CBS Shuffles Lineup: NCIS: Sydney to Replace Blue Bloods After 15-Year Run
After a decade and a half anchoring CBS’s primetime Friday slot, Blue Bloods is concluding its run. With the iconic procedural bidding farewell, CBS has swiftly announced its replacement: NCIS: Sydney. The international spinoff, now entering its second season, will step into the coveted time slot previously held by the Reagans, as confirmed by TV Insider’s Matt Roush.
Contrary to aligning all NCIS shows on a single night, CBS prefers to diversify its lineup to maximize the appeal of its bankable franchise. NCIS: Sydney’s move to Friday underscores CBS’s confidence in the spinoff, originally aired on Paramount Plus Australia before expanding its reach due to Hollywood strikes.
The shift marks a significant promotion for NCIS: Sydney within CBS’s programming, highlighting the network’s continued investment in the NCIS brand post the unexpected cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i. As NCIS continues to expand with more spinoffs on the horizon, the positioning of Sydney as the network’s second most relevant NCIS iteration after the original series will be closely watched.
The decision comes amid disappointment from the cast of NCIS: Hawai’i, including former NCIS: Los Angeles star LL Cool J, over the abrupt end of their storyline plans for season 3. With NCIS: Sydney set to occupy a prominent spot in CBS’s schedule, its ability to maintain this status amidst future spinoffs remains a point of intrigue.