Hit shows on cable news networks like CBS have become exponentially “woke” in recent years, with even fan favorites such as “FBI” and its various spinoffs failing to maintain viewership, possibly due to the recent weaving of hour-long political lectures into storylines.
An activist agenda shows up repeatedly in the writing and casting of these shows, and many viewers switch to streaming services in search of better entertainment. But this past season, the new show “Tracker” was a hit, becoming television’s most-watched show in its first season and racking up 7 million live viewers for its finale in May.
The show’s plot line seems deceptively simple and somewhat reminiscent of older TV shows. Colter Shaw, the protagonist, calls himself a “rewardist.” Shaw invented the term to describe himself as a tracker, earning his living collecting reward money as he searches for missing people and things.
Each episode follows the gun-toting hero, played by Justin Hartley, answering the call of someone in need and finding the missing person or thing by the end of the episode. Shaw’s can-do attitude and one-man crusade against bad guys hints at the original “MacGyver” series and plot lines. Along with the repeated missing-person scenarios, there is an intriguing subplot as Shaw digs into haunting family secrets. There’s something enjoyable and familiar about the show, as it manages to combine up-to-date style with old-fashioned charm.
Besides its sense of nostalgia, “Tracker” has other elements that make it unusual for a CBS show. Instead of taking
