In an era dominated by TikTok clips and YouTube influencers, a surprising television champion has emerged for Generation Z. The most-streamed broadcast television series among young people under 18 last year was not a glossy Netflix teen drama, but ABC's police procedural The Rookie, according to Nielsen data.
An Unlikely Hyperfixation for the TikTok Generation
Fifteen-year-old Hannah Leef from New England calls the show her "hyperfixation." She first watched the entire series, currently in its eighth season, in just three weeks. "Which is, like, not healthy," she admits. Leef has rewatched the series ten times and has hooked about a dozen friends, with one friend binge-watching it all in a single, sleepless week. Her dedication is emblematic of a wider, unexpected trend.
Despite 90% of young people's viewing time coming from "non-traditional" sources like streaming services, this network stalwart has found a fervent fanbase. The show's official TikTok page boasts over 2.9 million followers, far surpassing the social media presence of hits like The White Lotus. For many teens, including 16-year-old Jade Amirah Lewis from Pennsylvania, their first encounter with the show was through social media clips.
Comfort, Characters, and the Copaganda Question
Starring Gen X actor Nathan Fillion, the series follows John Nolan, a middle-aged divorcee who becomes the oldest rookie in the LAPD. Fans like Lewis are drawn to its mix of comedy and serious tones, and find the procedural format—where most stories wrap up in a neat hour—strangely comforting. "It's a nice cycle," Lewis said.
This popularity presents a paradox. Younger Americans are statistically the most distrustful of law enforcement, and network police shows have long been criticised as "copaganda." Showrunner Alexi Hawley acknowledged this, telling The Guardian that the police murder of George Floyd changed his approach. The show now works with consultants from the racial justice organisation Color of Change and incorporates plotlines that reflect systemic failures, such as a racist officer receiving only a slap on the wrist.
A Scheduled Ritual in an On-Demand World
For superfans, watching The Rookie is a weekly ritual. Mariah Smith, 22, who runs a fan TikTok account with 60,000 followers, has avoided Tuesday night plans for years to watch the show live—even selling tickets to see her beloved Memphis Grizzlies play. The show's move to Monday nights has created a "nightmare" of scheduling conflicts for her.
Yet, as Deadline reporter Katie Campione notes, the show fits a trend of younger audiences gravitating toward long-running series like Grey's Anatomy, offering hundreds of hours with familiar characters. "It's easy to pay attention to it and do something else at the same time," Campione said, making it perfect for the multi-tasking generation.
For Hannah Leef, the show is a cherished part of her daily routine. New episodes air after her bedtime, so she wakes up early to watch them first thing. Her fandom is proudly displayed on her wall: a painted vinyl record of a song from the show, a birthday gift from her best friend, hung up despite her not owning a record player. "I don't think anyone has record players," she said, perfectly summing up the charmingly anachronistic appeal of a broadcast TV hit in the streaming age.
