The NCIS franchise owes a lot to the success of its first spinoff, NCIS: Los Angeles, which helped launch the franchise into the powerhouse it is today. But what’s surprising is how the idea for the show came about—completely by chance! Shane Brennan, creator of NCIS: Los Angeles, revealed the spontaneous origins during a chat with Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo on their podcast, Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch.
While pitching a completely different show, Brennan found himself watching an episode of NCIS. That’s when CBS president David Stapf asked if they could do a spinoff, and Brennan—without any plans in mind—blurted out, “Yeah, I’ve got a spinoff.” When asked to elaborate, Brennan admitted he didn’t have a full idea yet. However, after some convincing, he pitched the show the next day, inspired by the word “undercover,” which sparked Nina Tassler’s interest. That idea quickly transformed into NCIS: Los Angeles.
The two-part pilot aired in 2009, introducing iconic characters like G. Callen (Chris O’Donnell), Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), and Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah). After 14 successful seasons, the show wrapped up in 2023, though LL Cool J and Ruah briefly reprised their roles in other NCIS spinoffs. Thanks to that impromptu moment, the NCIS franchise expanded into multiple series, including the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+.
So, if Brennan hadn’t played along with Stapf’s surprise suggestion, who knows when or if NCIS: Los Angeles would have happened—and the franchise might have looked very different today!
