NCIS (TV series)

NCIS (TV Series)

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

NCIS (TV series)

NCIS (promoted as Navy NCIS in season one), aka Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service or NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the navy of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy currently has approximately 331,682 personnel on active duty as of 31 December 2008 and 124,000 in the United States Navy Reserve....
and Marine Corps.

The concept and characters were initially introduced in a two-part episode of the CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
series JAG
JAG

JAG is an United States Adventure /legal drama television show that was produced by Donald P. Bellisario, in association with Paramount Pictures CBS Paramount Television and, for the first season only, Universal Media Studios....
(episodes 8.20 and 8.21).

Discussion

Ask a question about 'NCIS (TV series)'

Start a new discussion about 'NCIS (TV series)'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

United States Navy

CBS

Spin-off

A spin-off is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one, such as a television series based on a pre-existing one, or a new company formed from a university research group or business incubator....
from JAG, premiered on September 23, 2003 on CBS and, to date, has aired five full seasons. Donald Bellisario, who created JAG, as well as the well-known series Magnum P.I. and Quantum Leap
Quantum leap

In physics, a quantum leap or quantum jump is a change of an electron from one quantum state to another within an atom. It is discontinuous; the electron jumps from one energy level to another instantaneously....
, executive produces

Executive producer

The title of executive producer , or executive in charge of production, typically describes a film producer, television producer, radio producer, record producer, or similar Stakeholder who doesn't participate in the technical operations of the production process, but who is still responsible for the success of a project....
NCIS. NCIS was originally referred to as “Navy NCIS”. However "Navy

Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions....
" was later dropped, as it was redundant. NCIS returned for its sixth season on September 23, 2008 in the US, and in the UK, Friday January 9, 2009 on Five, showing season 5.

Premise

NCIS is a television show that follows a fictional team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....
Major Case Response Team (MCRT) special agents, headquartered at the Washington Navy Yard

Washington Navy Yard

The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and Weapon plant of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S....
in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
It is described by the actors and producers (on special features on DVD releases in the USA) as being distinguished by its comedy elements, ensemble acting and character-driven plots.

NCIS is the primary law enforcement and counter-intelligence arm of the United States Department of the Navy

United States Department of the Navy

The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798, to provide administrative and technical support, and civilian leadership to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps ....
, which includes the United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
. NCIS investigates all major criminal offenses (felonies), those crimes punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Uniform Code of Military Justice

The Uniform Code of Military Justice is the foundation of military law in the United States. The UCMJ applies to all members of the Uniformed services of the United States: the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administratio...
by confinement of more than one year, within the Department of the Navy. This can be seen when the “NCIS team” is frequently assigned to high-profile cases such as the death of the President's

President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
military aide

Nuclear Football

The Nuclear Football is a specially outfitted black briefcase used by the President of the United States of the United States to authorize the use of nuclear weapons....
, a bomb situation on a U.S. Navy warship, the death of a celebrity on a reality show set on a USMC base, terrorist threats, and kidnappings.

The “NCIS team” is led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional chief investigator from the NCIS television series by CBS, played by Mark Harmon....
(Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon is an United States actor who has been starring in U.S. television programs and films since the mid-1970s. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS ....
). Gibbs’ team is composed of Special Agent and Senior Field Agent Anthony DiNozzo

Anthony DiNozzo

Anthony "Tony" D. DiNozzo is a fictional senior agent on the television series NCIS on CBS. He is portrayed by actor Michael Weatherly....
(Michael Weatherly

Michael Weatherly

Michael Manning Weatherly, Jr. is an United States actor, best known for his role as Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo on the CBS show NCIS....
), Special Agent Timothy McGee

Timothy McGee

Timothy "Tim" McGee is a fictional special agent from the NCIS television series by CBS, portrayed by Sean Murray .Special Agent Timothy McGee, or "Probie", as he is commonly referred to by Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, is part of Special Agent Gibbs' investigative team....
(Sean Murray) and Mossad

