NCIS is an American military police procedural television series and the first installment within the NCIS media franchise. With production helmed by showrunner, Steven D. Binder, the series portrays a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The concept and characters were initially introduced with two episodes of the CBS series JAG (season eight episodes 20 and 21: "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown", which aired on April 22 and 29, 2003 respectively); 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 (1999–present) and Law & Order (1990–2010; 2022–present); it is the fifth-longest-running scripted American prime-time TV series overall.
As of 2026 with the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the endings of Blue Bloods and S.W.A.T., NCIS is the last scripted show under Les Moonves to continue in production.
The series originally had the redundant title Navy NCIS; this was later changed to in season 2 Naval Criminal Investigative Service and then in season 3 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; another 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, which premiered on October 6, 2026.
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 (MCRT) 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 (e.g. deaths, force protection, treason, etc.) related to the United States Navy and Marine Corps (USMC), 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 (a former FBI special agent) 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 (seasons 1–19) Michael Weatherly as NCIS Senior Field Agent Anthony DiNozzo (main: seasons 1–13, 24–present; guest: season 21) Sasha Alexander as NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd (main role: seasons 1–2; guest: season 3) Pauley Perrette as NCIS Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto (seasons 1–15) David McCallum as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (seasons 1–20; credit only: season 21) Sean Murray as NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee (recurring role: season 1, main: season 2–present) Cote de Pablo as NCIS Special Agent Ziva David (main: seasons 3–11; guest: seasons 3 & 16; recurring: season 17) Lauren Holly as NCIS Director Jenny Shepard (recurring: season 3; main: seasons 3–5) Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance (recurring: season 5; main: seasons 6–23) Brian Dietzen as Dr. Jimmy Palmer (recurring: seasons 1–5, also starring: seasons 6–9, main: season 10–present) Emily Wickersham as NCIS Special Agent Eleanor Bishop (guest: seasons 11 & 23; main: seasons 11–18) Wilmer Valderrama as NCIS Special Agent Nicholas Torres (season 14–present) Jennifer Esposito as NCIS Special Agent Alexandra Quinn (season 14) Duane Henry as NCIS International Desk Agent Clayton Reeves (guest: season 13; main: seasons 14–15) Maria Bello as NCIS Special Agent and Psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Sloane (seasons 15–18) Diona Reasonover as NCIS Forensic Specialist Kasie Hines (recurring: season 15; main: season 16–present) Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight (guest: season 18; main: season 19–present) Gary Cole as NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker (guest: season 19; main: season 19–present)
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.
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 (particularly those of JAG), who might not know the NCIS abbreviation Distinguish between NCIS and the similarly themed and similarly spelled CBS series CSI and its spinoffs. (The original title, for instance, was often misquoted and parodied as "Navy CSI", something the show itself referenced in the first episode).
Development In 2011, NCIS was voted America's favorite television show in an online Harris poll. NCIS finished its 10th season as the most-watched television series in the U.S. during the 2012–13 network television season. Diona Reasonover joined the main cast in season 16, following the departures of Duane Henry and Pauley Perrette. NCIS was renewed for a seventeenth season on April 11, 2019, which premiered on September 24, 2019, and for an eighteenth season in May 2020. The season premiered on November 17, 2020.
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.
Flair From the season two episode "Lt. Jane Doe" onwards, the series began showing two-second-long black-and-white clips. These clips (called "phoofs") are shown at the beginning of every segment depicting the last two seconds of that segment, a segment being the five or six portions of the show meant to be separated by commercials. Additionally, starting with the season three premiere, "Kill Ari (Part I)," a freeze-frame shot was also used at the very end of most episodes as well.
Crew changes It was reported in May 2007 that Donald P. Bellisario would be stepping down from the show. Due to a disagreement with series star Mark Harmon, Bellisario's duties as showrunner/head writer were to be given to long-time show collaborators, including co-executive producer Chas. Floyd Johnson and Shane Brennan, with Bellisario retaining his title as executive producer. In fall 2009, Gary Glasberg joined the crew and became the new "day-to-day" runner of NCIS because Shane Brennan had to focus on his new show, the spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles. On September 28, 2016, Glasberg died in his sleep at the age of 50.
Release
Broadcast NCIS airs on Network 10, 10 Bold, Fox Crime (formerly TV Hits and TV1) and Paramount+ in Australia, Global (syndicated on sister channels Showcase and Lifetime) in Canada, TV3 and The Box in New Zealand, Seriale+ (premieres), TVN (free-TV premieres), TVN7 (reruns), AXN (reruns), (India) Fox Crime, Star World India (Pakistan) ARY Digital, ARY Zindagi, TVOne Pakistan and TV Puls (reruns) in Poland, Disney+ Hotstar and Rock Entertainment in Southeast Asia, CBS Justice, Channel 5 and 5USA in the United Kingdom, M6 in France, RTÉ2 in Ireland, Rai 2 in Italy, and USA Network, Ion Television, Sundance TV, We TV, Lifetime, and Heroes & Icons in the United States. It also airs on Disney+ in the United Kingdom. NCIS aired in Russia on FOX.
Home media
The first 20 seasons of NCIS have been released in Regions 1, 2, and 4. In Germany (Region 2), seasons 1–4 and 5–8 were released in two separate sets for each season. The first-season DVD omits the two introductory episodes from season eight of JAG, though they are featured on the JAG season eight DVD.
Other releases In 2010, CBS Interactive and GameHouse released a mobile video game, NCIS: The Game for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and BREW/J2ME. The game features five different cases written by the show's writers.
On November 1, 2011, Ubisoft released a video game adaptation of NCIS for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. A Nintendo 3DS version followed on March 6, 2012. The video game was deemed a mockery of the show by reviewers and players alike, and received a 2/10 rating on GameSpot.
There is also a Facebook and mobile game called NCIS: Hidden Crimes.
TV movies
Soundtrack