Press release - Primetime – Scripted
January 14, 2026
SCOTT SPEEDMAN-LED SERIES ‘RJ DECKER’ TO PREMIERE ON ABC TUESDAY, MARCH 3, STREAMING NEXT DAY ON HULU
Hit Drama ‘The Rookie’ Shifts to Mondays Following ‘American Idol’
- New drama series “RJ Decker” will premiere Tuesday, March 3, at 10 p.m. on ABC, joining the Tuesday night powerhouse lineup alongside “Will Trent” and “High Potential.” All series stream next day on Hulu.
- About “RJ Decker”:
- Scott Speedman stars as RJ Decker, a disgraced newspaper photographer and ex-con who starts over as a private investigator in the colorful-if-crime-filled world of South Florida. The series follows him tackling cases that range from slightly odd to outright bizarre with the help of his journalist ex, her police detective wife and a shadowy new benefactor — a woman from his past who could be his greatest ally … or his one-way ticket back to prison. “RJ Decker” is inspired by the novel “Double Whammy” by Carl Hiaasen.
- “RJ Decker” stars Scott Speedman as RJ Decker, Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emilia “Emi” Ochoa, Bevin Bru as Detective Melody “Mel” Abreau, Kevin Rankin as Aloysius “Wish” Aiken and Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix.
- “RJ Decker” is produced by 20th Television, and is written and executive produced by Rob Doherty. Carl Hiaasen, Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman serve as executive producers. Paul McGuigan directs and executive produces. Scott Speedman serves as a producer.
- Season 8 of “The Rookie” shifts to Mondays at 10 p.m. starting Jan. 26, following the highly anticipated season premiere of “American Idol.” All episodes stream next day on Hulu.
- With this shift, the remaining 15 episodes of “The Rookie” will have a straight run with no interruptions.
- “The Rookie” Season 8 premiere scored 7.88 million Total Viewers after three days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, rising over last season’s premiere (+6% vs. 7.40 million on 1/7/25) and matching its best premiere performance in MP+3 since season two on 9/29/19.
- The Season 8 opener of “The Rookie” set a record with its biggest premiere for the series on streaming, based on seven days of views on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
- With 475.6K social interactions, “The Rookie”’s Season 8 premiere currently ranks as the No. 1 most social episode of any drama series on broadcast or cable season to date.
- Socials and assets:
Source: Nielsen National Live+3 Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings and ABC Multiplatform +3 Day data for 1/6/26, 24/25 based on Big Data Plus Panel, while prior years are Panel-only. Talkwalker Social Content Ratings; Based on total linear interactions for broadcast and cable drama series; 9/15/25-1/11/26.
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