R.J. Decker is Back for Season 2: ABC’s Full Lineup of Returning Scripted Shows
ABC has officially renewed its freshman drama series R.J. Decker, starring Scott Speedman, for a second season in the 2026-27 programming slate. This marks a significant achievement for the network, which has now ensured the continuation of all its current scripted series—totaling ten renewals that include seven dramas and three comedies—without any cancellations.
This renewal decision aligns with a broader trend across networks, although ABC’s complete lineup retention is uncommon. While Fox also avoided cancellations for the 2024-25 season, that situation was primarily due to the aftermath of the striking Hollywood writers and actors, which delayed normal production schedules.
The renewal of R.J. Decker, which had been anticipated since February, was solidified after the show debuted successfully. The series premiered alongside the Scrubs reboot, and while Scrubs consistently performed well, R.J. Decker experienced a decline following its strong opening. The pilot episode garnered over 15.21 million total viewers in the first 35 days across various platforms, including Hulu and Disney+.
Despite trailing behind its lead-in shows, R.J. Decker has maintained a solid presence on Hulu, frequently breaking into the site’s Daily Top 10. The show was considered to be "on the bubble" regarding its renewal, yet it benefited from significant internal support, with Speedman’s performance being a key draw. Notably, he attended a recent Disney TV awards season party, alongside cast members from other renewed ABC shows.
In R.J. Decker, Speedman portrays the titular character, a former newspaper photographer and ex-con who embarks on a new career as a private investigator in the vibrant, crime-riddled landscape of South Florida. The cast also features Jaina Lee Ortiz, Bevin Bru, Kevin Rankin, and Adelaide Clemens.
The series is inspired by Carl Hiaasen’s novel Double Whammy and is produced by 20th Television. Rob Doherty serves as the showrunner, writer, and executive producer, with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, Hiaasen, and Jason Tracey also serving as executive producers. Speedman is among the show’s producers.
