High Potential becomes ABC’s most-watched new series

Introduction

High Potential is an American crime comedy drama created by Drew Goddard for ABC that has quickly become a central talking point in broadcast television. The series is notable both for its strong ratings performance and for being the last production credited to ABC Signature before that division was folded into 20th Television on 1 October 2024. Given its audience reach and platform presence, High Potential is relevant to viewers, industry observers and streaming platforms monitoring flagship broadcast hits.

Main body

Series premise and cast

Written by Drew Goddard and based on the French series Haut Potentiel Intellectuel (HPI), High Potential follows single mother Morgan, played by Kaitlin Olson, whose exceptional mind enables an unconventional talent for solving crimes. She forms an unlikely partnership with a by-the-book detective Karadec, portrayed by Daniel Sunjata. The ensemble also includes Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Ozdil, Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot and Judy Reyes as Selena. Matthew Lamb portrays Elliot Radovic, Morgan’s son with her second ex-partner Ludo, and the character is presented as having inherited his mother’s high-potential intellect.

Ratings and platform distribution

High Potential became the most-watched new series on ABC in six years, surpassing the record set by The Conners in the 2018–2019 season. A standout broadcast on 14 January 2025 delivered a series high with 13.19 million cross-platform viewers measured over seven days and a 2.44 rating in the adults 18–49 demographic, which converts to about 3.27 million viewers in that key group. The show is available to stream on Disney+, with subscription tiers starting at the listed prices of £12.99 per month and an alternative tier starting at £35.99 per month, and carries an advisory that flashing lights sequences may affect photosensitive viewers.

Audience engagement

On social media, the official High Potential account reports substantial engagement, with roughly 299,800 likes and around 170,424 people talking about the series. The show airs on ABC in a Tuesday 9pm timeslot, promoted with the hashtag #HighPotential.

Conclusion

High Potential’s rapid rise in viewership underscores its appeal as a crime comedy rooted in a distinctive lead performance and an established format adapted from France. Its strong cross-platform numbers and streaming availability on Disney+ make it a notable case study in how broadcast series can achieve wide reach in the current TV landscape. For viewers, the series promises a blend of clever procedural work and character-driven storytelling; for industry watchers, it represents a successful new franchise launch during a period of organisational change at its originating studio.