ABC Just Renewed Double Whammy for Season 2

Here’s something you don’t see every day: an ABC show that not only makes it past its premiere but gets an early greenlight for another round—all before the dust has even settled on Season 1. We’re talking about 'R.J. Decker', the darkly quirky adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s Double Whammy that just landed itself a second season, thanks to some big viewer numbers.

ABC Bets Big On 'R.J. Decker'

'R.J. Decker' hit TV screens in March, and it didn’t take long for ABC to start doing victory laps. Nielsen says the show pulled in a whopping 15.2 million total viewers over its first 35 days—including all the streaming, DVR, and catch-up viewing people do these days. In TV land, that’s basically gold-plated.

It's not every day you see a new show snag a second season before its freshman run is even over, but that’s what happens when you post numbers like these.

The show is a nine-episode, crime-soaked trip through South Florida—with just enough oddball characters to remind you it’s based on Hiaasen’s world, not reality (thankfully).

So, Who’s Who in the Cast?

• Scott Speedman plays R.J. Decker, a former newspaper photographer who’s also an ex-con. He reinvents himself as a private investigator in Florida—because apparently, that’s a sensible career move if your life’s already off the rails.
• Jaina Lee Ortiz is Emilia Ochoa, Decker’s ex, who is also a journalist (awkward, but good for plot development).
• Bevin Bru shows up as Detective Melody Abreu—the police detective who adds more law and less order to Decker’s life.
• Kevin Rankin is Aloysius Aiken. (If you think that name sounds ripped from a Hiaasen book, you’re not wrong.)
• Adelaide Clemens rounds things out as Catherine Delacroix, a mysterious figure from Decker’s past who might help… or double-cross him.

The Creative Team

Robert Doherty runs the show and handles writing and executive producing. If you know his work from 'Elementary,' you’ll recognize the slightly off-kilter detective vibe. Carl Hiaasen himself is attached as an executive producer, along with Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, and Jason Tracey—so the source material’s in the right hands, at least on paper.

ABC's Got a Renewal Streak

If you’re thinking 'R.J. Decker' is ABC’s only golden child this season, think again. The network’s been in a generous mood:

- 'Shifting Gears' (the most-watched ABC comedy this season) got a renewal, with 5.4 million TV viewers (and 7 million once you tally up everything streaming).
- The revival of 'Scrubs' (yes, that 'Scrubs') actually outperformed 'Shifting Gears'—hitting 9 million viewers on every platform during its first run, and stretching to 11 million after a month. So, nostalgia is clearly good business.

What’s Next?

The bottom line: ABC's sticking with 'R.J. Decker' for round two. If the first season’s blend of crime, swamp weirdness, and dysfunctional relationships worked for you, buckle up—because apparently, America’s watching right along with you.