NCIS continues its strong run on CBS, with two of the franchise's shows set for returns in 2025. The NCIS series revolves around the lives of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, with the characters originally introduced in an episode of JAG. Premiering in September 2003 on CBS, the procedural has gone on to become the network's flagship show. Now in season, it is the third-longest-running scripted live-action U.S. primetime show currently airing on television. The original show has spawned six spinoffs, including the prequel NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney which debuted in 2022.
A press release from Paramount Press Express has revealed that the franchise is set to return to CBS in 2025, with NCIS season 22 getting a midseason return on Monday, January 27, 2025 in the 9:00 -10:00 pm time slot. NCIS: Originsalso returns on the same night and will air right after NCIS. Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney season 2 will have its season premiere Friday, January 31, in the 8:00-9:00 pm time slot after season 1 concluded in December 2023.
What This News Means For The NCIS Franchise
The Shows Continue To Command An Audience
Even now that the original show is over two decades old, the NCIS franchise is showing no signs of slowing down, or losing popularity, with more recent seasons still averaging over 10 million viewers. NCIS season 22 appears to have the franchise back onto long-form storytelling after season 21 was truncated (10 episodes) as a result of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, and this should bode well for how the season unfolds. NCIS: Origins also is off to a strong start in its premiere year and its rating will likely be helped by airing after the flagship show.
As for NCIS: Sydney season 2, the show will pick up after a cliffhanger ending to season 1, and the premiere could well pick up with Utkin's death, as well as exploring the Colonel Rankin reveal in more depth. NCIS Sydney has been well-received in Australia, and the show will return to Paramount+ in the new year, hoping to get close to emulating the 14-season run of NCIS: Los Angeles.
Our Verdict On Whether The NCIS Franchise Has Run Its Course
There Is Life In The Series Yet
The franchise might be one of the most ubiquitous on primetime television, but it does feel like a procedural that will continue to roll on no matter what. Whilst NCIS: Sydney is in a more precarious position, and will need to work harder to maintain longevity due to its specific location, I would not be hugely surprised to see the original NCIS reach season 30. While this is unlikely, as long as there is still an audience for compelling procedurals, with fun characters, NCIS will continue to thrive.
Source: Paramount Press Express
