In an era dominated by TikTok and YouTube, teenagers are watching less traditional television than ever before. Yet, according to Nielsen data, the ABC police procedural The Rookie was the most-streamed broadcast show among under-18s in the US last year, outperforming other network hits like Abbott Elementary and High Potential.
The show, now in its eighth season, follows John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a divorced middle-aged father who becomes the LAPD’s oldest rookie. Its blend of comedy and drama has struck a chord with young viewers. Hannah Leef, a 15-year-old from New England, binge-watched the entire series in three weeks and has rewatched it ten times, calling it her “hyperfixation”. She has also persuaded about a dozen friends to watch it.
Social media has played a key role in attracting Gen Z fans. The Rookie’s official TikTok page has more than 2.9 million followers, far surpassing accounts for prestige shows like The White Lotus and The Last of Us. Many teens discover the series through clips on YouTube or TikTok before committing to full episodes.
Jade Amirah Lewis, a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania, first encountered the show on YouTube and was drawn to its tonal variety, comparing it to The Office. She finds comfort in the procedural format, where most storylines are resolved within an hour. “It’s a nice cycle,” she said.
Katie Campione, a senior TV reporter at Deadline, attributes the show’s appeal to a broader trend of young audiences gravitating toward long-running series like Gilmore Girls and Grey’s Anatomy. “You get to spend hundreds of hours with the same characters,” she noted, adding that such depth is rare in modern television.
Dwayne Johnson recently took his preteen daughter, another superfan, on a tour of the set. Creator Alexi Hawley told the Los Angeles Times that he often hears from parents about their children’s obsession with the show. Despite its traditional network format, The Rookie has become an unlikely Gen Z favourite.
