Florida Man, Ex-Con, PI: Everything We Know About ABC’s ‘RJ Decker’

The Florida-noir renaissance is officially upon us, and frankly, it’s about time. Between the humidity and the headlines, the Sunshine State has always been a goldmine for the "strange but true," and ABC is finally cashing in. Enter RJ Decker, the network’s latest swing at a blue-skies-but-gritty procedural that feels like the spiritual love child of The Rookie and a fever dream.

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s cult-classic 1987 novel Double Whammy, the series trades the neon-soaked glitz of Miami for the swampier, weirder underbelly of South Florida. Here is the lowdown on the show that’s poised to be your next Tuesday night obsession.

The Man, The Myth, The Mess

At the center of this swampy storm is Scott Speedman (the man who seemingly refuses to age) playing the titular RJ Decker. Decker isn’t your average suit-and-tie investigator; he’s a disgraced former newspaper photographer who recently traded a jail cell for a P.I. license.

Speedman brings that "charismatic but messy" energy we’ve missed, playing a man who is essentially rebuilding his life from the bottom of a pool house. Specifically, his ex-wife’s pool house. It’s awkward, it’s humid, and it’s peak Florida.

A Cast That Actually Makes Sense

While Speedman is the anchor, the surrounding cast is what gives RJ Decker its punch. Adelaide Clemens stars as Catherine Delacroix, the journalist ex-wife who is clearly the smartest person in the room, while Bevin Bru plays her wife, Detective Melody "Mel" Abreu. If you’re keeping track at home, yes: Decker lives in the guest house of his ex-wife and her new cop wife. The holiday dinners are going to be legendary.

Adding some much-needed mystery is Jaina Lee Ortiz as Emilia "Emi" Ochoa. She’s the wild card from Decker’s past who might be helping him or setting him up for another stint in the clink. Rounding out the crew is Kevin Rankin as "Wish" Aiken, Decker’s former cellmate turned barkeep, because every TV detective needs a guy who knows where the bodies are buried, literally.

Why This Isn't Just Another Cop Show

Showrunner Rob Doherty, the mastermind behind Elementary, is at the helm here. If anyone knows how to take a classic literary character and make them click for a modern TV audience, it’s him. The vibe is "extraordinarily funny procedural," which is network-speak for "we’re going to give you some crimes, but we’re also going to make you laugh at the sheer absurdity of life in the Everglades."

Expect a mix of episodic "case of the week" mysteries—likely involving corrupt bass fishing tournaments and eccentric billionaires, woven into the larger mystery of how Decker lost his career in the first place.

How to Watch

RJ Decker officially premieres Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 10/9c on ABC. For those of you who have long since cut the cord, episodes will drop on Hulu the following morning. It’s taking the plum spot following The Rookie, so the bar for banter and high-stakes chases is high.

Whether you're here for Scott Speedman’s brooding eyes or the promise of Hiaasen-level insanity, this show looks like the perfect antidote to the standard, stuffy procedural. Grab a cold drink and prepare for the heat.

Are you ready to see Scott Speedman trade Grey's Anatomy scrubs for South Florida swamps, or are you holding out for a Bad Monkey crossover?