CBS boss signals the axe is not headed toward NCIS anytime soon
By Sabrina Reed
NCIS season 21 is almost here! The premiere, "Algún Día," airs Monday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. Fans of the series can anticipate another action packed season that'll also introduce us to Knight's father, surprise McGee with more family, and include a tribute to the late David McCallum. The procedural has the honor of being the network's longest running scripted series, and it doesn't seem like it's in threat of ending anytime soon.
While an official renewal has yet to come from CBS for a season 22, it looks like fans won't have to worry about the coming cancellation season in May 2024. This is due to a Deadline interview with CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach where she spoke on the show's future. When asked how much gas the flagship has left in its tank, Reisenbach said the following:
"I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. It’s a fantastic cast with a fantastic writing staff that’s been there a really long time. They’re just as reenergized today as they were as when I started on the show in Season 8 [as current executive].
So, as long as they want to keep it going, we’re thrilled to be on the NCIS train. Gary [Cole] and Wilmer [Valderrama] and Sean [Murray] and Katrina [Law], all of them, they love doing the show. So we hope to continue on for quite a while. "
Of course, this is fantastic news! Especially when more cancellations this year aren't off the table. In 2024 alone, four long-standing series Bob Hearts Abishola, S.W.A.T., Young Sheldon, and Blue Bloods will be taking their final bows.
The NCIS franchise has been a proven winner for the network. Last year, NCIS: Los Angeles ended after 14 seasons, but a new spin-off--NCIS: Sydney--launched in November 2023 in a Fall TV season that was heavily impacted by the Hollywood strikes. The Australia-based program was a hit! A second season hasn't been officially greenlit, but it's considering to only be a matter of time.
Also, there's another spin-off in the works. NCIS: Origins, which will be set in the '90s and will follow a young Gibbs before he'd form the team that started it all. Reisenbach teased that the series will be edgier, grittier, and more serialized than previous shows in the franchise.
From the sound of it, CBS has no intention on slowing down this universe's train, so the flagship will continue to be a staple on the network. Now all we need to do is enjoy season 21 and wait for the official announcement that season 22 will be slotted into the 2024-2025 line-up.