MovieStills DB
Published Feb 24, 2026, 7:00 PM EST
Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.
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ABC's High Potential has been a massive hit for network with its blend of procedural antics and punchy humor, which has left many looking for similar series. High Potential, which is based on the 2021 French and Belgian series HPI, stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, an intellectually gifted woman who begins working as a consultant for the LAPD's Major Crimes Division.
Morgan, a young mother who began the series as the office's custodial staff, works alongside Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) throughout the series, and while the pair have only started to ebb and flow into the direction of a will-they-won't-they relationship, their chemistry has been rife from the beginning of High Potential. Throughout the series thus far, the blend of episodic procedural and high-concept humor has captivated audiences.
High Potential season 2, which airs on ABC at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and will return on March 3, has been a record-breaker for the network, but the series isn't the only procedural that takes a comedic approach to its storytelling. While there are some deep, dark procedurals that have created a niche space for the genre, others have figured out how to use humor to their advantage.
With High Potential still on an extended winter break due to the Olympics, viewers have grown hungry for shows that they can binge in the meantime. Viewers are looking for shows that are able to capture a similar tone, bringing humor to the table, but also keep the same level of intelligent storytelling that High Potential has quickly become known for.
10 Elementary
A procedural that adapted the work of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Elementary starred Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu. The series, which aired on CBS from 2012 through 2019, is one of the most intriguing Sherlock Homes adaptations, especially because of the relationship between Holmes and Watson, which shifts throughout the show's run.
Though Elementary was met with criticism early in its run because of the show's proximity to the popular BBC adaptation, Sherlock, it quickly took on a life of its own. Blending humor and drama with procedural elements, the series was quick to find its footing with audiences and strikes a similar chord to High Potential.
9 Veronica Mars
A neo-noir disguised as a teen drama, Veronica Mars made its debut in 2004 with Kristen Bell playing the titular character. Veronica, a high school student living in the semi-nefarious Neptune, California, worked alongside her father Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), a disgraced sheriff turned private investigator. Moving through the grief and trauma of her best friend Lily Kane's (Amanda Seyfried) murder, Veronica is a whip-smart, quick-witted novice.
While the series, which ran from 2004 to 2007 in its original run, moves through several different larger-scale seasonal mysteries, it has the unique ability to blend episodic mystery with character development, which makes each season feel like a statement. The show's cancellation, leading to a crowd-funded film in 2014 and a fourth season in 2019, was a difficult pill to swallow for fans.
Release Date 2004 - 2019
Showrunner Rob Thomas
Directors John T. Kretchmer, Nick Marck, Michael Fields, Harry Winer, Jason Bloom, Steve Gomer, Guy Norman Bee, Marcos Siega, Mark Piznarski, Sarah Pia Anderson, Scott Winant, Dan Etheridge, David Barrett, Joaquin Sedillo, Kevin Bray, Martha Mitchell, Nick Gomez, Rick Rosenthal, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Amanda Marsalis
Writers John Enbom, Phil Klemmer, Dayna Lynne North, Jed Seidel, Aury Wallington
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Enrico Colantoni
Keith Mars
8 Lucifer
Lucifer revolves around the lord of Hell himself moving to Los Angeles where he runs a nightclub. Lucifer (Tom Ellis), and Chloe Decker (Lauren German), an LAPD homicide detective and former actress, strike up an unlikely bond that moves them throughout the series. While Lucifer ended its run on Netflix, the first three seasons of the series aired on Fox before its initial cancellation.
Though Lucifer has more elements of a supernatural drama than other procedurals, it does follow a procedural format, infusing supernatural humor into every episode. The series has been tremendously well-received from a critical and audience standpoint, and the show's unique premise has made it an incredibly memorable procedural of the modern era.
Release Date 2016 - 2021
Network FOX, Netflix
Showrunner Joe Henderson
Writers Jen Graham Imada, David McMillan
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Tom Ellis
Lucifer Morningstar
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Lauren German
Chloe Decker
7 Psych
A detective series that stars James Roday and Dulé Hill, Psych originally ran from 2006 through 2014 on USA Network. The series sees Roday as Shawn Spencer, a crime consultant with an eidetic memory working for the Santa Barbara police department. Shawn's heightened memory allows him to convince people he solves cases with psychic abilities, while Hill, playing Burton "Gus" Guster, slots in as his hyper-intelligent friend and partner.
Psych has a massive following, and the blend of its unique premise and specific brand of humor have carried it through as one of the most enduring series of the modern era. With multiple TV and streaming films bringing the cast back for more story, Psych's golden touch has long made it a series that feels like a must-watch.
