Will Trent, High Potential and The Rookie could be ABC's strongest Tuesday line-up in years

ABC just announced their Tuesday lineup in early 2025 and it may be their best yet for that night!

It’s typical for a TV network to “stake out” a specific night for programming. ABC had huge success in the 1990s with their “TGIF” comedy block on Fridays, and other networks have enjoyed mixing a specific theme for a night. They sometimes try to pack the more notable dramas together and it works well. 20 years ago, ABC found massive success with a Sunday lineup of Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal and later the first season of Grey's Anatomy.

For years, CBS had pretty much dominated the ratings on Tuesday nights thanks to NCIS and its spinoffs. Since 2018, the network has been stronger thanks to the addition of FBI and then FBI: Most Wanted. 2021 saw the entire night be about the franchise thanks to FBI: International. 

Thus, other networks seem to be lacking, with fewer watched shows. ABC spent Tuesdays mostly for reality shows like Dancing With the Stars and some comedies, along with a score of short-lived dramas, mostly at the mid-season point.

However, 2025 will be different, with ABC announcing the new Tuesday lineup starting on January 7. First is season 3 of Will Trent at 8/7c, followed by the mid-season return of the freshman show High Potential and then The Rookie. 

Bigger is that it appears that, rather than the typical breaks of weeks between new episodes, all three shows will run uninterrupted (barring any real-life news), with Will Trent and The Rookie boasting 18 episode seasons all the way through the May finales. 

This looks to make Tuesdays truly a must-watch on ABC and one of the strongest lineups the network has offered on this night in years. 

Why the ABC Tuesday slot will be so special in 2025

The three shows are all successful in their own ways and all offer some great entertainment. Will Trent has become a loved hit thanks to the lead performances and fans eager to see the resolution to the cliffhanger of Will forced to arrest his love Angie for covering up a crime and seemingly quitting the GBI. 

High Potential hasn’t gotten a renewal yet, but it looks to be doing well as viewers are catching onto the story of a genius, if quirky, cleaning lady working for the LAPD. Some may be concerned about the time slot switch but having it between two established hits can only be good for the show. With more eyes on it, the odds of a second season will increase and ABC looks ready to make it a great new crime caper.

Finally, The Rookie remains a top hit even as season 8 can be a bit long in the tooth for some shows. However, keeping the going is important for ABC and still there's hopes it can craft another spinoff. It helps the show retains its good humor and storytelling alongside the compelling cast to remain a success.

Much better is the promise that all three shows are going to be rerun-free until May. That’s a huge advantage for ABC when the rival networks take a week or two off as they’ll be offering new episodes. It’s always key for a series to keep up the momentum in the ratings (especially a freshman show like High Potential), and this can boost ABC up more. 

There’s also how each show is a high-quality program and proof that scripted series can still bring audiences over the typical reality show fare. The Tuesday line-up can get ABC back on track as well since the networks are still feeling the after-effects of the 2023 strikes hurting their output. 

So it looks like ABC is about to have a great streak of Tuesday programming in 2025 and boost the network up nicely to leave crime show fans, in particular, entertained. 

Stay tuned to Americans Undercover for coverage of spies, agents, and political dramas. Follow us on X for more content!