Everyone knowsNCIS. The long-running hit drama has been an integral part of CBS' lineup for over 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down. The show recently celebrated its 450th episode as part of the landmark 20th season, placing it in the top five among thelongest-running scripted primetime television series.
At its peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the series spawned two spin-offs,NCIS: Los AngelesandNCIS: New Orleans. These achieved similar levels of success and handed CBS a powerhouseNCISfranchise.New OrleansandLos Angelesended in 2021 and 2023, respectively, though the franchise lives on withNCIS: Hawai’i. It also moved outside the U.S. for the first time with the Australian-producedNCIS: Sydney.We’ve seen two additional offshoots confirmed this year alone.NCIS: Originswill focus on a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played for 19 seasons on theoriginal show by Mark Harmon. There’s also an untitled spin-off for Paramount+ that centers on Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo’s characters, Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David. That will bring the franchise to five current series next season. IsNCISrisking oversaturating the brand with too many offshoots? Let’s look at what we know.
The Early Years of NCIS and the Launch of a Franchise
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team.
NCISis one of the most well-known and longest-running series in broadcast TV history. It debuted its strike-delayed 21st season in February 2024, which places it fifth all-time among scripted primetime shows. OnlyThe Simpsons(35),Law & Order: SVU(25),Law & Order(23), andFamily Guy(22) have more seasons under their belt.NCIShas always enjoyed high ratings, with Seasons 7 through 11 seeing several episodes break 20 million viewers. Ratings have fallen sharply in the last decade, butNCIS’s current range of 6 to 7 million viewers still places it near the top of the broadcast charts. It was also a model of consistency, holding just one timeslot – Tuesday at 8:00 ET – for Seasons 1 through 18.
At the height of its success, two spin-offs were launched.NCIS: Los Angelesdebuted in 2009, andNCIS: New Orleansfollowed in 2014. These shows enjoyed similar high ratings and success, allowing CBS tobuild anNCISuniverse.Los AngelesandNew Orleanshad their own long runs, lasting for 14 and 7 seasons, respectively.
NCIS’s peak was behind it by the early 2020s, yet the franchise remained strong. The newNCIS: Hawai’ireplacedNew Orleansin 2021. We also moved overseas, with Paramount+ Australia producingNCIS: Sydneyin the land down under. CBS acquiredSydneyfor US distribution in 2023 to fill viewers’NCISvoid, asLos Angeleshad ended while the mothership show andHawai’iwere on strike hiatus.NCISnow spans two continents, and viewers are still tuning in for the moment. But will that last?
NCIS: Origins Casts Catch-22 Star as “Young Gibbs” in Prequel Series
NCIS: Origins will tell the story of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the years before he became the character fans know and love.
The New NCIS Entries and Expansions
In the first two months of 2024, we heard of two newNCISentries.NCIS: Originsfollows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mark Harmon’s leading man for the first 19 seasons of the mothership show. Set in the early 1990s, the prequel sees Gibbs in his early days as an NCIS agent. Harmon is set to narrate the show as adult Gibbs.Originsis anticipated to premiere on CBS in the 2024-25 season.
The second title is a Paramount+ exclusive for the first time in franchise history. It will see Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo reprisetheir fan-favorite charactersof Anthony DiNozzo and Ziva David. Weatherly appeared as anNCISregular from Seasons 1 through 13, exiting in 2016 to lead CBS’sBull. He returned for a cameo in the second episode of Season 21 to pay tribute to deceased cast member David McCallum (“Ducky” Mallard). De Pablo appeared regularly from Seasons 2 through 11, with guest spots in Seasons 16 and 17. The pair’s relationship, dubbed “Tiva,” was a massive hit with viewers at the height ofNCIS’s success.
Assuming the three existing shows are renewed for next season, and it’s very likely they will be, that brings the total to fiveNCISshows on the air at the same time. Will this lead to viewer fatigue? It’s possible, but there are encouraging signs.
Will NCIS Suffer From Franchise Fatigue?
Five concurrent shows in one franchise is a lot, but we likely won’t see a massive viewer exodus. They won’t all feature 22 episode seasons on a broadcast network. Paramount+ shows have lower episode counts and typically run at any point in the year. We could see the “Tiva” spin-off drop during summer. The same applies to Paramount+ Australia, asSydney’s first season contained just eight episodes. These also aren’t five shows in the same setting. The mothership,Hawai’i, andSydneyfeature vastly different locations, characters, and storylines. They have theNCIStag but operate independently outsideof occasional crossovers. It’s too early to tell how closelyOriginsand “Tiva” will follow the mothership, but given that they feature fan-favorite roles, it’s safe to say fans of the original will tune in.
NCIS: Sydney Sets New Streaming Record for CBS and Paramount+
The latest incarnation of the NCIS franchise has become a runaway hit for CBS.
WithOriginsas the only new show set to launch on CBS, the network can expand to a “one-NCIS” night with the original andHawai’i. Just look at how well the net’sFBITuesdays block performs. NBC’sChicagoWednesdays andLaw & OrderThursdays have seen big ratings bumps for all six shows. The branding of an all-NCISnight could similarly boost the numbers for this franchise.
Given thestaggered air datesand season lengths and the diversity in settings, it’s unlikely that these additional offshoots will damage the franchise. Instead, we could see an infusion of new blood with the return of fan-favorite roles and the potential for a year-longNCISbroadcast. It’s too early to tell, but givenNCIS’s place in modern culture, it’s a safe bet to say it’s not going anywhere.NCIS,NCIS: Hawai’i,NCIS: New Orleans, andNCIS: Sydneyare available to stream on Paramount+.
