Although NCIS: Hawai’i wrapped up after three seasons in May, Jason Antoon and Tori Anderson are still spending time together. The show, which starred Vanessa Lachey as the franchise’s first female lead, Jane Tennant, was not renewed by CBS.
On Monday, Jason shared a photo on Instagram featuring himself, Tori, and her husband, Mitch Myers, relaxing together. The snap, showing the TV stars on a wicker couch with Jason’s Goldendoodles, Dasher and Quinn, was captioned simply, “Summer!”
In an exclusive interview with HELLO! earlier this year, Jason spoke about his real-life friendship with Tori. “It’s funny because our real-life relationship mirrors what you see on-screen,” he said. “Tori is so fun, funny, and sweet. Our off-screen bond is just as strong as our on-screen one.”
Jason’s post came alongside CBS’s announcement of the release date for season 22 of NCIS and the premiere of its new spin-off prequel, NCIS: Origins. NCIS returns on October 14 at 8 p.m. on CBS, followed by NCIS: Origins at 9 p.m. This news sparked fan reactions, with many expressing a desire for the return of NCIS: Hawai’i.
Before the show’s cancellation, Jason had expressed hopes of directing an episode in season four. “I’m hoping to direct an episode next season,” he said in February. “I shadowed a few directors last season to learn the ropes and show the production team my commitment.”
Unfortunately, the show was canceled shortly after, preventing Jason from directing his co-stars. After the cancellation news broke, Jason posted on Instagram: “This business is brutal and makes no sense. But we had soooo much fun. Love you all and mahalo.”
He later told Parade, “Mahalo to our amazing cast and crew. There will never be another ohana like this one. Even though we are all shocked and disappointed, I will cherish our time on the island.”
Tori also shared her feelings: “Having a really hard time processing this. Thank you to our incredible crew who made every day feel like a dream. My heart breaks for the fans as well. This is a huge loss for representation. Love you all so much.”
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach addressed the decision to end the show, along with CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd. “It was a really tough call,” she told Variety. “As a big TV fan myself, I understand the disappointment. At CBS, we have to make difficult decisions based on numbers and future projections. We evaluate where we see opportunities for greater success and make those tough choices.”