Tracker Cast Shake-Up

CBS’ breakout procedural Tracker, led by Justin Hartley, is continuing its evolution ahead of season 3, promoting Chris Lee to series regular status following a wave of notable cast departures.

Lee, who portrays Randy, was introduced in season 2 as the cousin of Bobby (played by Eric Graise) and quickly became a recurring presence as the show expanded its ensemble. His promotion signals a deeper investment in the character as the series recalibrates its supporting lineup.

The drama debuted in February 2024 to strong ratings, establishing itself as a reliable performer for CBS. The series follows Hartley’s Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who travels across the U.S. solving missing persons cases, often relying on a network of allies whose roles have shifted significantly over time.

Among those changes, Robin Weigert’s Teddi was written out early in season 2, with her on-screen partner Velma stepping back into the narrative under altered circumstances. Meanwhile, fan concern grew when Graise was absent for multiple episodes, prompting Randy’s expanded involvement. Reports later indicated that Graise and Abby McEnany would not return for the time being, further accelerating the show’s transition.

Executive producer Elwood Reid, who has overseen the series’ creative direction, has emphasized a deliberate move away from formulaic storytelling as the show matures. “The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there’s going to be a new case,” Reid said, underscoring a format that prioritizes flexibility in how characters contribute to each storyline.

Season 3 will continue building out key relationships, particularly between Randy and attorney Reenie, as the latter expands her professional world. Reid has indicated that the evolving dynamic is part of a broader effort to deepen character arcs while balancing the show’s darker procedural elements with moments of levity.

The series’ trajectory reflects CBS’ broader strategy in the procedural space, where character-driven storytelling increasingly complements case-of-the-week formats — a model long associated with the network’s legacy hits such as NCIS and Criminal Minds, both of which similarly evolved their ensembles over time.

Tracker airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Paramount+.