NCIS Loses Its Crown: TV’s Most-Watched Show Dethroned After 5 Years!
CBS’ long-running police procedural, NCIS, has lost its crown as TV’s most-watched show for the first time in five years. Debuting in 2003 as a spin-off from JAG, NCIS quickly established its own identity and has remained a massive success for over two decades. However, season 21 faced a setback as the series was unable to secure its sixth consecutive year as the most-watched show on television.
According to a new report from TVLine, NCIS attracted approximately 9.7 million weekly viewers. However, it was narrowly beaten by another CBS show, Tracker, which debuted during the delayed 2023-2024 season and garnered 10.8 million weekly viewers. This marks the first time in half a decade that NCIS has not topped the most-watched series list.
What Tracker’s Success Means for NCIS’ Future
Tracker represents Justin Hartley’s return to television after his success on This Is Us. While Tracker‘s debut was certainly noteworthy, several factors likely contributed to its strong performance. The show benefited from its premiere following the Super Bowl, and Hartley’s return to TV drew significant attention. Although Tracker had an impressive start, it remains to be seen how it will perform in the 2024-2025 TV season and how it will rank among its peers, including NCIS.
Despite losing its top spot, NCIS remains strong and will continue with season 22. The franchise’s durability is evident with the upcoming spinoffs, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, featuring familiar characters from the Major Case Response Team (MCRT). CBS is unlikely to pull the plug on such a proven show, especially given its ability to attract nearly 10 million viewers consistently.
How the NCIS Season 21 Finale Set Up Season 22
The NCIS season 21 finale featured a relatively simple case—a boat murder mystery—that some viewers felt was not worthy of a season-ending episode. However, the finale compensated with two significant storylines involving Director Leon Vance’s team. The first storyline introduced the mystery of Alden Parker’s connection to a woman named Lily, theorized to be his late sister, whom he was calling while hallucinating after being seriously injured.
The second major development involved Jessica Knight, who was offered her dream job, requiring a transfer to Camp Pendleton and potentially jeopardizing her relationship with Jimmy Palmer. Knight’s decision to accept the offer leaves her future on the team uncertain, and her departure could open the door for Jane Tennant to join NCIS after the conclusion of NCIS: Hawai’i.
How Much Longer Can NCIS Stay on Broadcast?
Currently, NCIS is the third-longest-running scripted series on TV, trailing only Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. The continued development of spinoffs and the show’s ability to survive significant character departures indicate that the franchise is far from slowing down. NCIS‘s loyal fan base, consistently tuning in despite changes, proves the show’s enduring popularity.
Considering all this, it’s likely that NCIS will remain on the air for as long as CBS wishes. The show’s longevity seems secure unless the creative team behind it decides to end it on their own terms. Until then, NCIS can continue indefinitely.