Mossad

The Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel. "Mossad" is the Hebrew word for institute or institution. Membership in the Mossad is very prestigious in Israeli society, and the organization is considered to rank among the most effective intelligence agencies in the world....
Liaison Officer Ziva David

Ziva David

Ziva David is a fictional character in the television series NCIS and is played by Chile actress Cote de Pablo. The character was introduced to the series in the Kill Ari....
(Cote de Pablo

Cote de Pablo

Cote de Pablo, born Mar?a Jos? de Pablo Fern?ndez on 12 November, 1979 is a Chilean-United States actress, and recording artist. De Pablo has distinguished herself as celebrity who has been nomination for the ALMA Award, landing a permanent role on the highly popular television role, NCIS....
). The team is assisted in their investigations by Chief Medical Examiner

Coroner

A coroner or forensics examiner is an official responsible for investigating deaths, particularly some of those happening under unusual circumstances, and determining the cause of death....
Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum

David McCallum

David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish people actor and the son of concertmaster violinist David McCallum, Sr.. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, on the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Ducky Mallard on the series NCIS ....
), Forensic Specialist Abby Sciuto

Abby Sciuto

Abigail "Abby" Sciuto is a fictional Forensic science in the NCIS television series by CBS. Abby is portrayed by Pauley Perrette....
(Pauley Perrette

Pauley Perrette

Pauley Perrette is an United States of America Actor, best known for playing Abby Sciuto on NCIS ....
) and Assistant Medical Examiner Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen

Brian Dietzen

Brian Dietzen is an American actor who currently plays the supporting role of Jimmy Palmer on NCIS ....
).

NCIS is currently headed by Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll

Rocky Carroll

Rocky Carroll is an United States actor....
). Thomas Morrow was the first director seen in the series, but was promoted to Deputy Director of DHS. Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly

Lauren Holly

Lauren Holly is an United States actor. She is known for her role as Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the TV series Picket Fences, as Mary Swanson in the 1994 film Dumb & Dumber, and her relationship with Canadian actor Jim Carrey....
) was made director of NCIS after Morrow, but during the fifth season she was killed in a shootout.

