Posted in: ABC, TV | Tagged: Jensen Ackles, The Rookie

The Rookie: Nathan Fillion's "Dad Jokes" Get Jensen Ackles' Approval

It seems Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, Countdown, Tracker) appreciates Nathan Fillion's (The Rookie) "Dad Jokes" game as much as we do.

Yesterday, we spotlighted Nathan Fillion and how the star of ABC and showrunner Alexi Hawley's The Rookie turned "Dad Jokes" into a musical art form through the effective use of Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina" and Toto's "Africa" (more on that below). Well, it seems we're not the only ones who appreciated what Fillion had to offer. Never let it be said that Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys, Countdown, Tracker) isn't willing to take some time out from filming Prime Video's The Boys: Vought Rising to give Fillion his flowers for some extraordinary wordplay. Commenting on one of Fillion's posts, Jackles shared, "Initiate slow clap," with a clapping hands and smirking/smiling face emojis.

Here's a look at Ackles offering his full endorsement, followed by Fillion at his "Dad Jokes" best, and a look back at what Fillion and Hawley had to share earlier this summer about what's to come this season:

The Rookie/SDCC: Fillion & Hawley Preview Season 8 & More

"I have friends who are good actors in their own right. They're calling me saying, 'Hey, man, my daughter just turned 11, and she and her friends are all crazy about 'The Rookie.' Can I please have a birthday with you?' I love that," Fillion shared about the show's success with multigenerational viewing audiences during his San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2025 panel earlier this summer

"I think that ultimately television, specifically television with lots of episodes with characters that you can really invest in, has become comfort food for people," added Hawley. "There's 1,000 shows on the air, but it does feel like people sort of grab lots of shows that they look forward to watching. They're an escape. I take that very seriously. It doesn't mean that bad things don't happen on our show, that there aren't stakes, that we don't go dark sometimes. People really look to us as an important storm."

After a sizzle reel was screened, spotlighting the trip to Prague in the Season 8 opener, as well as a number of new and returning cast members. "In the first episode, we go to Prague and [John] becomes James Bond in the episode. We have a lot of exciting stories for [the cast] this season," Fillion teased. Here's a look at the official image gallery that was released from this weekend's SDCC panel:

Here's a look at some highlights from the panel, including that moment Fillion got everyone in attendance for a huge group video for O'Neil and much more:

And here's a look at some highlights from Fillion and Hawley's time in the Variety Studio, including what the chances are of there being a new rookie during the eighth season and more:

ABC's The Rookie Season 7 starred Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine (Godfather of Harlem) and television-debuting Patrick Keleher were set as the newest rookies for the season. Augustine's Miles is one of the newest rookies at the LAPD. As a Texas transfer, Miles is a 'rookie' despite being a two-year veteran of the force. Keleher's rookie Seth seems like the ideal police officer, but the job requires quick, decisive action — something that doesn't come naturally to Seth. In addition, Ivan Hernandez (Max's And Just Like That…) had joined the cast as Detective Graham and appeared in several episodes.

Alexi Hawley is the series creator, writer, and executive producer. Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Jon Steinberg, Bill Norcross, Bill Roe, and Brynn Malone are executive producers of the series. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on The Rookie, a co-production with ABC Signature.

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