The Evolution of the NCIS Franchise: From JAG to NCIS: Hawai'i
The NCIS franchise has expanded over the years, with a total of eight existing or former shows as of 2025. The original series that started it all was JAG, which premiered in 1995 on NBC. The show followed military lawyers in the Department of the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General and introduced characters like Jethro Gibbs. CBS picked up the series after NBC canceled it, leading to the introduction of NCIS in 2003.
NCIS, the flagship show, aired from 2003 to 2005 with a total of 227 episodes over 10 seasons. The first spinoff, NCIS: Los Angeles, launched in 2009 and ran for 19 seasons with Mark Harmon as Gibbs. Harmon exited the series in 2021, and Gary Cole took over as the new head of the team in season 20. The show is currently in its 23rd season.
NCIS: Los Angeles tied back to JAG in 2020 with guest appearances from David James Elliott and Catherine Bell as their characters from the original series. The show concluded in May 2023 after 14 seasons. Another spinoff, NCIS: New Orleans, starred Scott Bakula and Lucas Black and ran for seven seasons before being canceled in May 2021.
NCIS welcomed its first female-led spinoff with NCIS: Hawai'i in September 2021. The show starred Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tenant, the special agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor. Season 3 of the series returned in February 2024 but was canceled ahead of season 4 in April 2024. The NCIS franchise continues to captivate audiences with its diverse range of shows and characters.