Main cast

Name	Portrayed by	Occupation	Character Status
Leroy Jethro Gibbs Leroy Jethro Gibbs Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional chief investigator from the NCIS television series by CBS, played by Mark Harmon....	Mark Harmon Mark Harmon Mark Harmon is an United States actor who has been starring in U.S. television programs and films since the mid-1970s. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS ....	Special Agent In Charge Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... // Major Case Response Team Supervisor, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Regular (2003–Present)
Anthony DiNozzo Anthony DiNozzo Anthony "Tony" D. DiNozzo is a fictional senior agent on the television series NCIS on CBS. He is portrayed by actor Michael Weatherly....	Michael Weatherly Michael Weatherly Michael Manning Weatherly, Jr. is an United States actor, best known for his role as Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo on the CBS show NCIS....	Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... // Major Case Response Team Senior Field Agent, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Reassigned as an Agent Afloat in Season 5 ("Judgment Day") Transferred back to the Major Case Response Team in Season 6 ("Agent Afloat")	Regular (2003–Present)
Timothy McGee Timothy McGee Timothy "Tim" McGee is a fictional special agent from the NCIS television series by CBS, portrayed by Sean Murray .Special Agent Timothy McGee, or "Probie", as he is commonly referred to by Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, is part of Special Agent Gibbs' investigative team....	Sean Murray	Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... // Major Case Response Team Junior Field Agent, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Transferred to Cybercrimes Division in Season 5 ("Judgment Day") Transferred back to the Major Case Response Team in Season 6 ("Last Man Standing")	Regular (2004–Present)
Ziva David Ziva David Ziva David is a fictional character in the television series NCIS and is played by Chile actress Cote de Pablo. The character was introduced to the series in the Kill Ari....	Cote de Pablo Cote de Pablo Cote de Pablo, born Mar?a Jos? de Pablo Fern?ndez on 12 November, 1979 is a Chilean-United States actress, and recording artist. De Pablo has distinguished herself as celebrity who has been nomination for the ALMA Award, landing a permanent role on the highly popular television role, NCIS....	Mossad Mossad The Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel. "Mossad" is the Hebrew word for institute or institution. Membership in the Mossad is very prestigious in Israeli society, and the organization is considered to rank among the most effective intelligence agencies in the world.... Liaison Officer, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Liaison position was terminated in Season 5 ("Judgment Day") Liaison position reinstated Season 6 ("Last Man Standing")	Regular (2005–Present)
Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard	David McCallum David McCallum David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish people actor and the son of concertmaster violinist David McCallum, Sr.. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, on the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Ducky Mallard on the series NCIS ....	Chief Medical Examiner and Forensic Expert, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Regular (2003–Present)
Abby Sciuto Abby Sciuto Abigail "Abby" Sciuto is a fictional Forensic science in the NCIS television series by CBS. Abby is portrayed by Pauley Perrette....	Pauley Perrette Pauley Perrette Pauley Perrette is an United States of America Actor, best known for playing Abby Sciuto on NCIS ....	Forensic and Evidence Specialist, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Regular (2003–Present)
Leon Vance	Rocky Carroll Rocky Carroll Rocky Carroll is an United States actor....	Director, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... former Assistant Director, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Regular (2008–Present)
Jimmy Palmer Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Brian Dietzen Brian Dietzen Brian Dietzen is an American actor who currently plays the supporting role of Jimmy Palmer on NCIS ....	Assistant Medical Examiner, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Recurring (2004–Present), "Also Starring" Credit (2009–)
Tobias Fornell Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Joe Spano Joe Spano Joseph Peter Spano is an United States actor who was formerly perhaps best known for his Emmy Award nominated role as Lt. Henry Goldblume on Hill Street Blues but who is now recognized for his work in NCIS ....	Senior Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... , FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the primary unit in the United States United States Department of Justice, serving as both a Law enforcement agency body and a domestic intelligence agency....	Recurring (2003–Present)
Mike Franks Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Muse Watson Muse Watson Muse Watson is an Theater in the United States.Watson was born in Alexandria, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana Tech on a music stipend for two years before transferring to Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, where he performed for the first time on stage as Petruchio in a production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew....	Retired Supervisory Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... , NIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... ; Mentor to L. Jethro Gibbs	Recurring (2005–Present)
Cassie Yates Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Tamara Taylor Tamara Taylor Tamara Taylor is a Canadian television actress.Born in Toronto to a black Canadian father and a white Canadian mother, she is currently appearing as Bones #Dr....	NCIS Special Agent, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Recurring (2005-present)
Michelle Lee	Liza Lapira Liza Lapira Liza Lapira is an American actor who plays Kianna in the 2008 film 21 , based on the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team. She also appeared in J....	Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... // Lawyer, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Killed in Season 6 ("Dagger") by Gibbs in order to kill a suspect	Former recurring (2006–2008)
Jenny Shepard	Lauren Holly Lauren Holly Lauren Holly is an United States actor. She is known for her role as Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the TV series Picket Fences, as Mary Swanson in the 1994 film Dumb & Dumber, and her relationship with Canadian actor Jim Carrey....	Former Director, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Killed during a gun fight. Season 5 ("Judgment Day")	Former regular (2005–2008)
Caitlin "Kate" Todd Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Sasha Alexander Sasha Alexander Sasha Alexander is an United States actress. She is best known for her role as Caitlin Todd in the CBS television drama NCIS , Melissa in Mission: Impossible III, and Catherine in He's Just Not That Into You ....	Special Agent Special agent *Special agent* is usually the title for a detective or investigator for either the United States United States Government or a state, county, municipal, or tribal government.... , NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Killed by Ari Haswari in Season 2 ("Twilight")	Former regular (2003–2005)
Dr. Jeanne Benoit Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Scottie Thompson Scottie Thompson Scottie Thompson is an United States film, television and Stage actress....	Doctor, Monroe University Hospital	Former recurring (2006–2008)
Paula Cassidy Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Jessica Steen Jessica Steen Jessica Steen is a Canadian Film and television actress, noted for her roles in Homefront , Earth 2 , Armageddon , NCIS , and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....	NCIS Special Agent, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Killed in Season 4 ("Grace Period") by a suicide bomber	Former recurring (2003–2007)
Hollis Mann Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Susanna Thompson Susanna Thompson Susanna Thompson is an United States television and film actress. She is skilled in Aikido and stage combat.Thompson received a Dramatic Award for her role as Luisa in A Shayna Maidel....	Lt. Colonel Lieutenant Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, lieutenant colonel is a field officer United States Military Officer military rank just above the rank of Major and just below the rank of Colonel .... , U.S. Army United States Army The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S.... , CID retired	Former recurring (2006–2007)
Thomas Morrow Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Alan Dale Alan Dale Alan Hugh Dale is a New Zealand actor. As a child Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a Rugby union player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27....	Former Director, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service .... Deputy Director, DHS	Former recurring (2003–2005)
Gerald Jackson Characters of NCIS This is an overview of the regular and recurring characters of the TV series *NCIS* ....	Pancho Demmings Pancho Demmings Pancho Demmings is an actor.His television roles include NCIS , CSI: NY, 24 , Bones , and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air...	Former Assistant Medical Examiner, NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the United States Marine and Navy's primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency and successor to the former Naval Investigative Service ....	Former recurring (2003–2005)

