NCIS (TV series)
NCIS is an American military police procedural television series and the first installment within the NCIS media franchise. The series portrays a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The concept and characters were initially introduced with two episodes of the CBS series JAG ; as a spin-off from JAG, the series premiered on September 23, 2003, on CBS. Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill are co-creators and executive producers of the premiere member of the NCIS franchise., NCIS was the third-longest-running scripted, live-action American prime-time TV series currently airing, surpassed only by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order ; it is the fifth-longest-running scripted American prime-time TV series overall.
The series originally had the partly redundant title Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service; this was later shortened to NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service and then to NCIS. In season six, a two-part episode led to a spin-off series, NCIS: Los Angeles. Another two-part episode, during the 11th season, led to a second spin-off series, NCIS: New Orleans.
Though reception was initially tepid, with ratings barely cracking the top 30 during the first two seasons, the third season showed progress and consistently ranked in the top 20. In 2011, NCIS was voted "America's favorite television show" in an online Harris Poll. At the end of its 10th season, it was the most-watched television series in the U.S. during the 2012–13 network television season. NCIS also surpassed Gunsmokes record for longest-running scripted primetime television series to air on CBS.
On January 5, 2024, it was announced that the prequel, NCIS: Origins, will be aired during the 2024–25 season, as another spin-off series; a second spin-off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, was announced on February 28, 2024, as a series exclusive to Paramount+. On April 9, 2024, NCIS was renewed for a 22nd season, which premiered on October 14, 2024. In February 2025, it was renewed for season 23, which premiered on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. In January 2026, it was renewed for season 24.
Premise
NCIS details the experiences and stories of a team of special agents working for the NCIS. The team, called the Major Case Response Team primarily responds to high-visibility crimes; NCIS is the main federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of the Navy, investigating criminal activities related to the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and their associated branches of government.In the series, the NCIS is based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., where it was previously led by Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former USMC Gunnery Sergeant/Scout Sniper and a skilled investigator, until his suspension late in season 18. Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker now leads the team, following his appointment early in season 19.
Cast and characters
- Mark Harmon as NCIS Supervisory Special Agent and Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Sasha Alexander as NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd
- Michael Weatherly as NCIS Senior Field Agent Anthony DiNozzo
- Pauley Perrette as NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto
- David McCallum as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard
- Sean Murray as NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee
- Cote de Pablo as NCIS Special Agent Ziva David
- Lauren Holly as NCIS Director Jenny Shepard
- Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance
- Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer
- Emily Wickersham as NCIS Special Agent Eleanor Bishop
- Wilmer Valderrama as NCIS Special Agent Nicholas Torres
- Jennifer Esposito as NCIS Special Agent Alexandra Quinn
- Duane Henry as NCIS International Desk Agent Clayton Reeves
- Maria Bello as NCIS Special Agent and Psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Sloane
- Diona Reasonover as NCIS Forensic Specialist Kasie Hines
- Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight
- Gary Cole as NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker
Episodes
Backdoor pilots
''JAG''
Two episodes of JAG season eight, "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown", serve as the backdoor pilot of NCIS itself.These JAG episodes introduced the characters of Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo, Vivian Blackadder, Abby Sciuto, and Donald "Ducky" Mallard.
Patrick Labyorteaux appears on NCIS reprising his JAG role as Lt. Bud Roberts in the first-season episode "Hung Out to Dry", in the 14th-season episode "Rogue", and in the season-15 episode "Dark Secrets"; Alicia Coppola returned as Lt. Cmdr. Faith Coleman in "UnSEALed", "Call of Silence", and "Hometown Hero", while Adam Baldwin returned as Cmdr. Michael Rainer in "A Weak Link", and John M. Jackson appeared as retired Rear Admiral A. J. Chegwidden in the season-10 episode "Damned If You Do".
''NCIS: Los Angeles''
The two-part NCIS season-six episode "Legend" serves as the backdoor pilot of NCIS: Los Angeles."Legend" introduces Chris O'Donnell as G. Callen, LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, Daniela Ruah as Kensi Blye, and Barrett Foa as Eric Beale.
Rocky Carroll recurs on NCIS: Los Angeles as his NCIS character Director Leon Vance, while Pauley Perrette has appeared twice as Abby, and Michael Weatherly has appeared once as Anthony DiNozzo. NCIS guest stars reprising roles between series include David Dayan Fisher as CIA Officer Trent Kort, in the season finale of NCIS: Los Angeles, and Kelly Hu as Lee Wuan Kai in NCIS: Los Angeles and later in an episode of NCIS.
John M. Jackson has appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles as his JAG character Admiral A. J. Chegwidden, while this series has also crossed over with Hawaii Five-0 and Scorpion.
''NCIS: New Orleans''
The two-part NCIS season-11 episode "Crescent City" serves as the backdoor pilot of NCIS: New Orleans."Crescent City" introduces Scott Bakula as Dwayne Pride, Lucas Black as Christopher LaSalle, Zoe McLellan as Meredith Brody, and CCH Pounder as Loretta Wade.
Rocky Carroll recurs as Director Leon Vance, while NCIS series regulars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, David McCallum, and Brian Dietzen have all appeared as their NCIS characters. NCIS recurring cast members Meredith Eaton, Joe Spano, Diane Neal, and Leslie Hope have all guest-starred on NCIS: New Orleans.
''NCIS: Hawaiʻi''
The show NCIS: Hawaiʻi is a spin-off of the series NCIS and the fourth series in the NCIS franchise. It stars Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, the Special Agent in Charge of a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service based in Hawaiʻi.''NCIS: Sydney''
The series NCIS: Sydney is the first spin-off for the NCIS franchise outside the United States and features Australian actors and producers.''NCIS: Origins''
NCIS: Origins is an American television series, and the sixth installment in the NCIS franchise. It is a prequel to the original series, starting in 1991, and focusing on the early investigative career of the show's original protagonist Leroy Jethro Gibbs.Production
Title
Before the launch of the first season, advertisements on CBS identified the show as "Naval CIS". By the time of the launch of the first episode, NCIS was airing under the name Navy NCIS, the name it held for the entire first season. Since the "N" in NCIS stands for "Naval", the name "Navy NCIS" was redundant. The decision to use this name was reportedly made by CBS, over the objections of Bellisario, who preferred the old title because he felt it would:- Attract new viewers, who might not know the NCIS abbreviation
- Distinguish between NCIS and the similarly themed and similarly spelled CBS series CSI and its spinoffs..
Development
On January 8, 2025, it was announced that NCIS would suspend production due to the wildfires in the Southern California region, where the show is filmed. Production was resumed January 13.