In a no-brainer move, CBS has renewed their top drama, NCIS, for a ninth season. The series currently averages a 4.0 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic, ranking behind only Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory on the CBS schedule. The renewal follows the news that Mark Harmon has signed a new two-year contract and the series drew its biggest ratings to date last night with a 4.6 rating in the demo and 22.9 million viewers.
Here’s the press release from CBS…
CBS RENEWS “NCIS” FOR THE 2011-2012 SEASON
Television’s #1 Drama/Scripted Series to Return for Its Ninth Season
Tuesday’s Broadcast Delivers a Series’ Record Audience of 22.85 Million Viewers
NCIS, television’s #1 drama/scripted series for the second consecutive year, has been renewed by the CBS Television Network for the 2011-2012 season, it was announced today by Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment.
“It’s simply amazing that a show in its eighth season continues to perform at such an elite level,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “This is a tribute to the hard work of its talented writers, producers and cast for bringing to life such compelling stories and characters with intrigue and humor. The quality of the storytelling is also evident by the series’ incredibly devoted fan base who we thank for their passion and commitment to NCIS on CBS, in online communities and around the world.”
“NCIS has become a network phenomenon and a global sensation. The show continues to hit audience peaks on CBS and is a top performer in territories around the world,” said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. “We thank an amazing cast, led by Mark Harmon, which has undeniable chemistry, for bringing to life characters with such amazing universal appeal. And, we credit Shane (Brennan) and Gary (Glasberg) for the storytelling and production vision that delivers compelling episodes every week and a fresh creative vision every year.”
NCIS premiered on CBS in 2003-2004 as a spin-off of the long-running action/legal drama, “JAG.” Since its debut, NCIS’s ratings have steadily climbed, becoming a top 10 program in 2007-2008, the series’ fifth season. NCIS’s ratings continued building the following season, finishing 2008-2009 ranked fifth among all primetime programs. Last season, NCIS ranked fourth among all programs and became the #1 drama/scripted program on television, with an average audience of 18.89 million viewers.
Currently in its eighth season, NCIS’s ratings are still rising and the series continues to be the #1 drama/scripted series. This season, NCIS is averaging 19.60 million viewers. Last night’s episode delivered a record audience of 22.85 million viewers and the show’s highest adult 18-49 rating since Oct. 2009.
NCIS stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, Rocky Carroll and David McCallum. Shane Brennan, Chas. Floyd Johnson, Gary Glasberg, Mark Horowitz, Mark Harmon and Donald P. Bellisario are executive producers for Belisarius Productions in association with CBS Television Studios.
What do you think? Happy to hear NCIS has been renewed? How long should this series realistically continue? Could it go on without Harmon?
Image courtesy CBS.
I’m in agreement with the others I love NCIS with all the characters it has now but I too have watched it since it first aired. I can’t imagine losing any of them,even Palmer has a special place in my heart. I worry about Sean Murray also, he looks as if he’s lost even more weigh, leading me to believe he may be ill. I hope not !! My whole family gets together to watch NCIS even those out of town and out of state, we love it. Just about every channel is reality , sing offs, or dance offs,… Read more »
u know i have watched ncis since its been on i love watching the shows and i cant amagine not have the ncis family together it works very good and have good chemisty with each other i am sad that they killed of micheal but then again atleast it was not gibbs or ziva or even the rest of the crew
I am a fan, I like everyone, without it’s leader (Mark) it would have a whole new dynamic and would no longer be the same. It seems strange that Tony doesn’t have a team of his own by now, but I am glad he doesn’t. I don’t like his interaction with EJ this disturbs me greatly. I also am worried about Sean, he doesn’t look well. He needs a little more weight. If he is dieting he has gone to far.! If you are planning to shoot some one done let them be shot but not die! I am not… Read more »
So glad the show renewed. I LOVE THIS SHOW! It’s the only thing on TV worth watching. I never get tired of it. Every character has their own way of making the show as great as it is. If anyone left it would never been the same. Mark is a must to stay along with everyone else. I just bought every season cause I can’t get enough. I too dislike reality tv, dance shows, and sitcoms. So thankful NCIS is on several nights a week (reruns) so I can relax to a great show!
