ABC's fall procedural lineup is winding down, with mid-season finales just two weeks away. But the network's spring plans have finally been revealed, and they're not good news for fans of High Potential and The Rookie. Both shows are being held until January, extending their hiatus to a painful nine months—a move that feels more like a punishment than a strategy.
While shows like 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, Grey's Anatomy, and R.J. Decker are returning after a standard summer break, High Potential and The Rookie are stuck in the midseason slot. For Will Trent, this has been the norm since its debut. But for these two fan favorites, it's a frustrating downgrade from their earlier full-season runs.
A Nine-Month Wait That Kills Momentum
The Rookie has been on this spring-only schedule for three seasons now, but High Potential is new to this limbo. The show is only in its third season, and its sophomore year was a massive success, breaking records and building serious buzz. Just as it was hitting its stride, ABC pulled the plug and sent it on a nine-month break, leaving fans hanging on a cliffhanger that's been burning in their minds ever since.
For The Rookie, the wait is old news, but that doesn't make it easier. Watching a beloved network show air for only a third of the year—then vanish for months—is a tough pill to swallow. The excitement of a season finale fades when you know you won't see these characters again for nearly a year.
The Cliffhangers That Make the Wait Worse
Both shows ended their recent seasons with jaw-dropping twists. The Rookie gave fans the long-awaited engagement of Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) on a beautiful beach—only to have both characters abducted moments later. Meanwhile, High Potential dropped a bombshell in its ongoing mystery of Roman Sinquerra: Captain Nick Wagner (Steve Howey) is shot and left for dead after a secret meetup, leaving his fate uncertain.
These are the kind of endings that should have viewers counting down the days. Instead, the long break has dulled the edge. By the time January rolls around, many fans will need a refresher just to remember what happened. That's become standard for streaming shows, but it's a bad look for network TV, where consistent scheduling is supposed to be a selling point.
ABC Needs a Better Plan
Ideally, ABC would move High Potential and The Rookie back to the fall. But if that's not possible, the network at least needs to treat its spring lineup with more respect. These shows are proven hits, and they deserve better than being shoved into a corner of the calendar.
As High Potential's January return and The Rookie's season 9 premiere approach, fans will tune in—but the network is risking their loyalty. A nine-month gap between seasons is a long time, and in the streaming age, it's easy for viewers to move on. ABC needs to rethink its strategy before it loses two of its biggest assets.
For now, mark your calendars: High Potential returns Tuesday, January 5, at 9:00 P.M. EST, and The Rookie follows Wednesday, January 6, at 9:00 P.M. EST. Let's hope the wait is worth it—and that ABC learns a lesson about how to treat its best shows.
