Lately, I’ve been seeking low key, stress-free entertainment to keep my mind off reality. The television series High Potential fits the bill.

Single mom, Morgan Gillory (played by Kaitlin Olson), is an exuberantly inappropriate savant whose antics get her in trouble with employers, past husbands, and the law, most specifically the LAPD, where she works as a janitor.

The opening episode shows Morgan, music blasting into her air buds, wielding a dust brush, and dancing through empty offices. As she prances around swinging cleaning tools, she upends a stack of papers that are part of a murder case.

Morgan possesses a photographic memory and can read a dense document at a glance. So, as she re-stacks the files, she gleans the salient info, and writes her opinion about a suspect on the case board, “Victim, not suspect,” she declares. Apparently, messing with the board is a crime, which the LAPD catches on film. When she arrives at work the next morning, they promptly arrest Morgan.

Uncowed by her precarious legal situation, Morgan is mouthy and disrespectful as she describes her theory about the case to police officers. They throw her into a cell, while they check out her ideas, all of which turn out to be true. When they release her, her attitude is still so insolent that she is almost re-arrested. However, the chief (Judy Reyes, from Scrubs) recognizes that Morgan made headway on a case that had stumped her officers, so she hires the cleaning lady as a consultant, which is a good move, because Morgan goes on to solve the case.

Lots of elements make this TV series fun. Kaitlin Olson’s high-energy portrayal of Morgan’s zany character is a joy to watch. If you love trivia, this show provides plenty of opportunities to learn about esoteric subjects like why many churches face in a specific direction, what kind of gun powder flashes white, and what direction the wind blows in during each season in LA. Both the presentation of trivia and Morgan’s theories are portrayed in amusing asides with cool graphics.

Morgan Gillory is a multidimensional character. At work, despite her brashness, she has a soft spot for underdogs she encounters. At home, she is a wise and tender mother and a kind ex-wife.

Daniel Sunjata plays Adam Karadec, the lead detective who is appalled by Morgan’s lack of regard for the actual law and is undone by her quirkiness. Although there is tension in their relationship, it’s nuanced, not cartoonish. I like that the two develop respect for one another over time.

If you are a true crime aficionado, you will spend time muttering, “That would never, ever happen.” Yep, the show strains credulity. I do not have a background in police work, yet, several times, I found myself shouting at the screen: “Put gloves on before you touch that evidence!”

Fun fact:  the show is based on a popular French series called, Haut Potentiel Intellectual. Apparently, you can stream the show on Hulu.

Kaitlin Olson is no stranger to comedy. She performed with The Groundlings Theater in Hollywood. You might recognize her from Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Drew Carey Show, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The cast members have wonderful chemistry with Olson serving as the rug that pulls the room together. If you want to take a break from reality, I highly recommend this show.

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