Kaitlin Olson’s determination to balance her family priorities played a central role in the success of the first season of High Potential, ABC’s standout new show. Olson insisted that production remain in Los Angeles, highlighting her commitments at home, and her stance has been pivotal to both her work and the show’s reception as a breakthrough for broadcast television.
Standing Firm on Family Commitments
The accomplished actress, known for her comedic roles on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and her acclaimed performance on Hacks, made it clear to producers that she was not willing to spend extended time away from husband Rob McElhenney and their two children. As she explained to the hometown crowd at the ABC FYC panel for the show:
“I said, ‘My kids live in L.A. and I’m not doing it unless it’s shot here,”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
This uncompromising view resonated deeply with Los Angeles residents, who have watched many productions relocate elsewhere. Olson received enthusiastic applause, underscoring how her priorities echoed the concerns of the city’s creative community.
Olson added:
“If I’m signing on to the show and I know who’s running it, I know who’s directing it, I know who created it, I know what I’m going to bring to it — it’s going to be successful,”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
“I’m not moving across the country for the entire year, so we’ll do it here or get someone else, respectfully.”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
Transitioning to a New Genre
Despite her comedic background, Olson was surprised to be selected for a crime procedural. Onstage with series creator Drew Goddard, showrunner Todd Harthan, and director Alethea Jones, she delighted in hearing Alethea admit:
“I remember getting the script and being like ‘They want me for a crime procedural?’”
—Alethea Jones, Director
Olson humorously agreed, fast becoming comfortable in her new role.
Shaping Morgan Gillroy’s Character
Olson’s portrayal of Morgan Gillroy is layered, depicting a parent devoted to her children with a sharp intellect—known as a High Potential Individual (HPI)—who manages chaos at home and work. Playing a character who demonstrates insights surpassing those of the LAPD risked alienating viewers, but Olson addressed this challenge directly:
“I just think my cringe meter is like very finely tuned,”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
“So anytime I’m starting to say something and I’m like ‘Ehhhhh, this isn’t coming out right. … It just feels wrong when I’m saying it out loud.’”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
She credits her instinct for authenticity to keeping the audience engaged. Olson also shared her intense preparation techniques, saying:
“I sit in my trailer and I go over the scenes for the next day,”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
“I say it all in my voice notes, because I have to listen to it all the way home. This is a very hard show to memorize. I say it out loud, and as I’m saying it out loud things will usually pop up.”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
Collaboration Behind the Scenes
A crucial element in Olson’s High Potential success and family priorities lies in her collaborative relationship with showrunner Todd Harthan. Open communication has made the creative process smoother for both, as Olson noted:
“It’s such a relief to be able to be completely honest with Todd,”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
“He’s open to it. There’s no ego, we both have the same goal which is to make the best show that we can.”
—Kaitlin Olson, Actress
This close partnership between Olson and Harthan ensures that Morgan Gillroy comes alive in a way that connects both with the creative team and viewers.
A New Standard for Broadcast Television
The success story of High Potential, guided by Olson’s priorities and her insistence on filming in Los Angeles, may encourage other industry figures to balance personal and professional needs more assertively. For the city’s creative community, Olson’s return helps counter a long trend of productions leaving Los Angeles, and her role sets a new benchmark for how authentic character and behind-the-scenes honesty contribute to a show‘s breakthrough popularity.
