Not only is the NCIS franchise getting bigger, but some things are being switched up. While Mark Harmon is staying on the series after it was rumored he would be leaving, the series is still going to see a big change in the upcoming season.
NCIS is headed towards Season 19, and when CBS announced its fall primetime schedule, it included a bold new step for the beloved procedural. After 18 years, NCIS will move from its usual Tuesday timeslot to Mondays at 9 p.m. EST. The shift leaves an opening for Tuesday, and new FBI series, FBI: International, will take over, making CBS Tuesdays an all-FBI night. The shake-up also makes Bull move to Thursdays.
On Mondays on CBS, NCIS will be paired with new spinoff, NCIS: Hawai’i. The move, while different, will allow the FBI series to air on the same night, and it gives NCIS: Hawai’i a chance to flourish while airing alongside its popular predecessor. It goes without saying that CBS isn't hesitating to freshen things up with the arrival of new shows.
Despite NCIS and spinoff NCIS: Hawai’i being paired up on Monday nights, NCIS: Los Angeles is sticking to its Sunday timeslot for the next season and will be in the middle of Queen Latifah’s The Equalizer and SEAL Team, before being replaced by S.W.A.T. midseason. Meanwhile, NCIS: New Orleans is coming to an end after seven seasons on May 23. It marks the end of an era but also the start of something new with Hawai’i this fall. It’s hard to tell what NCIS’ bold move will mean for Season 19 or how fans will react, but knowing that a new spinoff is making its way to their screens soon could help.
NCIS’ upcoming Season 18 finale will not only mark the end of the season, but it now also gives the series a big sendoff from the timeslot it’s held for 18 years. Recently, Wilmer Valderrama revealed how the finale will set up Season 19, as well as how it will answer questions fans had about Season 17, which had an abrupt ending much like many seasons last year due to some unforeseen circumstances.
Yet another change NCIS could see is Arrow and Hawaii Five-O alum Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight being upped to series regular for Season 19. Given the dynamic Jessica has with Torres and the rest of the team, it’s highly possible the Season 18 finale won’t be the last time fans see her. Though it's too soon to tell what cast members will be returning for Season 18, more changes could be seen for NCIS in the near future.
The Season 18 finale of NCIS airs Tuesday, May 25 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.
