of male pals do I've in my life that I actually worth?'”
The actor was thrilled with the instance they're able to set with Colter.
“I feel we've crafted a personality that's so emotionally developed, and he actually does need to get to the foundation of why individuals do issues,” Hartley continued. “The details are that [executive producer] Ken Olin and I got down to do a present that was in actual fact a throwback. We needed a brand new spin on a procedural, that means our character would evolve over time.”
Hartley added: “He wouldn't simply stay the identical actual individual each single week. We have been hopeful individuals would really like it. Individuals ended up loving it. I feel there's an enormous urge for food for this sort of present.”
Hold scrolling for a visible breakdown of Hartley's hottest onscreen moments as our favourite TV hero Colter Shaw:
CBS Discovering an Excuse for Justin Hartley to Take His Shirt Off
Tracker deserves some applause for writing in a scene the place Colter is popping out of the bathe simply to offer the individuals what they need.
Prepared for His Shut-Up
Whereas not essentially a scene from the present, CBS has gotten inventive with its themed picture shoots for every season of the present. Our private favourite needs to be Hartley hanging out in an Airstream whereas channeling his inside Colter.
Saving His Mates
Colter's work doesn't simply assist him resolve circumstances for strangers. Three seasons in, Tracker is dedicating sure episodes to Colter serving to both freed from cost or as a favor to a good friend as a result of he's simply that selfless.
A Danger Taker
Tracker wouldn't be the present that it's if Colter wasn't leaping out of planes, operating round throughout snowstorms and pushing himself to the restrict for others.
A Spouse Man
Hartley has discovered a option to have some very star-studded visitor appearances on Tracker however one of the best addition was his real-life spouse, Sofia Pernas. The scenes between Colter and Billie (Pernas) make followers hopeful that the duo may get collectively — or at the very least lead their very own present.
Getting in a Exercise
Simply one other occasion of CBS discovering a option to showcase their main man, which none of Us are mad about.
Reuniting a Canine With His Proprietor
The one factor higher than a person who saves individuals is one who stops to research an deserted canine, which then turned Colter reuniting the pet with a younger boy after they acquired separated.
A Household Man
Regardless of Us marking Colter's household drama down as messy, the Shaws do have their candy moments. A type of contains Colter visiting his mother and discovering time to get pleasure from some pancakes earlier than being pulled into yet one more lacking individuals case.
Colter's ‘Yellowstone' Second
It's frankly a bit of stunning that it took three seasons for Hartley to point out off his cowboy expertise whereas using a horse within the desert.
