The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / ABC Believes Show Has “High Potential” Showing It 4 Times In A Wk.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 17, 2024 7:03 am

I’ve seen networks want to get new shows sampled by viewers, but honestly, I’ve never seen anything like this. ABC obviously believes its new dramedy, called “High Potential,” is so good they’re showing it on the network in prime time not once, not twice, not even three times, but four times in the same week!

The show is about a cleaning lady who has a razor sharp mind for solving crimes and winds up working as a consultant to the L.A.P.D., much to the cops’ chagrin. (It sounds a lot like CBS’ Elsbeth to me, but I’ll wait to see it before I make that comparison.)

But here’s the thing. According to the listings, ABC is previewing this newcomer on Tuesday (its regular night) at 10 PM. Then they’re showing it again on Wednesday at the same time. Miss that one and the exact same episode shows up Friday night at 8 o’clock Eastern. And if you still didn’t see it, it’s on yet a fourth time on Sunday night, again at 8 PM.

That’s the same episode four times in less than a week. Obviously, the network has a lot of confidence in the program, but four showings of the pilot in less than seven days? I’ve been following network TV for decades and I have to admit, that’s a first.

New episodes, after the repeating one, begin on Tuesday, Sept. 24th.

**Posted by mic'em** September 17, 2024 7:04 am

Pass. As much as I liked the gal who played Elsbeth in True Blood and Claws, this character is beyond irratating to me. A clone show will be just as bad methinks.

Last edited by mic'em (September 17, 2024 7:05 am)

**Posted by paterson1** September 17, 2024 8:45 am

CTV is showing High Potential twice. Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 10pm. They have been promoting it a lot on both CTV and CTV2.

Hope the show is a hit for ABC since they don't have a lot going on in prime time these days in terms of scripted programming.

**Posted by Radiowiz** September 17, 2024 8:54 am

I never did watch Elizbeth. It never got my attention.
I DO look forward to watching High Potential to give it at least a chance.
It looks to be a much better show than Elizbeth.

**Posted by mace** September 17, 2024 9:29 am

I too will give High Potential a shot. Interesting premise, much like FOX's The Cleaning Lady.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 17, 2024 10:47 am

From the Fall Preview issue of TV Guide:

**Posted by M. David** September 17, 2024 4:13 pm

I have my doubts about this show, but not for the reasons one might think.

I fear it may fall victim to the Overhype Curse, where a new show is over-promoted ad nauseam, and later ends up getting cancelled after only a few episodes have aired.

A long list of shows have suffered that fate over the years. They ended flopping hard and getting pulled from the schedule. Some return midseason; others are shuttled off to streaming services or burned off on weekends. And others never see the light of day again.

So that fact that this one episode is being reran and overhyped might not be a good thing. I’m prepared to be wrong, but past occurrences have not worked in the shows’ favour.

Last edited by M. David (September 17, 2024 4:15 pm)

**Posted by deLaat** September 17, 2024 8:29 pm

I've seen three seasons of the original French version of TF1's "HPI" (Haut Potentiel Intellectuel or "Giftedness") on MHzChoice. It starts out cute but the premise eventually gets old. One of the reasons I watched all the seasons available was to see Audrey Fleurot's generous décolletage well-displayed in clothes from the French equivalent to Forever 21.

I hold out little hope for any Hollywood original idea gained by watching tv in France.

**Posted by mic'em** September 18, 2024 6:48 am

Two shows I have been looking forward to returning to my TV schedule is " The Old Man " starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow on FX. It began the second season last week. Note that Bridges as been battling cancer during the filming , in real life. The second, on History, is "Rust Valley Restorers" which returns for it's final season Thursday Sept. 19. I'm also looking forward to the return of "NCIS", "Law and Order" and "SVU" , and the final episodes of " Blue Bloods" If anyone is a Selleck fan, the original " Magnum PI" is aired on Vision Mon-Fri at 5pm.

**Posted by chrishch** September 18, 2024 9:08 am

Ever since ABC messed up Alias in the early 2000s by repeatedly changing the storylines, I haven't had much confidence in anything they've hyped since.

**Posted by mace** September 18, 2024 9:08 am

High Potential has zero chance of beating CBS's all FBI lineup on Tuesdays. Its only chance of survival is to finish ahead of or at least compete against the second season of The Irrational on NBC. The ABC series will have aired three episodes before The Irrational premieres October 8. Is three episodes enough to get people hooked on a series? It certainly can't hurt its chances of survival for a second season.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 18, 2024 10:15 am

The main broadcast networks seem to determined to shoot themselves in the foot, with a new study showing they're launching fewer scripted shows this year than in any season past. It almost appears they're inviting viewers to tune elsewhere.

"Only 41 scripted series will air in the fall lineups of the big five networks — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and The CW — this year, marking a nearly 50% decline from a peak of 76 just seven years ago."

Fall Season's Scripted Reduction Bodes Badly For Broadcast TV

**Posted by mace** September 18, 2024 10:36 am

Game shows are cheaper to produce than scripted series. Price Is Right and Let's Make A Deal are daytime ratings monsters. Seems logical to launch primetime versions which CBS has done.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 18, 2024 10:39 am

But putting on cheap programming will inevitably drive audiences to where the good stuff is - the streamers.

Maybe that's just what they want.

**Posted by paterson1** September 18, 2024 6:06 pm

ABC was the leader last night with their Tuesday prime time lineup. Dancing With The Stars two hour premiere had 4.97 million viewers at 8pm with a 10 share 18-49. High Potential is off to a good start with 3.59 million watching and a 6 share 18-49. The rest of last night prime time in the US from TV Rating Guide..http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2024/09/tuesday-tv-ratings-91724-high-potential.html

**Posted by Brad** October 8, 2024 8:01 pm

From The Hollywood Reporter:

The Sept. 24 installment grew from 3.67 million viewers for its initial airing to 10.72 million with a week of streaming and DVR viewing — a nearly threefold increase.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/high-potential-ratings-streaming-bump-abc-1236027062/