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If you're looking for police procedurals to binge-watch, there are plenty of classic shows worth revisiting. New shows also crop up and gain a following, and many quickly break into the mainstream. Police procedurals are highly rewatchable because you can jump into any episode without worrying about overarching storylines and spoilers thanks to the "crime-of-the-week" format. That is what makes ABC's acclaimed cop thriller appealing, and it's still topping the TV charts after eight seasons.
The best procedurals offer a compelling premise, an engaging ensemble, or a standout protagonist, and many shows feature all three. Others start as a classic fish-out-of-water story about a recruit or a seasoned veteran joining a new team. Sometimes, it's about a newly divorced man who joins the force in his 40s, inspired by his unexpected act of heroism. ABC's The Rookie is an underdog story about an everyday person who proved his mettle against all odds, proving that it's never too late to start over.
The Rookie is the sixth most-watched network TV show of 2025 and 2026, registering 10.6 million viewers based on 35 days of cross-platform viewing, according to Nielsen. It beat newcomer Boston Blue and long-running procedurals NCIS, Law & Order: SVU, and Chicago PD. The Rookie also ranked 18th among the top TV shows for the same period, which includes network TV and streaming. That's not at all surprising because The Rookie remains a fan-favorite after eight seasons, garnering an overall Rotten Tomatoes score of 76%. It's one of those shows that endear you more to its protagonist with repeat viewings.
The Rookie follows John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion), a small-town construction contractor who finds himself caught in a bank robbery on the day he files his divorce papers. Inspired to reboot his life after thwarting the heist, he pursues a new career as a police officer. He graduates from the police academy and becomes the LAPD's oldest rookie — he joins the force as an immediate underdog, an older cop who's required to catch up with younger colleagues. He proves his worth over time, ultimately becoming a mentor to new officers.
What makes The Rookie more compelling is that it is inspired by a true story about executive producer Jon Steinberg's college friend, William Norcross, who continues to serve in the LAPD. Norcross is also an executive producer on The Rookie. The show is the perfect blend of cop drama and comfort TV, allowing audiences to ease into each episode, assured that the case of the week will not lean on gritty depictions of real-life criminality. Fillion is also a big part of the show's success — he perfectly portrays Nolan's compassion and humility with affable charm. The Rookie also built a larger ensemble of endearing characters, who make the patrol shifts even more interesting with banter, romance, and camaraderie.