Production

Name

Prior to the launch of the first season, advertisements on CBS identified the show as "Naval CIS." By the time of the launch of the first episode, NCIS was airing under the name Navy NCIS, the name it held for the entire first season. Since the "N" in NCIS stands for "Naval,” the name Navy NCIS was technically redundant (an example of RAS syndrome

RAS syndrome

RAS syndrome stands for Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome and refers to the redundant use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym or initialism with the abbreviation itself, thus in effect repeating one or more words....
). The decision to use this name was reportedly made by CBS, over the objections of Bellisario, in order to:

Attract new viewers (particularly those of JAG), who might not know the NCIS abbreviation.
Disambiguate between NCIS and the similarly-themed and similarly-spelled CBS series CSI and its spinoffs. (The original title, for instance, was often misquoted as Navy CSI.”)

After its successful first season, the name of the series was shortened to NCIS.

Filming location

NCIS is set in Washington DC area but is filmed in Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. The California Department of Finance estimated the city population as of January 1, 2008 at 177,045....
.

The sound stages are in Santa Clarita, California
The series is shot throughout southern California

Crew changes

It was reported in May 2007 that Donald Bellisario would be stepping down from the show. It turns out, due to a disagreement with series star Harmon, that Bellisario's duties as show runner

Show runner

Show runner , is a term used in the television in the United States industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television series, in other words, the person who "runs" the show....
/Head Writer

Head writer

A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an executive producer....
would be taken over by longtime show collaborators, including co-executive producer Chas. Floyd Johnson and Shane Brennan, with Bellisario retaining his title as Executive Producer

Executive producer

Episodes

Five seasons of NCIS have been aired, with a sixth season which started September 23, 2008. A total of 130 episodes have aired as of 25 February 2009.

Ratings

American Ratings

Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of NCIS.

Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps.

