10 Shows To Watch If You Love 'High Potential'

High Potential is one of the biggest breakout hits for ABC. The story of a single mother with a genius-level IQ who goes from cleaning the police station to being one of their greatest crime solvers has become ABC’s most-watched new series in six years. The procedural’s mix of compelling mystery, humor, and dynamic performance from Kaitlin Olson quickly resonated with audiences hungry for more.

While the wait may seem like an eternity in between each new episode, there are other similar series that will scratch the itch for more unsolved cases or unlikely detectives. From odd couple detective duos to comedies starring the always-funny Olson, here are some great shows to watch for fans of High Potential.

10 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' (2005–)

Created by Rob McElhenney

Dee Reynolds wears a helmet next to a motorcycle inside the bar in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 7 — Image via FX

Fans of High Potential who are unfamiliar with Olsen might not be familiar with her work in the long-running comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The series follows a group of friends—and that’s a term used loosely—who work and run a dive bar called Paddy’s Pub. Each week, the gang will usually concoct a new scheme or poorly thought-out con to make a quick buck or for the pure pettiness of it.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars and was created by Rob McElhenney, who is Olson’s real-life husband who she met on the show. The other cast members, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Danny DeVito continue to do projects outside of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but their dedication to the sitcom brings them back to do new seasons as their schedules allow. Most recently, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was in the headlines for its funny and surprising crossover with the elementary school-based Abbott Elementary.

9 'House' (2004–2012)

Created by David Shore

Hugh Laurie sitting in a chair while fiddling with a rubberband in House episode Alone — Image via Fox

In House, brilliant but grumpy diagnostician Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is able to determine what’s behind any of his patient’s illnesses; just please don’t ask him to talk to anyone. Each week, an episode would follow House as he insulted anyone within five feet of him while he struggled to solve the newest patient's mystery ailment. Helping him through each day was his best friend Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), his team of doctors who worked under him, and his secret addition to pain medication.

Laurie had been a fixture on the BBC for years, but it was his role in House that ingratiated him to American audiences. At face value, the show is a medical drama, but it’s also secretly a mystery series that takes the trappings of Sherlock Holmes and adjusts them into the hospital setting. While the series had its highs and lows of sometimes over-the-top cases, House was an enjoyable and entertaining ride for all eight of its seasons.

8 'Lucifer' (2016–2021)

Created by Tom Kapinos

Tom Ellis as Lucifer drinking a cocktail in Lucifer — Image via Fox

To prove that even the most far-fetched concept can work if done properly, Lucifer begs the question: what if the Devil solved mysteries? In Lucifer, Tom Ellis stars as Lucifer Morningstar, otherwise known as Satan, who decides to abandon his home of Hell to live in a place with even more traffic—Los Angeles. It’s there he befriends a homicide detective named Chloe Decker (Lauren German), who he finds himself drawn to. Together, the pair will solve crimes with her forensic smarts and his abilities to manipulate souls as the devil.

The series can be a little silly, especially if a viewer doesn’t buy into the concept, but Ellis’ magnetic performance as Lucifer is a big part of the show’s success. Each week offered new mysteries while involving the supernatural elements of Lucifer's eternal enemies and allies. Lucifer’s original home, Fox, would cancel the mystery series after three seasons, but because you can never keep the devil down, Netflix resurrected the show for an additional three seasons.

7 'Mentalist' (2008–2015)

Created by Bruno Heller

Simon Baker in an interrogation room on The mentalist — Image via CBS

A fraudulent psychic wants to use his skills for good in the massively successful CBS series The Mentalist. The series follows Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), a psychic whose only real power was a heightened observational ability that allowed him to learn details about a person with information they unknowingly presented. Now working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, he helps law enforcement agents solve crimes while he hunts for the killer of his wife and daughter.

While The Mentalist checks many of the boxes that a standard procedural has, the series deeply benefited from the charismatic performance of Baker. During its time, The Mentalist dominated the ratings, with millions tuning in each week to see Jane solve his next case. During its seven-season run, The Mentalist would allow new viewers an entry point with a self-contained case but rewarded longtime fans with Jane’s pursuit of the serial killer Red John, who had killed his family.

6 'The Mick' (2017–2018)

Created by Dave Chernin and John Chernin

Kaitlin Olsen, Thomas Barbusca, and the cast of The Mick — Image via Fox

Olsen had another prominent role before signing on to High Potential when she served as the unlikely legal guardian for a group of rich nieces and nephews in The Mick. The Fox sitcom followed Olsen as Mickey, a woman drifting through life when she is unexpectedly called upon to watch her sister's kids after she and her husband are arrested for white-collar crimes. Thrust into a situation she’s not prepared to handle, Mickey raises the kids in an unorthodox style.

