Fans were shocked last week to learn that CBS had canceled “NCIS: Hawai’i,” the newest addition to the “NCIS” franchise, after just three seasons. During a press briefing in Los Angeles, CBS executives cited cost, ratings, and overall network schedule cohesion as the primary reasons for the decision.
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach explained, “We must keep the schedule fresh and maintain momentum. We had to make some really tough choices this year. Despite a strong return from the Hollywood strikes, we had to consider financials and overall performance.”
When asked if there was any chance of reversing the cancellation, similar to what happened with “S.W.A.T.,” Reisenbach said no. “NCIS: Hawai’i” debuted its third season to a robust 5.6 million viewers on February 12. Although subsequent episodes stayed above 5 million viewers, except for Episodes 6 and 7, which drew 4.8 million and 4.98 million viewers respectively, the high production costs of filming in Hawai’i proved too burdensome.
CBS President and CEO George Cheeks highlighted financial constraints, noting that while some CBS series like “S.E.A.L. Team” and “Evil” found new life on Paramount+, there are limited slots available. “Budgets are challenged, so we don’t have an unlimited amount of slots on Paramount+,” he said. “It’s something that we’re always open to, but it’s never a guarantee.”
“NCIS: Hawai’i” aired on Mondays at 10 p.m., following the flagship “NCIS” series, which has been renewed for its 22nd season. The “Hawai’i” slot will now be filled by “NCIS: Origins,” a prequel series starring Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, originally played by Mark Harmon.
“NCIS: Hawai’i” featured Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, the first female special agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, leading her team in high-stakes investigations involving military personnel, national security, and the island’s mysteries. The cast included Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Jason Antoon, Tori Anderson, and Kian Talan. Executive producers were Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, Christopher Silber, and Larry Teng, with CBS Studios producing the series.