Think you messed up adding all these unlikable new characters. If it isn’t broken why add these new characters. NCIS is my favorite TV program, so hope they don’t feel the need to keep messing with the characters.
i am in malaysia. and love this show. i beleive without gibbs the show won’t look tooo good. but my fav is abby…..and ziva
WE LOVE NCIS….NEVER MISS THE SHOW. WE WATCH ALL THE RERUNS.
THE SHOW WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT MARK HARMON. IT WOULD
NOT BE THE SAME WITH THE STARS THAT ARE ON IT NOW. LOVE THE DIALECT FOR ZIVA AND THE WRITING ON THE SHOW IS FANTASTIC. PLEASE
DON’T CHANGE THE CAST OR EVER CANCEL THIS SHOW……WE ARE NOT IN THE 18 TO 49 AGE GROUP. WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SHOW EACH WEEK. WE DVR THE RERUNS AND WATCH THEM.
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL OR KILL ANYONE OFF AGAIN…..
Yes!!! There are very few shows (5 or so) I watch on TV and NCIS is the main one. After JAG went off, I started watching NCIS and have watched it ever since. Glad to hear it has been renewed.
IN MY OPINION MARK HARMON IS THE SHOW!! GIVE HIM WHATEVER HE WANTS, BUT KEEP HIM ON NCIS. THE OTHER CAST MEMBERS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD, BUT THEY ARE NOT MARK!
love, love, love NCiS, the cast amd the writers! I watch n the reruns as often as I can, because I love the dynamics of the cast! True, I sometimes watch just to understand the technological jargon. It amazes me how fluid the acting and dialogue is on the show! Abby is incredible! I also watch to see how Ziva and Tony react to each other(I ‘m hoping for a romantic hookup! Mark Harmon is perfect, and when he smiles during the show it melts my heart ! The interaction between he and Ralph Waite, or Rocky Carrol is dymaiic!… Read more »
Only the best show on TV,if they take it off the air or kill anyone off, ok Vance can go, he’s not at all nice to the team. And I love Ziva but preferred Kate so IF they have to loose anyone Vance first and , well ok NO they can’t have Ziva either. But when it goes off the air, I’m afraid I’ll not need DISH any longer, I pay all that money each month for NCIS and yep I even watch the reruns everynight 🙂 I’m hooked what can I say
NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles have been two shows that I have enjoyed watching. However, the recently added back ground music, sounds or what ever that you want to call it is distracting, annoying and makes the dialog hard to hear. The background sounds are unnecessary. It is so bad and so loud that I turn off the program. The background sounds do not add to the quality of the program but makes it worst. I hope this changes or at least turn it down. Thank you.
NCIS is one of the best shows on TV. I’ll admit that since David Bellsario stepped down as head writer, it may have lost some of its appeal, but it is still a great show. I imagine that if Gibbs ever left, they’d create a new series with at least Tony and Ziva leading a team somewhere. How about NCIS: New Orleans? LOL
OMG…thank you…so many of the shows I’ve watched have been cancelled…I am so glad this MY FAVORITE isn’t. I am so tired of dance shows, singing shows and reality crap…it drives me nuts. I don’t forsee watching much tv this year since there isn’t any thing anymore on there to watch except NCIS…thanks for that anyway CBS
It’s hard for me to picture the show without him…..but the rest of the cast/characters are strong. I guess depending on who replaced Hamon I would still watch NCIS without him. But I wouldnt be happy about it.
I’m happy to hear that. I think it could go on without Mark. But probably would suffer a little. Maybe make Micheal in charge. And what about Ziva she gonna stay? And I think it should go on for at least until season 15 honestly. It is excellent. Don’t ever cancel!!