By JUDY SLOANE

Front Row Features

 

HOLLYWOOD-CBS’ action/drama “Tracker” became the first new series to rank as the #1 show of the TV season since CBS’ “Survivor” premiered in the 2000-2001 season. “Tracker” averages 11.58 million viewers per episode.

The drama stars Justin Hartley (“This Is Us”) as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist and tracker who uses his unique talents to find the missing and collect rewards. He is supported by lawyer Reenie Greene (Fiona Rene,) business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) and tech expert Bobby Exley (Eric Graise.)

Hartley starred in the breakout hit “This Is Us,” along with Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown and Chrissy Metz. He portrayed actor Kevin Pearson. “Tracker” reunites Hartley with Executive Producer/Director Ken Olin, whom he worked with on “This Is Us.”

Justin Hartley came to the TV Critics tour to talk about the second season of “Tracker,” which premieres on CBS, Sunday, October 13 at 8:00 PM ET/PT before moving to its regular timeslot beginning Sunday, November 3, 8:00 PM ET/PT.

Q: How did you get involved with the series?

Justin Hartley: Ken (Olin) and I had been talking about working together after “This is Us.” He brought me this book (The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver) and said, “You’ve got to read this.” He didn’t tell me anything about [it,] he just said, “I really love the character. See if you like it.” I loved the character; I loved the book. You have this guy who’s a true hero, who leads with his heart. There’s something very masculine about that. And it’s something that you go, wow, he’s taking on these jobs not just for the money, but for the impact that it has on him. I don’t necessarily see that when you think of characters like this. I’m fascinated by him.

Q: Your last role was an actor who was dealing with a lot of oll Hollywood issues. Is it nice to play a character who has nothing to do with the industry?

Justin Hartley: Kevin Pearson will always be my heart. That was the time of my life. I loved it. Let’s be honest, in this business a lot of times you get type-cast when people see you do something. To get the opportunity to do something completely different; it’s not lost on me how lucky I am. It doesn’t happen very often. Selfishly, as an actor, to be able to cut your teeth on something else completely different is amazing.

Q: You ended season one of “Tracker” sitting on the beach. Is next season going to be on the beach?

Justin Hartley: We’ve got to get you in the writer’s room (he laughs.) I love that idea. He was taking a little break. He’s a man of action but I think there’s always time to think about things, and a lot got dropped on him at the end of season one. When asked ‘What are you going to do?’ he says, ‘Right now, nothing, I’m going to take a minute.’ When we pick up season two, you’ll see he doesn’t take that long of a break.

How does your character evolve this season?

I think evolved is a good word. The whole first season he had this idea about the tragedy behind his father’s death and he was responsible for it. Even though he knew he didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle and all of the information, he was pretty sure that he knew how things went down. At the very end of the season, [he] realizes everything that he had been thinking about was in fact not true. That turned things on its head, and it would make someone like Colter rethink how I go about doing my business.

Q: The audience wonders if Colter and Reenie will have a romance. Now that you’re the number one show, do you hope to drag that suspense out longer?

Justin Hartley: The goal is to never drag anything out to be honest with you. I won’t allow it. Nothing is going to be dragged out. We have to fill it with wonderful, great stories. But I know what you’re saying and that has to be something that percolates underneath the surface, and we have that story.

Q: On “This Is Us,” nothing was ever dragged out.

Justin Hartley. Nothing. You’re right. I think as a producer of this, the first show that I’ve produced, but as an actor as well you hope to evolve, and you tend to bring things from other shows that you’ve done. I was so lucky to be on that show, and around all those people and that whole experience. You hope to bring all those good things and sensibilities to your next project.

Q: I read that Milo Ventimiglia has said he would love to join the show.

Justin Hartley: Milo? Great. I would be up for having every single one of them on it. If I had my way, I would have them all on at the same time, but it’s a different show.

Imagine a life where you get to do exactly what you want to be doing. I love what I do and doing it with people that I absolutely love and that are extremely talented. That’s how I feel about all of those people, so any time I would love to have all of them on, absolutely.

Q: “Tracker” is a breakout show, which is very hard to do these days particularly on a broadcast network. What is the secret to the success of the series?

Justin Hartley I have a theory. I’ve said this for years now. I was on [“This Is Us,”] that was pretty successful, and I think that there are probably thousands of people that work collaboratively to produce a show like “Tracker.” And when you have a studio and a network, a head writer and a cast and a crew, producers, directors, and it all works together, it’s like everybody’s protecting the baby. The baby is the show.