Let’s be real for a second. Trying to replace Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker is basically a suicide mission for any actor. It’s like trying to remake Back to the Future without Michael J. Fox—you’re kinda doomed before the cameras even start rolling. So, when CBS announced the Rush Hour TV cast back in 2016, the internet did exactly what you’d expect. It groaned.
People called it "unnecessary." They called it "lazy." But looking back from 2026, there’s a weird sort of nostalgia for this short-lived experiment. It wasn't just a cheap knock-off. It was a high-octane police procedural that actually tried to build a deeper world than the movies ever did.
The Impossible Task: Jon Foo and Justin Hires
The show’s survival rested entirely on the shoulders of two guys who had to step into the oversized shoes of global icons.
Jon Foo took on the role of Detective Jonathan Lee. Foo is an actual martial arts beast—you might remember him from Tekken—and he brought a level of technical fight choreography that most network TV shows wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Unlike Jackie Chan’s version, this Lee had a darker backstory. He didn't even carry a gun because of a past trauma where he had to kill someone in Hong Kong. It added a layer of "broken hero" that gave the show a different vibe.
Then you had Justin Hires as Detective James Steven Carter. Hires came from a stand-up background, much like Chris Tucker. He was fast, loud, and constantly getting into trouble. Was he as manic as Tucker? Nah. But he had this chemistry with Foo that felt genuine by the middle of the season. They weren't just imitating; they were trying to find their own rhythm in a system that was clearly trying to force them into a 1998 mold.
The Supporting Players Who Kept It Together
Honestly, the supporting cast was where the show actually excelled. They filled out the world of the LAPD in a way the movies couldn't because they had more than 90 minutes to tell a story.
- Aimee Garcia as Sergeant Didi Diaz: You probably know her as Ella from Lucifer. In Rush Hour, she played Carter’s former partner who got tired of his nonsense and took a desk job to raise her son. She was the "voice of reason" but could still kick serious butt when she needed to.
- Page Kennedy as Gerald Page: This was a stroke of genius. Instead of just a random informant, Gerald was Carter’s cousin and a low-level criminal. Their dynamic was hilarious because Carter was always trying to keep him out of jail while simultaneously using him for tips.
- Wendie Malick as Captain Lindsay Cole: Malick is a legend. She played the no-nonsense boss who was perpetually annoyed by Carter but secretly found Detective Lee incredibly attractive. Her deadpan delivery saved a lot of the clunkier scripts.
Why It Failed (And Why It’s Still Worth a Watch)
The Rush Hour TV cast actually performed well, but the show was haunted by the movies. Every time Jon Foo did a stunt, people compared it to Jackie. Every time Hires cracked a joke, they compared him to Tucker. It’s a tough way to live.
The plot also suffered from "procedural-itis." CBS loves a "case of the week," and while the overarching story about Lee’s sister, Kim (played by the excellent Jessika Van), joining the Quantou crime syndicate was cool, it often got buried under generic bank robberies or drug busts.
The Villains and Recurring Faces
We have to talk about the villains. James Hong—yes, the guy from Big Trouble in Little China and everything else ever made—played the Dragon of the Quantou. Having a legend like Hong as the big bad gave the show instant street cred. He was ruthless, even willing to kill his own family to keep power.
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Then there was Byron Mann as Fong, the Dragon’s right-hand man. If you like martial arts, the fights between Foo and Mann were the absolute highlights of the series. They were gritty, fast, and surprisingly well-shot for a 2016 broadcast show.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
The biggest misconception is that the show was just a scene-for-scene remake. It wasn't. While the pilot episode definitely hit the same beats as the 1998 film (kidnapped girl, statues, cultural clashing), the subsequent twelve episodes tried to do something new.
They leaned into the "fish out of water" aspect of Lee being in Los Angeles much harder. It wasn't just about "he doesn't understand the slang," but more about "he doesn't understand the corruption." The show explored the MSS (Chinese Ministry of State Security) and the Triads with a bit more complexity than the films' cartoonish villains.
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Actionable Insights: How to Revisit the Rush Hour Universe
If you're feeling a bit of a "buddy cop" itch, here is how you should approach the TV series today:
- Skip the Pilot if You've Seen the Movie: The pilot is the weakest link because it tries too hard to be the movie. Start with episode two or three to see the actors actually settle into their own versions of the characters.
- Watch for the Stunts: Stunt coordinator James Lew did a masterful job. If you’re a fan of "Hong Kong style" action on a TV budget, this is some of the best you'll find from that era.
- Look for the Guest Stars: Keep an eye out for folks like Lewis Tan (from Mortal Kombat) and Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars). The show was a revolving door for talent that would go on to much bigger things.
The reality is that Rush Hour as a brand is about chemistry. While the Rush Hour TV cast didn't have thirty years of history to lean on, they had a spark that was just starting to catch fire when CBS pulled the plug. It’s a classic case of a show that needed a second season to truly find its voice.
To get the most out of the experience, try watching the series through a streaming lens rather than comparing it to the theatrical blockbusters. Focus on the relationship between Carter and his cousin Gerald—it’s arguably the heart of the show and provides a different kind of "family" dynamic that the movies never touched. If you can stop looking for Chris Tucker’s ghost in every scene, you might find a fun, breezy action show that was actually ahead of its time in terms of diverse casting and stunt work.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check your local streaming listings or digital retailers like Amazon or Vudu, where the single season is often available for a few bucks. If you're a physical media collector, the DVD set includes some behind-the-scenes looks at how Jon Foo pulled off those fights without a stunt double.