Justin Hartley Credits Tracker Success to Colter’s Unapologetic Masculinity

Justin Hartley knows why Tracker is such a hit for CBS — and most of it has to do with Colter’s masculinity.

Hartley, 48, was asked about the show’s success during a recent interview with Men’s Journal, to which he said, “One of the things I really love about Colter and the way we’ve built him is that he doesn’t apologize for his masculinity. I think that’s what people are looking for. You’re asking yourself, ‘What kind of people do I want to hang out with?’ And particularly: ‘What kind of male friends do I have in my life that I really value?’”

The actor was thrilled with the example they are able to set with Colter.

“I think we’ve crafted a character that is so emotionally evolved, and he really does want to get to the root of why people do things,” Hartley continued. “The facts are that [executive producer] Ken Olin and I set out to do a show that was in fact a throwback. We wanted a new spin on a procedural, meaning our character would evolve over time.”

Related: What Tracker’s Justin Hartley Said About Colter’s Mortality: ‘He Will Die’

Since Tracker premiered on CBS, Justin Hartley has taken it upon himself to remind viewers that his character Colter Shaw can — and will — die. Based on Jeffery Deaver‘s novel The Never Game, Tracker centers around a survivalist named Colter who travels the country helping find missing people (or sometimes dogs) and solving cases […]

Hartley added: “He would not just remain the same exact person every single week. We were hopeful people would like it. People ended up loving it. I think there’s a huge appetite for this kind of show.”

Tracker, which premiered in February 2024, quickly found success after being coined the most-watched broadcast premiere since NCIS’ final episode with Mark Harmon in September 2021. Its average viewership was reported to be 18.2 million per episode, according to Paramount+ and broadcast measurements.

Variety‘s annual list of the year’s 100 most-watched primetime telecasts revealed that Tracker episodes earned 15 top spots. Despite making Us wait 11 weeks for new episodes, the second season dominated viewership with the season 2 premiere bringing in 8.3 million total viewers — a nearly 10 percent increase in viewership from the season 1 finale. The season 2 premiere also marked the show’s highest audience since the series debuted in February 2024 after the Super Bowl.

At the center of the series is Hartley’s Colter, who welcomes the audience week to week while solving various missing cases across the country. Hartley acknowledged during his interview with Men’s Journal that the idea of a strong lead — both emotionally and physically — has become a trend.

“I’m not sure we’re in a Renaissance period for these kinds of shows, but I think the proof is in the pudding,” he noted. “I mean, look at Reacher. It’s more serialized, but it’s the same kind of thing. People like a hero. They like to root for a hero, so I think there’s a huge audience for that beyond just Tracker.”

Hartley credited his show’s writers for making Colter so appealing.

“He’s a man through and through. And that doesn’t mean you have to be the loudest person in the room and know every single f***ing thing and throw tables around and scream and shout and yell and smoke and drink,” he concluded. “He’s all about talking with people. Reading people. Understanding them. He’s an all-encompassing man. He’s not just a guy. He’s a man.”

Tracker is returning to CBS in the fall and is currently streaming on Paramount+.