NCIS Breaks A 23-Year CBS Record That Nobody Wanted To End

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While it’s unusual to celebrate a show ending, NCIS recently concluded its 23-year run on CBS, marking a record for the network. Over its long history, the show has seen many changes, but it remained popular during the 2025-2026 television season, proving its lasting success. As NCIS evolved, it continued to find fresh ways to keep viewers engaged with the team’s weekly cases.

The show NCIS has faced challenges in recent years, especially after Mark Harmon left during season 19, as it worked to redefine itself. While ratings have decreased somewhat, it remains a reliable performer for CBS. Now, as fans await season 23, NCIS has unexpectedly broken a long-standing record, though not due to anything the show itself did.

2026 Marks The First Time That NCIS Never Released An Episode In January

ABC and NBC have resumed their regular programming, but CBS is still on break for a few more weeks because they started their season later. Besides a slightly longer wait to see what happens after Ellie Bishop returns, this doesn’t seem like a big deal. However, it means that for the first time ever, the show NCIS won’t have any new episodes air in January – a first in the show’s history, starting in 2026.

As a big NCIS fan, I always look forward to a new episode kicking off the year – they’ve been doing that since the show started back in 2003! Last year was different, though, because of the Hollywood strikes, which meant season 21 didn’t premiere until February. That was unavoidable, but this time around, the delay isn’t due to anything like that. It’s just CBS rearranging their schedule, which is a little disappointing, but hopefully not for too long!

Why CBS’s Extended 2025-2026 Winter Hiatus Is Secretly Good

Credit: CBS and THINKFilm via MovieStillsDB

ABC recently had a break in its usual programming, similar to what CBS experienced. Popular shows like 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy won’t be back with new episodes until March 2025. The 23rd season of NCIS was originally scheduled to return in late February, but the premiere has been pushed back to the first week of March. This delay is disappointing for viewers, especially because the storyline involving Bishop is currently unresolved.

Interestingly, this longer break actually benefits CBS. TV networks often space out episodes later in the season to coincide with important ratings periods, and to have enough content to last until season finales in May. By scheduling all of its breaks now, CBS can provide uninterrupted airings of its scripted shows, like NCIS, going forward.

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2026-02-01 21:18