By India McCarty
NCIS is one of CBS’ most successful franchises, spawning hundreds of episodes and popular spin-offs — but did you know another network had a major hand in NCIS’ success?
“At the end of their third seasons, both JAG [the show NCIS spun off from] and NCIS were sold to USA Network, where they started running them 24 hours a day,” series executive producer Mark Horowitz told The Hollywood Reporter. “That’s when the network ratings went up, and we moved up to this No. 1 position.”
By getting USA Network viewers hooked on the drama of previous NCIS episodes, the show managed to draw in tons of new viewers who would help boost NCIS to the top of the ratings charts.
“I didn’t realize [that it was a hit] for a while, but when I did, it was a great feeling,” NCIS co-creator Donald P. Bellisario told THR. “I shouldn’t say it was surprising because it was a good show, so I knew it would do well, but I was a little bit surprised by it.”
Related: Cut the Cake! NCIS Celebrates 500th Episode
Star Mark Harmon, who played Leroy Jethro Gibbs, has also commented on the franchise’s popularity, saying, “I’m thrilled the show has been as successful as it’s been. The first day on the show, we worked 22 hours, so that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. There were a lot of changes in those first three or four years. People don’t realize that, but this show didn’t jump out.”
NCIS is currently on 23 seasons and counting, with spin-offs like NCIS: LOS ANGELES, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, NCIS: ORIGINS and NCIS: TONY & ZIVA.
NCIS: ORIGINS is currently going through some behind-the-scenes changes; co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal recently announced she would not be returning for Season 3.
“It’s been the biggest honor of my career to write NCIS: ORIGINS alongside my incredible co-showrunner and friend David North,” Monreal said in a statement. “To have had this opportunity to work again with the incomparable Mark Harmon, Sean Harmon, our writers, and the best cast and crew in the business — how lucky am I? I can’t wait to see what this extraordinary group cooks up for Season 3.”
Co-showrunner David J. North, who will stay on for the third season, said, “Long before Gina was my incredible writing partner on NCIS: ORIGINS, she was, and remains, one of my closest friends. I couldn’t have imagined launching this show with anyone else, and even though Gina won’t be working with us on a daily basis next season, the characters and stories she helped create will live on. I can’t wait to team up with her again in the future.”
From spin-offs and new seasons to on-set changes, the NCIS franchise remains a solid favorite among viewers around the world.
Read Next: NCIS Has a Big Change Coming for ORIGINS Season 3
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +2Share:
– Content: +3