How NCIS’ “Judgement Day” Made Shane Brennan Realize the Show Was Set for a Long Run
Getting a TV show to survive beyond its first season is a monumental challenge, and running for over 20 years is rare. But NCIS has done just that, and its executive producer Shane Brennan revealed that one pivotal moment made him confident the show was in it for the long haul.
In a recent interview on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, Brennan shared that the turning point came during the dramatic Season 5 finale, “Judgement Day”. This episode, which aired in May 2008, caused a massive stir among fans after the shocking death of NCIS Director Jenny Shepard and the abrupt reshuffling of the team. Fans were furious—over 50,000 comments flooded the online forums expressing their anger at the sudden changes, including the firing of characters like Ziva and Tony.
Brennan recalled receiving frantic calls from CBS publicity while flying back to Australia, with fans in an uproar about the episode’s cliffhanger. Despite the backlash, Brennan realized that the intense fan engagement meant NCIS had created something special. “They were so engaged, even if it was, ‘We hate you, what are you doing to our show?’” he said. “I knew at that point the show was going to be safe. People were so involved, they had to come back and see what happened next.”
Sure enough, fan reactions skyrocketed, and the following season saw the return of the beloved team. Brennan, who had already been splitting his time between NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, knew the show was in good shape. While he didn’t anticipate the show would last 22 seasons, he felt confident it would continue for at least another decade.
NCIS has since far outlasted that prediction, and Brennan’s legacy continues in the NCIS franchise. He remains involved as the creator of NCIS: Sydney, which returns for its second season in January 2025. He also has a hand in the upcoming spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will stream exclusively on Paramount+.
