There’s a purpose Tracker is TV’s largest 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 function as Kevin Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us. Hartley walked away from the hit sequence with three nominations for the Critics’ Alternative Tv Awards and in the end branched out with film roles in A Dangerous Mothers Christmas, Senior 12 months, The Noel Diary and extra.
However it was Hartley’s ardour venture — 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‘ ultimate episode with Mark Harmon in September 2021. Its common viewership was reported to be 18.2 million per episode, in keeping with Paramount+ and broadcast measurements.
Selection‘s annual record of the 12 months’s 100 most-watched primetime telecasts revealed that Tracker episodes earned 15 high 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 whole viewers — a virtually 10 % enhance in viewership from the season 1 finale. The season 2 premiere additionally marked the present’s highest viewers for the reason that sequence debuted in February 2024 after the Tremendous Bowl.
On the heart of the sequence is Hartley’s Colter, who welcomes the viewers week to week whereas fixing numerous lacking instances throughout the nation.
“One of many issues I actually love about Colter and the best way we’ve constructed him is that he doesn’t apologize for his masculinity,” Hartley advised Males’s Journal in August. “I believe that’s what persons are searching for. You’re asking your self, ‘What sort of individuals do I need to hang around with?’ And notably: ‘What sort of male buddies do I’ve in my life that I actually worth?’”
The actor was thrilled with the instance they can set with Colter.
“I believe we’ve crafted a personality that’s so emotionally developed, and he actually does need to get to the basis of why individuals do issues,” Hartley continued. “The information are that [executive producer] Ken Olin and I got down to do a present that was in actual fact a throwback. We wished a brand new spin on a procedural, which means our character would evolve over time.”
Hartley added: “He wouldn’t simply stay the identical precise particular person each single week. We have been hopeful individuals would love it. Folks ended up loving it. I believe there’s an enormous urge for food for this type of present.”
Preserve 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 artistic with its themed picture shoots for every season of the present. Our private favourite must be Hartley hanging out in an Airstream whereas channeling his interior Colter.
Saving His Mates
Colter’s work doesn’t simply assist him clear up instances for strangers. Three seasons in, Tracker is dedicating sure episodes to Colter serving to both freed from cost or as a favor to a pal as a result of he’s simply that selfless.
A Threat 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 technique to have some very star-studded visitor appearances on Tracker however the most effective addition was his real-life spouse, Sofia Pernas. The scenes between Colter and Billie (Pernas) make followers hopeful that the duo might get collectively — or at the very least lead their very own present.
Getting in a Exercise
Simply one other occasion of CBS discovering a technique 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 grew to become 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 take pleasure in some pancakes earlier than being pulled into yet one more lacking individuals case.
Colter’s ‘Yellowstone’ Second
It’s frankly a bit of shocking that it took three seasons for Hartley to indicate off his cowboy abilities whereas driving a horse within the desert.