Season	Timeslot	Season premiere	Season finale	TV season	Ranking	Viewers (in millions)
1st	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 23, 2003	May 25, 2004	2003–2004	#26	11.84
2nd	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 28, 2004	May 24, 2005	2004–2005	#22	13.63
3rd	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 20, 2005	May 16, 2006	2005–2006	#16	15.3
4th	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 19, 2006	May 22, 2007	2006–2007	#18	14.5
5th	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 25, 2007	May 20, 2008	2007–2008	#10	15.65
6th	Tuesday 8:00PM	September 23, 2008	TBA	2008–2009	#5	18.3

°Times listed are in ET

NCIS has become a top 10 program in its fifth season, averaging 15.65 million viewers, despite a WGA strike. Notably, the show is one of the few that has actually increased in viewership as it progresses, as opposed to most shows, which decrease in popularity as they fade, and has even been able to finish a strong second to Fox's

Fox Broadcasting Company

The Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox and stylized as FOX, is an United States television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation....
American Idol
American Idol

American Idol is an Television in the United States Singing airing on Fox network. It debuted on June 11, 2002, and has since become one of the most popular shows on American television....
, a time slot seen by many as a "death slot" for most series.

NCIS delivered its largest audience ever to date, in the sixth season episode "Silent Night", soaring to 19.86 million viewers. It won its time slot in households (12.0), viewers (19.94m), adults 25-54 (5.8) and second in adults 18-49 (4.0; behind NBC's season finale

Season finale

A season finale is the final episode of a Television program#Seasons/Series of a television program. This is often the final episode to be produced for a few months or longer, and, as such, will try to attract viewers to continue watching when the series begins again....
of The Biggest Loser). NCIS posted its best ever delivery in households and viewers, best adults 25-54 performance since October 16, 2007 and matched season high adults 18-49 delivery.

Its second highest rated episode (Jan. 2009): households (11.6), viewers (19.10m), adults 25-54 (5.6) and second in adults 18-49 (3.8).

Other Ratings

DVR Ratings:

The show ranked number four in DVR
Digital video recorder

A digital video recorder or personal video recorder is a device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive or other memory medium within a device....
playback (2.714 million viewers), according to Nielsen prime DVR lift data
Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is an United States company that Measurement Mass media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers....
from January 5-11, 2009.
The show ranked number thirteen in DVR
Digital video recorder

A digital video recorder or personal video recorder is a device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive or other memory medium within a device....
playback (2.743 million viewers), according to Nielsen prime DVR lift data
Nielsen Media Research

Nielsen Media Research is an United States company that Measurement Mass media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers....
from February 9-15, 2009.

Cable Ratings:

The show ranked number eighteen (4.793 million viewers) in the list of Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen Ratings

Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement developed by the AC Nielsen Company, to determine the audience size and composition of broadcast programming....
top twenty most-watched cable shows for the week ending January 25, 2009.
The show ranked number ten (4.535 million viewers), twelve (4.264 million viewers), thirteen (4.221 million viewers), fifteen (4,161 million viewers), seventeen (4.132 million viewers), and twenty (4.081 million viewers) in the list of Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen Ratings

Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement developed by the AC Nielsen Company, to determine the audience size and composition of broadcast programming....
top twenty most-watched cable shows for the week ending March 1, 2009.

Non U.S. Ratings

U.K.

Figures for the UK are unreliable as they are one season behind the US as well as being split between cable and terrestrial TV. Repeats are spread over many channels.

The Channel Five latest series five episodes average around 2.4 million per new episode

Season 5 episode 1 January 9 2009 2.62 million
Season 5 episode 2 January 16 2009 2.76 million
Season 5 episode 3 January 23 2009 2.41 million
Season 5 episode 4 January 30 2009 2.44 million
Season 5 episode 5 February 6 2009 2.73 million
Season 5 episode 6 February 13 2009 2.31 million
Season 5 episode 7 February 20 2009 2.45 million

DVD releases

All five seasons of NCIS have been released as full-season boxed sets in Region One DVD format. Seasons One to Four have also been released on Region Two and Region Four DVD format for sale in the United Kingdom and Australia. Note also that the first season DVD release omits the two-part introductory episode that aired as part of the eighth season of JAG.

