The Ultimate Guide to NCIS Spinoffs: Which Ones You Can't Miss
A comprehensive guide to the successful TV dramas centered around the US Navy From the original 'JAG' to the newest addition 'NCIS: Hawai'i', explore all the thrilling spinoffs that have kept audiences hooked for years
NCIS: Hawai’i is the newest addition to the expanding NCIS franchise, promising to captivate procedural enthusiasts every week. Vanessa Lachey leads the cast as Jane Tennant, the pioneering female special agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, following the end of NCIS: New Orleans in spring 2021.
Lachey expressed her excitement and gratitude in an Instagram post in April 2021 upon being announced as the lead of Hawai’i, stating that being the first female lead to join the NCIS franchise and doing it on the stunning islands of Hawai’i was an honor beyond her expectations. She thanked CBS for believing in her and expressed her eagerness to start working on the project. As with many previous leads of the franchise, Lacey's character faces the challenge of balancing her professional life with her duties as a single mother to her son Alex (Kian Talan) and daughter Julie (Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon), who she raises alone after her divorce.
The island drama features a talented cast including Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Jason Antoon, Yasmine Al-Bustami, and Tori Anderson. It premiered following the highly acclaimed naval drama, NCIS, which has been on air for over 25 years. Interestingly, the original NCIS show didn't even have "Naval Criminal Investigative Service" in its title, and it didn't debut on CBS.
The NBC television series JAG first aired in 1995, featuring military lawyers in the Department of the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General, responsible for prosecuting and defending criminal cases under the code of military justice. Although NBC decided to cancel the show after one season, CBS recognized its potential and picked it up. JAG went on to air for a total of 10 years, and during its eighth season, NCIS was launched. Interestingly, JAG remains the only NCIS show to have won Emmys, with three wins in total – two for costume design and one for single camera editing.
The introduction of Jethro Gibbs and his team in the eighth season finale of the original drama, starring David James Elliott and Catherine Bell and led by Mark Harmon, generated a buzz that resulted in CBS requesting a full first season. Today, over 25 years after the show's inception, the NCIS franchise remains popular and thriving. Take a look below to see all the spinoffs:
Credit: CBS
How Many ‘NCIS’ Shows Are They? A Complete Guide to Every Navy Spinoff Over the Years
The NCIS family just keeps growing. NCIS: Hawai'i is the latest entry in the franchise that will keep procedural fans tuning in every week.
Vanessa Lachey, who portrays Jane Tennant, the inaugural female special agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, features in the tropical spinoff, which was launched after NCIS: New Orleans concluded in the spring of 2021. Upon being announced as the lead in April 2021, Lachey expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post, stating that she was "honored" to join the NCIS franchise and couldn't believe she would be doing so on the stunning islands of Hawaii. She also thanked CBS for their faith in her and eagerly anticipated getting to work on the show. #NCISHawaii.
Lacey's character faces a relatable challenge as she navigates the balance between her career and responsibilities as a mother to her son Alex (Kian Talan) and daughter Julie (Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon). The ensemble cast also includes Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Jason Antoon, Yasmine Al-Bustami, and Tori Anderson, rounding out the island drama that premiered in the time slot following the enduring naval drama, NCIS.
The absence of a location in the title doesn't mean that the NCIS spinoff shows were the first to hit the airwaves. In fact, the original NCIS series, which didn't even include "Naval Criminal Investigative Service" in its title, premiered on a different network altogether over 25 years ago. JAG, which debuted on NBC in 1995, centered around military lawyers who dealt with criminal cases under the code of military justice. Despite its cancellation after just one season, CBS saved the show and eventually turned it into the beloved franchise that we know today.
The legal drama JAG aired for a decade and introduced NCIS in its eighth season. This NCIS spinoff stands alone in its Emmy wins, taking home three awards for costume design and single camera editing. In the JAG season eight finale in 2003, Mark Harmon's character, Jethro Gibbs, and his team were introduced, sparking enough buzz for CBS to order a full first season that premiered the following September.
More than 25 years after JAG started, the NCIS franchise is still alive and well. Scroll down to see all the spinoffs:
Credit: YouTube
'JAG'
The original show ran from 1995 to 2005 with a total 227 episodes throughout its 10 seasons.
Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS
'NCIS'
The long-running spinoff of the popular television drama series, which premiered in 2003 and featured Mark Harmon as the lead character Gibbs, ran for 19 seasons before his exit in 2021. Harmon's final appearance on the show was in season 19's episode "Great Wide Open." The show returned for its twentieth season in September 2022, with Gary Cole taking over as the new head of the team in his role as Agent Alden Parker. Fans can look forward to the show's return for its twenty-first season in the fall of 2023.
Credit: Robert Voets/CBS
'NCIS: Los Angeles'
The NCIS: Los Angeles series premiered in 2009 and after 14 successful seasons, concluded its run in May 2023. In 2020, the show had a special tie-back to JAG when David James Elliott and Catherine Bell guest starred in a crossover event, reprising their roles as Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. and Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie. The series starred Chris O'Donnell as G. Callen and LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, and was a fan-favorite for over a decade.
Credit: Skip Bolen/CBS
'NCIS: New Orleans'
The procedural, which starred Scott Bakula and Lucas Black, launched in 2014 and ran for seven seasons before it was canceled. New Orleans concluded its run in May 2021.
Credit: Karen Neal/CBS
'NCIS: Hawai'i'
NCIS welcomed its first female-led spinoff with Hawai'i in September 2021. The island-based drama will return for season 3 in fall 2023.
Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock for BAFTA; Speed Media/Shutterstock
'NCIS: Sydney'
The Australian version of NCIS will be the first international edition of the popular television series and will only be airing in Australia via Paramount+ and Network 10. Unfortunately, viewers in the United States will not be able to access the spinoff starting from May 2023. The cast features Olivia Swann playing the role of NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey, while Todd Lasance portrays her Australian Federal Police (AFP) counterpart Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey. Other cast members include Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel, and William McInnes.
