It depended on the wire, but NCIS: Hawaii ultimately didn’t make it to the next season on CBS. The news comes days before the network is set to announce its fall schedule on May 2 and ahead of the season three finale Hawaii The broadcast is scheduled for May 6th. According to sources, the episode wasn’t intended to be a series finale and contains a teaser of what was to come, but fans won’t be thrown off by a major cliffhanger.
The cancellation isn’t a complete shock since, as Deadline reported, NCIS: Hawaii was on the bladder. Still, the result is surprising, as I’ve heard that there was an attempt to extend the drama’s run at least for a shortened fourth and final season, with producers agreeing to a massive budget cut and making other concessions to keep the show going.
Hawaiithe first series in the NCIS Franchise with a female lead, Vanessa Lachey, is now the first series in the franchise that, compared to its predecessors, did not receive a proper farewell after a short time NCISrenewed for a 22nd season, NCIS: Los Angeles (14 seasons) and NCIS: New Orleans (7). It’s unclear whether series producer CBS Studios would buy the drama, but there are no obvious buyers as Paramount+ already has two of them NCIS original series, Sydney and the Tony and Ziva spin-off.
Attracting a significant viewership on a linear network is quite a challenge, so it’s not common these days for a network to pass up the No. 12 most-watched non-sports program on broadcast, which averages 7.8 million linear viewers (most recent) and Live+35 multiplatform viewing has 10 million viewers.
That’s exactly what CBS is doing by canceling NCIS: Hawaiiwhich added some star power and NCIS Continuity this season NCIS: Los Angeles‘ LL Cool J, who was in every episode.
It follows the Top 25 series So help me, Todd And CSI: Vegas I got the ax last Friday. As I noted in the CBS Renewal Status Report earlier this month, the network has had to make some painful cancellation decisions and get rid of shows that other networks would have happily renewed.
The series, as well So help me Todd and CSI: Vegasultimately fell victim to a strict schedule, cost management and general uncertainty at parent company Paramount Global, which is in the process of being sold.
Even before CBS’ lineup began the Super Bowl, delayed by the strikes, the network had already confirmed five new scripted series, dramas, for next season Matlock, Watson And NCIS: Origins and comedies Poppa’s house and a Young Sheldon Spin-off, with renewal discussions NCIS: Sydney also traveling well.
Then CBS’ original shows returned and exceeded expectations. The network ranked in the top 16 most-watched shows in its premiere week this midseason and 14 of the top 20 non-sports shows overall in Nielsen’s most recent linear viewership.
Without obvious weaklings, Blue blood get one last run next season and Clap Since the show was surprisingly not canceled, the network had to make major cuts to make room for the additions.
Only a year ago there was a renewal for Hawaii would have been a given: It’s part of a storied franchise with solid ratings and crossover potential with the Mothership series, which scored high ratings in January 2023. But now CBS already has three more NCIS Series already locked for next season: the original series, renewed for season 22, Sydneywhich returns for a second season, and the upcoming Young Gibbs prequel NCIS: Origins. There’s also Tony & Ziva NCIS Spinoff series greenlit by Paramount+, making for a crowded series NCIS Field.
With strong multi-platform performance, such as NCIS: Hawaii Ranked above several CBS dramas that were renewed, including FBI: Most Wanted, FBI: International And Clapit probably came down to money.
Despite the proposed budget cuts NCIS: Hawaii would still be expensive. The long-term prospects were unclear – whether it would become a huge global hit and moneymaker like its franchise predecessors. Since CBS’s parent company was focused on its short-term balance sheet when preparing for the sale, the corporate decision was made not to take a chance and find out.
In NCIS: HawaiiJane Tennant (Lachey), the special agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, and her team balance their duties to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security, and the secrets of the island itself.
Also starring are Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Jason Antoon, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Tori Anderson and Kian Talan. Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, Christopher Silber and Larry Teng served as executive producers.
In a recent Deadline interview, CBS Studios President David Stapf talked about how “completely unique” Hawaii is also the first part of the franchise NCIS Series with a female lead, Lachey, and set in Hawaii. “We just got out Hawaii Five-0, a very successful show,” he said of the spinoff’s origins. “People love this setting, it’s doing well all over the world.”