DVD Name	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Season 1	June 6, 2006	July 24, 2006	August 10, 2006
Season 2	November 14, 2006	October 16, 2006	October 12, 2006
Season 3	April 24, 2007	June 25, 2007	March 15, 2007
Season 4	October 23, 2007	May 19, 2008	July 10, 2008
Season 5	August 26, 2008	2009	May 7, 2009

Soundtrack

CBS Records

CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 in music to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties distributed by CBS Paramount Television....
, announced in December 2008 that the release of the show's first soundtrack

NCIS (Soundtrack)

NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack is the first soundtrack album from the television series NCIS . The album is a two-disc, 22-track set that includes brand new songs from artists featured prominently in upcoming episodes of the series....
website, The Official TV Soundtrack will be a two-disc set that includes brand new songs from top artists featured prominently in upcoming episodes of the series as well as the show’s original theme by Numeriklab (available commercially for the first time) and a remix of the theme by Ministry

Ministry (band)

Ministry was an United States industrial metal band founded by frontman Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s....
. The soundtrack website has run website contests as well as playing previews of the soundtrack CD's.

Spin-off

CBS is currently developing an NCIS spin-off

Spin-off

A spin-off is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one, such as a television series based on a pre-existing one, or a new company formed from a university research group or business incubator....
series that will be entitled NCIS: Legend
NCIS: Legend

NCIS: Legend is the name of a spin-off of the CBS television series, NCIS . Filming is scheduled to start in February 2009, with the characters being introduced in a two-part NCIS episode this year....
. Filming is scheduled to start in February 2009, with the characters introduced in a two-part NCIS episode this year. The characters listed were: Callen, Clara Macy, Nate "Doc" Getz, Kensi Lo, Sam Hanna, and Dominic Vaile. Crew members will include Michael B. Kaplan, Lev L. Spiro

Lev L. Spiro

Lev L. Spiro is a Jewish American Television director. He has worked on shows including The O.C., Dawson's Creek, Ugly Betty, Gilmore Girls and Weeds , and also Film director the film Minutemen ....
, Jerry London

Jerry London

Jerry London is an United States television director and Television producer....
, Sheldon Epps and Mark Saraceni.

Chris O'Donnell

Chris O'Donnell

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell is a Golden Globe-nominated United States actor, perhaps best known for playing Robin in the Batman films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin , Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman, Finn Dandridge in Grey's Anatomy, and more recently, Jack McAuliffe in The Company ....
will be playing the lead character, Callen, an enigmatic lead agent whose natural talent for undercover work is legend. LL Cool J

LL Cool J

James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. LL Cool J stands for "Ladies love Cool James." He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "Headsprung", "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Mama Said Knock You O...
, will be playing the role of Special Agent Sam Hanna, an ex-Navy SEAL

United States Navy SEALs

The United States Navy Sea, Air and Land Forces, commonly known as the Navy SEALs, are the United States Special Operations Forces of the United States Navy, employed in Direct action and special reconnaissance operations....
, who works in the undercover unit of NCIS in Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los ?ngeles is the Capital of the Biob?o Province, in the municipality of the same name, in Regions of Chile VIII , in the center-south of Chile....
, and is also fluent in Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a Central Semitic language, thus related to and classified alongside other Semitic languages languages such as Hebrew language and Aramaic language....
and an expert on Middle East

Middle East

File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
ern culture."

Louise Lombard

Louise Lombard

Louise Lombard is an English people actor....
, Peter Cambor

Peter Cambor

Peter Cambor is an American film and television actor. Since 2006, he has appeared on the sitcom Notes from the Underbelly , although the premiere of the show was delayed until April 2007....
, and Daniela Ruah were confirmed to be cast as leads of the new spin-off. Playing the female lead (called "Clara"), a psychologist (called "Nate") and forensic investigator (called "Kensi") respectively, they will appear on-screen for the first time in an episode of NCIS that airs in the spring, followed by a pilot of the new series.

External links

at CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
at