Release Date 2006 - 2014-00-00
Network USA
Showrunner Steve Franks
Directors Mel Damski, Steve Franks
Writers Andy Berman, Steve Franks
6 The Rookie
Another ABC series that brings humor into a procedural space, The Rookie has been on since 2018. Starring Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, originally touted as the LAPD's oldest rookie, the series has moved through several different phases over the course of its eight seasons. With a blend of humorous storytelling and procedural content, The Rookie has landed with fans all over the world.
Release Date October 16, 2018
Showrunner Alexi Hawley
Directors Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro
Writers Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff
5 Castle
Another Fillion series, Castle ran on ABC from 2009 to 2016. Starring Fillion as the titular Richard Castle, a best-selling mystery author who begins working with the NYPD as a consultant throughout the series. Mostly working with Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), a homicide detective, and her team, Castle and Beckett quickly make an interesting pair.
As a procedural, Castle quickly captivated audiences because of its interesting tone and sense of humor. The series saw Castle as both a procedural and a romance, which drew out the Castle and Beckett romance through out its several seasons on the air.
Release Date 2009 - 2016-00-00
Showrunner Andrew W. Marlowe
Directors Andrew W. Marlowe
Writers Andrew W. Marlowe
4 White Collar
USA via MovieStillsDBA police procedural that ran from 2009 to 2014, White Collar starred Tim DeKay as Peter Burke and Matt Bomber as Neal Caffrey. The pair, Burke an FBI agent and Bomber a criminal-turned-consultant, worked on white collar crime cases and developed a fascinating relationship throughout the series. White Collar dipped into the world of high crimes and cons, which gave it an interesting edge.
As White Collar continued, the series gained traction with audiences that were fascinated by the world it depicted. On top of the worldbuilding, seeing Bomer and DeKay's chemistry from season to season felt like a can't-miss dynamic. With season available to binge, White Collar may be returning for a reboot in the near future.
Release Date 2009 - 2014-00-00
Network USA
3 Will Trent
Custom Image by Ana DumaraogAnother ABC series, Will Trent is one of the most interesting procedurals currently on the air. Based on Karin Slaughter's Will Trent novels, the series follows GBI agent Trent (Ramon Rodriguez) as he tackles difficult cases for the bureau while dealing with his own limitations. Trent, who's openly dyslexic, has a difficult background that often becomes a piece of the puzzle in his cases.
Blending standard procedural fare with an intensely bonded cast of characters, Will Trent has one of the most wonderfully cast ensembles on network TV. Interweaving their stories from season to season has allowed all the characters on screen to feel intensely three-dimensional, which makes Will Trent different from its fellow procedurals.
Release Date January 3, 2023
Directors Howard Deutch, Eric Dean Seaton, Holly Dale, Lea Thompson, Patricia Cardoso, Sheree Folkson, Bille Woodruff, Erika Christensen, Gail Mancuso, Geary McLeod, Jason Ensler, Mark Tonderai, Paul McGuigan
Writers Inda Craig-Galván, Henry 'Hank' Jones, Karine Rosenthal, Adam Toltzis, Antoine Perry
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Ramón Rodríguez
Will Trent
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Erika Christensen
Angie Polaski
2 Wild Cards
Image via CWA CBC original that airs on The CW in the US, Canadian procedural Wild Cards stars Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti. Morgan, best known for her role as Toni Topaz on Riverdale, plays Max Mitchell, a life-long con artist who begins working with Cole Ellis (Gianniotti) in order to keep herself out of jail.
The chemistry between Max and Cole is rich, but their partnership quickly becomes more than a pipeline to an eventual relationship. As the two solve cases together, learning more about their backgrounds is only second to their quick thinking on the job. With snappy dialogue and fun episodic adventures, Wild Cards is a must-watch.
Release Date January 10, 2024
Network CBC Television
Showrunner Michael Konyves
Directors James Genn
Writers Michael Konyves
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Vanessa Morgan
Max Mitchell
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Giacomo Gianniotti
Cole Ellis
1 Poker Face
Image via Peacock
Created by Rian Johnson, Poker Face is a Peacock original series that's stylized as a case-of-the-week style procedural, but shifts in its identity throughout its run. Starring Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, Poker Face follows as Charlie solves murders across the US with her unique ability to understand when people are lying. The series, despite coming to a difficult end in 2025, is well worth the watch.
Release Date 2023 - 2025-00-00
Network Peacock
Directors Lucky McKee, Natasha Lyonne, Janicza Bravo, Ben Sinclair
Writers Wyatt Cain, Alice Ju
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Natasha Lyonne
Charlie Cale
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Benjamin Bratt
Cliff Legrand
English (US) ·