With the renewal of her hitABCseriesHigh Potential,Kaitlin Olsonfinally has the starring role she deserves. Comedy fans have appreciated her work for decades, particularly onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadephia; Olson’s Dee Reynolds is arguably one of the most influential sitcom characters of the century. In 2019,TV Guidepraised her for being “a vulgar female narcissist before it was cool” as part of their “Salute to TV’s Most Underrated Female Characters.” That sums up Kaitlin Olson: she’s the actor everyone brings up as someone who’s underrated and has been on the verge of a breakout moment like this sinceIt’s Always Sunnypremiered. She’s just finally getting the appreciation she deserves thanks to her role onHigh Potential, one that’s perfectly suited to her talents.
Kaitlin Olson Previously Shined on ‘It’s Always Sunny’ and ‘The Mick’
Olson may have been a standout onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiafrom the beginning, but it never led to the same level of breakout moment that her co-starCharlie Dayenjoyed with movie franchises likeHorrible BossesandPacific Rim. Like the rest of the cast, Olson has never received an Emmy nomination forIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, despite episodes like 2013’s “The Gang Broke Dee” that perfectly show off her incredible physical comedy chops.It’s Always Sunnyhas been so reliable for so long that it almost feels like Olson and her castmates are taken for granted, despite their obvious exceptional talents. Aside from one nomination in the short form category for the Quibi seriesFlipped, it was only once Olson was cast in a recurring role onHacksthat she started earning awards buzz. While the attention she received for that HBO series was well-deserved, it was still only for a guest role.
In 2017, the FOX sitcomThe Mick, created by Dave and John Chernin, seemed like it could be the star turn Olson always deserved. On this show, she was the clear lead rather than part of an exceptional ensemble, and while Mickey was distinct fromIt’s Always Sunny’s Sweet Dee, the crude physical comedy was similar territory for Olson. The two-season series definitely demonstrated that Olson could carry a show, but not enough people tuned in, and unfortunately, despite some early ratings success,the show fizzled out, and was ultimately canceled in 2018.
‘High Potential’ Just Set Everything in Motion for This Pairing
We already love this slow-burn!
‘High Potential’ Is the Perfect Star Vehicle for Kaitlin Olson
However, thesuccess Olson is experiencing withHigh Potentialisa true breakout moment. UnlikeHacksandIt’s Always Sunny, the ABC series allows her to demonstrate that she can completely carry a project. UnlikeThe Mick, it also allows her to do something totally new that doesn’t feel like a riff onIt’s Always Sunny’s sensibilities. The moment Olson is having feels reminiscent of another actor who found their perfect role on a procedural:Tony ShalhoubonMonk. Like Olson, Shalhoub had already done consistently great work for decades in projects fromBig NighttoGalaxy Quest. People in the know understood how talented he was. But, withMonk, he found a role that was perfectly tailored for him, one that could also prove to wide audiences that he was a true star.
One obvious reasonHigh Potentialfeels so refreshing is thatit allows Olson to tacklescenes with real dramatic weight. When Morgan has heart-to-hearts with her daughter Ava (Amirah J) about Ava’s missing father, it hits an emotionally resonant note that viewers haven’t seen from Olson before. While Olson’s ability to be a punchline has led to all-timer comedy, it’s nice to finally see her play someone with so much dignity and confidence. In a character-defining scene in the pilot ofHigh Potential, Morgan walks the detectives through why their current lead suspect couldn’t have done it, shrewdly sizing up LAPD Major Crimes head Selena Soto (Judy Reyes), then explaining her reasoning point-by-point. The exchange couldn’t be further from the pratfall-driven comedy audiences are used to from Olson; Morgan’s intelligence commands the room and immediately earns her the respect of others.
For fans who have watched Olson’s work as Dee Reynolds going on twenty years now,it’s rewarding to see her do something that showcases the true extent of her rangeand broadens her fanbase in the process. OnHigh Potential, she continues to be just as funny as she was onIt’s Always Sunny,The Mick, andHacks, but she also gets to show off a purely dramatic side while playing a sharp, insightful leading lady. Olson’s star turn is a well-earned moment for an actress who has been criminally underrated for too long.
High Potential
