Most shows lose steam when their lead actor leaves. NCIS never got that memo. The CBS hit kicks off its 24th season this fall. So why NCIS still rules television after all these years? A former producer says it always came back to one thing. That thing is chemistry.
That run looks even more impressive once you count the exits. Mark Harmon played Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Michael Weatherly played Anthony DiNozzo. Pauley Perrette played Abby Sciuto. All three eventually left. Those NCIS cast departures could have sunk another show. Fans kept tuning in anyway.
The Secret Was Never the Cases
A former producer recently explained the longevity in simple terms. His answer will sound familiar to longtime fans.
According to reporting by ComingSoon, former executive producer and director Mark Horowitz discussed the show on the NCIS: Partners & Probies podcast. Cast members Diona Reasonover and Brian Dietzen host the series.
Horowitz pointed to one thing above all else. He called it chemistry.
The faces on screen have changed many times. The bond between the characters has not. Horowitz noted that viewers grow attached to specific actors. Still, the real draw is the sense that these characters care about each other.
That family feeling helped NCIS survive transitions that would cripple most series.
How NCIS Survives Its Cast Changes
When Weatherly left, many fans doubted the show could go on without DiNozzo. Later exits raised the same worry. Each time, new characters arrived and found their footing. The team dynamic absorbed them.
The series rarely tried to replace its favorites. Instead, it added personalities that brought something fresh. That approach turned NCIS cast changes into renewal rather than decline.
Why NCIS Still Connects With Viewers
For many fans, the investigations were never the main appeal. The weekly cases set the stage. The emotional payoff comes from the people solving them.
Fans tune in to watch friendships grow. They stay for mentors guiding younger agents. They return for teammates supporting each other through hard times.
That formula lifted NCIS from a spin-off into a franchise giant. Its success always balanced crime with character.
Gibbs mentored his team. DiNozzo cracked jokes. Abby brought energy. Dr. Jimmy Palmer grew from background player into a central figure. Audiences connected with the people behind the badges.
The Legacy of Gibbs Still Looms Large
His exit left the door open for future appearances. Fans feel Gibbs is part of the story even when he is gone. That matters, because he was never just the boss.
He anchored the series emotionally for nearly two decades. Viewers still talk about him years later. That speaks to the mark Harmon left on the franchise.
The NCIS Universe Keeps Evolving
The franchise stays healthy because it keeps changing. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo remain closely tied to the brand.
Their recent spin-off centered on DiNozzo and Ziva showed how much fans still adore the pair. NCIS: Tony & Ziva premiered on Paramount+ in September 2025. The streamer canceled it after one season that December.
The run was short. The reaction was not. Fans even funded a billboard pushing for a renewal. That kind of passion proves the characters still resonate.
Meanwhile, the flagship keeps adding new faces. It also protects the tone longtime viewers expect. That balance of nostalgia and reinvention keeps NCIS relevant across generations.
Looking Ahead to NCIS Season 24
CBS renewed the show for NCIS Season 24 earlier this year. The flagship will continue into the 2026-27 television season. Premiere timing points to late September or October.
More than 20 years in, the show’s biggest strength has not changed. The cases supply the weekly mystery. The relationships, humor, and family feeling keep fans coming back.
As Horowitz put it, viewers may come for the cases. They stay for the characters.
All seasons of NCIS are streaming now on Paramount+.
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