The people who love High Potential can be grateful that The Mick was canceled after two seasons, but those who watched the sitcom as it aired mourned the loss of a really smart and funny sitcom. The Mick was sold to audiences as an adult behaving badly half-hour comedy—and to be fair, it was—but it was also witty and had a great deal of heart. After being in the ensemble of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for so long, it would be a test to see if Olsen could carry a show as the lead, and she passed with flying colors.

5 'Sherlock' (2010–2017)

Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson stand outside an apartment in Sherlock. — Image via BBC

There have been many Sherlock Holmes adaptations over the years, many of them quite good, but the best in recent years was the BBC version, Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch starred as the titular detective, with his trusty friend and partner Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman) along to provide support as he tackles the most complicated cases based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. While there have only been 13 episodes, each feels like a mini-movie with top-notch writing and acting.

Sherlock’s use of a modern setting to reimagine classic stories was an immediate hit with fans who thought they had seen every possible way to present the classic detective. The series would propel Cumberbatch into high-profile status, landing him roles in projects like Doctor Strange and Star Trek Into Darkness, and introduce a new audience to the adventures of the world’s greatest detective. Sherlock left such an impression on fans that nearly ten years after its last episode, there’s still hope for a revival.

4 'Monk' (2002–2009)

Created by Andy Breckman

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk and Melora Hardin as Trudy Monk in Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie — Image via Peacock

Monk is one of the defining entries in the television mystery genre, starring one of the most revered fictional detectives, Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). The series follows Monk, an ex-homicide detective with an acute case of OCD that allows him to see details others would miss at a crime scene. Although he struggles to overcome his many fears, he still dedicates all of his time as a private detective who assists the San Francisco police.

Monk offered a mixture of comedy, heart, and well-written mysteries that made it immediately stand out as a unique take on the standard detective show. While there is an overarching mystery about the death of Monk’s wife, each episode of Monk is typically a standalone mystery, but odds are most viewers will start binging the entire series once they start. Shalhoub was highly celebrated for his performance as Monk, dominating awards season by winning a whopping eight Emmy Awards during the run of the show.

3 'Castle' (2009–2016)

Created by Andrew W Marlowe

Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, wearing a vest that says "writer" and looking serious in Castle — Image via ABC

Another great ABC procedural to check out would be the highly popular mystery series, Castle. Best-selling mystery author Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) has reached a crossroads in his career where he lacks that special spark to continue writing his successful novels. When he meets NYPD detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) during the investigation of a murder, Castle receives permission to shadow the detective so that he can base his next character on her. While she is initially resistant to his involvement, she begins to rely on him for advice, and they develop a budding romance.

Although Katic and Fillion may not have been the best of friends behind the scenes, the animosity didn’t affect their on-screen chemistry. Their "will they won’t they" romance plays a large part in Castle and allows the series to be less reliant on the mysteries to drive each episode and follow their personal lives to keep the show fresh.

2 'Psych' (2006–2014)

Created by Steve Franks

James Roday making a scary pose with his hands while standing next to Dulé Hill in Psyche. — Image via USA Network

The hardest part about being a psychic is keeping the lies straight in the mystery comedy series, Psych. Shawn Spencer (James Roday) is an intelligent but directionless young man who is gifted with a photographic memory and observational skills that allow him to be a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Hiding his observational prowess under the guise of being a psychic, he helps the Santa Barbara Police Department solve crimes with his best buddy, Gus (Dule Hill).

For a light-hearted dose of murder, Psych leans more on the comedy side than the serious, but it still presents interesting mysteries for the fraudulent psychic to solve. Roday and Hill have a rapport with one another that convincingly sells the idea that they’ve been best friends from childhood, and the fact that neither works as an official police detective puts a spin on the format seen in similar cases of the week shows. With eight seasons and more than 100 episodes of Psych, there should be plenty to keep someone busy while waiting for new High Potential episodes.

1 'Poker Face' (2023–)

Created by Rian Johnson

Natasha Lyonne in Poker Face Episode 8 — Image via Peacock

A badge is not a requirement to solve crimes in the fantastic Peacock series, Poker Face. Charlie Cale has the uncanny ability to tell if someone is lying without fail, essentially making her a human lie detector. When she gets wrapped up in the death of a sleazy casino manager, Charlie will be forced to go on the run. While she stays one step ahead of the manager's vengeful father, she’ll inadvertently find herself stepping into murder cases she can’t help but solve.

Poker Face approaches the format of each week's mystery a little differently than the standard procedural, with the audience being aware of whom the killer is at the start of the episode. Rather than the conceit taking away the intrigue of discovering the culprit, what it does instead creates tension as the viewer watches to see how Charlie will crack the case. The mysteries aside, Lyonne is the definition of cool as she lights up the screen with a performance that makes her one of the most entertaining sleuths of the modern age.