As a dedicated fan of crime dramas and procedural shows, I was immediately drawn to the captivating cast of High Potential. The character of Morgan, portrayed by the talented Akaash Singh, is not only intellectually gifted but also possesses an uncanny ability to perceive details that others might overlook.
This show, High Potential, holds great promise to rank among the top new procedurals this year. It offers everything that fans adore in an offbeat procedural: a protagonist with exceptional abilities, a diverse team of colleagues with contrasting personalities, and intriguing cases that vary from one episode to the next.
In this crime drama, airing on ABC, Kaitlin Olson portrays Morgan, a solitary mother managing three children by herself, who possesses an IQ of 160. After a string of incidents at her workplace where she works as an overnight cleaner, a detective there recognizes her exceptional intellect. As a result, Morgan is given a promising opportunity to aid them in resolving cases. Notably, Olson is well-known for her roles such as Dee Reynolds in the popular sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Mickey from the brief Fox comedy “The Mick,” and her guest appearance as DJ Vance in the Emmy-winning HBO series “Hacks.” However, the remainder of the cast consists of recognizable faces that viewers might struggle to identify.
Some of the Cast Members Have Been in High-Profile Shows
Judy Reyes
Initially, when it’s uncovered that Morgan has meddled with a police panel, she gets summoned for interrogation by Captain Selena Soto, the leader of the LAPD Major Crimes Division. Instead of reprimanding Morgan solely for obstructing an investigation and breaking the law, Captain Soto also acknowledges that Morgan might be onto something valuable and perceives her potential.
Actress Judy Reyes, renowned for her role in one of the top medical comedies of the 2000s, portrays Captain Selena. Many may recall her as Carla Espinosa from Scrubs, the tenacious and sharp-witted head nurse at the hospital who later marries Turk (Donald Faison), despite her strong-headedness.
Besides her roles, Reyes was featured in the Lifetime comedy-drama “Devious Maids” from 2013 to 2016, the TNT comedy-drama “Claws” (2017-2022), and the horror film “Smile”. In 2023, she garnered an Independent Spirit Award for her leading role in the movie “Birth/Rebirth”.
Daniel Sunjata
As someone who appreciates a good detective tale, I must admit that there was one individual who harbored reservations about having Morgan on the team, given her careless approach to rules and casual professionalism – not to mention her lack of formal police training. That skeptical figure was none other than Karadec, a seasoned detective, whom you might recognize as the actor Daniel Sunjata portrays him. In another life, he played Danny in Manifest, the series where Grace (Athena Karkanis) found herself dating years after she thought her husband Ben (Josh Dallas) had perished.
Sunjata boasts an extensive acting career, primarily marked by smaller guest appearances. Notably, he starred as Franco Rivera on the FX series “Rescue Me”, FBI Senior Agent Paul Briggs in “Graceland”, Jake Gregorian in “Notorious”, and Dante “Mecca” Spears in “Power Book II: Ghost”. In the early 2000s, he had recurring roles as CSU Technician Burt Trevor on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and as Nurse Eli in “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Javicia Leslie
Karadec’s police partner is Daphne, portrayed by Javicia Leslie. Known for her roles in various productions, she gained recognition from her appearances in “God Friended Me”, a CBS comedy-drama that ran from 2018 to 2020. However, it’s her characters in the 2021 series of The CW titled “Batwoman” and the final season of “The Flash” as Red Death that truly stand out.
Garret Dillahunt
In the second installment, we meet Lieutenant Melon, who leads the robbery unit at the LAPD. He seeks Captain Selena’s aid in resolving a baffling series of jewelry store heists. Throughout their interaction, he disparages Morgan, making it clear that he would prefer anyone else to assist. Repeatedly, he refers to her as the “cleaning staff.
As a devoted fan, I must say that Garret Dillahunt’s portrayal of John Dorie in Fear the Walking Dead (from 2018 to 2021) was truly heartwarming and endearing. However, it’s fascinating to see him step out of this character and delve into his rich acting history. His first significant role was as Burt Chance on Raising Hope, followed by Francis Wolcott in Deadwood. He’s also graced the screens of shows like Burn Notice, Justified, The Mindy Project, and Hand of God. Moreover, he’s had supporting roles in movies such as No Country for Old Men, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Winter’s Bone, Looper, and 12 Years a Slave.
Taran Killam
Among the familiar figures, it’s me who steps in as Taran Killam, portraying Ludo Radovic – Morgan’s ex-husband and father to her two youngest offspring. In addition to his driving instructor job, he lends a helping hand with all three kids, particularly when the LAPD brings him on board as a sort of “manny” as part of Morgan’s work agreement. With Morgan, he maintains a cordial bond and presents a goofy, timid demeanor, quite the opposite of her bold persona.
In contrast to his usual comedic roles, Killam tends to play more toned-down characters. His career began with being a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” from 2010 to 2016. He’s also been seen in sitcoms like “How I Met Your Mother” and “New Girl”, and starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom “Single Parents”.
Other Familiar Faces Round Out the Cast
Apart from the primary cast members, there are other actors who contribute significantly to the main ensemble. Amirah J (Johnson) portrays Ava, Morgan’s teenage daughter from her first marriage. In the narrative, Morgan’s husband Roman disappeared 15 years ago, leaving diapers for their baby Ava. Despite her belief that he wouldn’t abandon his family, Morgan has been unable to determine what became of him. As part of an agreement with the LAPD, Morgan has implored Captain Selena to investigate Roman’s vanishing act, a subplot that promises to unfold throughout the first season.
Amirah J has only recently made her mark in the acting world, with her debut role appearing in a few episodes of a minor TV series as far back as 2017. However, fans might be surprised to learn that she portrayed Xan Galvez for seven consecutive episodes of Shameless from 2018 to 2019.
In our office, there’s another colleague named Lev “Oz” Osman. He works in the major crimes unit. You might recognize him from acting roles; he played Aladdin in Season 6 of the ABC series Once Upon a Time and more recently, he starred as Max in The Flight Attendant. However, his most significant role was his debut on the Disney Channel Australian series As the Bell Rings, where he was a main cast member as Raff.
Lastly, we have Officer Lin, who is part of the precinct team. She’s portrayed by TJ Lee, an actor familiar with the procedural genre. In 2021, she starred in three episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Celia Long. You might also recognize her from one episode of Inventing Anna where she played Donna’s assistant Emily, another episode of The Equalizer in 2023 as Eliza, and she has appeared in an episode of Manifest.
What to Know About High Potential
Morgan, a character from the French show HPI (airing in 2021), is portrayed as having immense potential due to her exceptional intelligence and keen perception. She appears to have an almost photographic memory, and can execute complex mental calculations with ease, such as correctly guessing her grocery bill total before reaching the checkout in the first episode.
Following its initial two episodes, the show garnered overwhelming praise, boasting an 86% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 79% favorability among viewers. Matt Roush of TV Insider noted that “The dynamic between Olson and Sunjata is undeniable, as Morgan’s casual audacity sparks Karadec’s strict frustration in a way that produces humorous results.” Robert Lloyd from the Los Angeles Times described High Potential as “genuinely amusing and pleasing, with both Olson and Morgan appearing to enjoy themselves immensely.
The show titled “High Potential” made its debut on ABC on September 17, 2024. From then on, new episodes are aired every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (except for October 1, 2024, as it clashes with the Vice Presidential Debate). Additionally, you can catch up on “High Potential” via streaming on Hulu.
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2024-10-05 03:32