The Unexpected Rise of ‘The Rookie’
By the time most TV series reach their seventh or eighth season, the initial buzz has usually faded. However, for The Rookie, a police procedural that follows a 40-year-old rookie cop, this isn’t the case at all. Despite its debut in 2018, the show has experienced a significant surge in popularity, thanks to a viral resurgence online and a growing fanbase.
Eric Winter, who plays Sergeant Tim Bradford, admits that the show’s renewed success has been surprising. “It’s incredible. We’re a bit of a unicorn,” he told a publication. “We’re a real testament to what social media can do for a show. Typically, getting new viewers doesn’t happen when you’re going into season nine.”
For Eric, who used to be very “anti-TikTok,” the online revival provided an unexpected opportunity for the cast to engage with fans in a more playful way. “A lot of our cast are goofballs and we’re always clowning around,” he shared. “I ended up getting this very large TikTok following out of nowhere. Now I do pranks on set, and it just gives you a glimpse into what it’s like to be on our show.”
The Power of a Catchy Tune
One of the key factors behind the show’s recent viral success is a song called “Cop Cuties” featured in The Rookie season five. This catchy tune exploded on social media, drawing in a new wave of viewers. According to Eric, the virality was completely unexpected. “When you have a catchy, viral song like that, it definitely drives more eyeballs because so many people have caught on to just listening to that song, hearing it, seeing it on TikTok.”
Zander Hawley, who plays Raj on the show, delivered an incredible performance of the song. “It’s just so catchy and so, so good,” Eric said. “Our show is very clippable, as our creator Alexi likes to say.”
A New Dynamic Between Characters
Another reason for the show’s resurgence is the slow-burn relationship between new sergeant Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Eric’s character, Sergeant Tim Bradford. While the romance came as a surprise to some, Eric explained that it was built on fan reactions to their characters.
“The audience has really gotten behind this idea of two people that just never seem to fit together, seemingly being perfect for one another. That’s been the shock that no one saw coming and the fans really hyped it up,” he said, noting that the writers are attuned to the online chatter about the show.
“That’s why we’re so successful.”
The Appeal of Chenford
The couple name given to Tim and Lucy – Chenford – has become a hit among fans. According to Eric, the relationship allowed audiences to see a new side to the strict police officer. “He is such a complicated character, and every year I’ve been given these new layers to peel back that I didn’t expect,” he said, recalling when his character was hated by fans in the pilot episode.
“Then fans were like, oh there’s something more to him. He’s carrying heavy baggage and started to realize that this is a man who will go to all lengths to protect the people he cares about. And that’s a redeeming quality I’ve loved playing.”
Where to Watch
Fans can catch The Rookie season eight on 7Plus from June 8.
