TRACKER: Reaping the ‘Rewards’ in New Series Starring Justin Hartley
Watch Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in TRACKER after Super Bowl LVIII.
Everyone wins when TRACKER premieres after Super Bowl LVIII on CBS on Sunday, February 11. Justin Hartley plays tracker Colter Shaw, who makes a living collecting rewards in exchange for finding missing people whether they want to be found or not. Shaw coined a term that was new to many. He calls himself a “reward man.” Colter drives his truck wherever the rewards may take him in his Airstream trailer.
The CBS original series TRACKER is based on the novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver, the first in a series of books following the character Colter Shaw. Deaver is credited as a writer on several episodes of TRACKER and serves on the Executive Producers team alongside Justin Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid, and Ben Winters.
Broad Shoulders
Justin Hartley has the broad shoulders (literally and figuratively) needed to play the lead character Colter Shaw. Most people will remember Hartley as Kevin Pearson, one of the “Big Three” on This Is Us. Hartley succeeds in giving a more understated performance as Colter Shaw. While Shaw is certainly strong and resourceful, he doesn’t rely on showmanship to convince his counterparts. Shaw’s work speaks for itself.
Colter Shaw is a loner in many ways but still values human relationships with those he trusts the most. Shaw also has the interpersonal skills needed to interact with family members, rewards, witnesses, and law enforcement as he searches for clues to find missing people. We get a glimpse of how Coulter acquired his keen skills of survival, observation, and of course, tracking. It’s safe to say that Shaw’s family background provided a ripe environment for learning such skills.
Communications Team
As mentioned earlier, Colter Shaw has a core team of trusted colleagues to assist him in tracking someone down. The adorable couple Teddi and Velma Bruin (played by Robin Weigert and Abby McEnany) provide the command base for Shaw’s business. They identify reward opportunities, research leads, and even secure legal services when Shaw’s tactics get a little out of hand. Bobby Exley (Eric Graise) uses the latest technology to find answers for Shaw, especially when information is needed quickly.
Will they do it or not?
Speaking of legal aid, Fiona Rene plays attorney Reenie Green. Reenie has come to Shaw’s legal aid more than once, serving with a touch of brashness. (Lincoln Lawyer viewers will be happy to recognize Fiona Rene from her “tough as nails” role on the legal drama Glory Days.) But there’s no question of “will they or won’t they?” because we quickly learn that they have. Reenie likes to feign frustration with Colter by reminding him that he quickly bolted after a private meeting. Shaw insists it was for work, but Reenie seems to enjoy pulling that thread. Now the question becomes the nature of Colter and Reenie’s relationship going forward.
When and where
Watch TRACKER live on CBS Television Network after Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, then resumes Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series is also available on the CBS app.
Viewers can also stream TRACKER live on Paramount+ with a SHOWTIME subscription in addition to on-demand viewing. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can watch on-demand the day after the original air date.
