After 18 seasons and 400+ episodes of playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mark Harmon was rumored to be leaving NCIS. However, because the 69-year-old actor decided to return for another season, CBS renewed the procedural for season 19. Is it possible he’ll also appear in NCIS: Hawai’i, the franchise’s most recent spin-off?
If Mark Harmon chose to leave ‘NCIS,’ CBS was prepared to cancel the show.
After CBS announced that NCIS had been officially renewed for season 19, insiders claimed that Harmon was the one who saved the show from cancellation. When the actor told the network he was ready to go, they gave him an unexpected response, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
CBS appears to have made it clear that if Harmon left, they were willing to cancel their number-one drama. Harmon was forced to negotiate his return for season 19 as a result of the ultimatum. However, we do not yet know how many episodes he will appear in.
With the original ‘NCIS,’ the network takes things “year by year.”
According to CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl, the network is unsure how many episodes Harmon will appear in at this time. It’s possible he’ll cut back to part-time work like his original co-star David McCallum (Dr. Ducky Mallard).
“With Mark, we take it year by year, and we’d love to have him for as long as he wants to be here,” Kahl told Deadline. “Even this season, he may have been light in a couple of [episodes], so we’re glad to work around his schedule.”
Will Mark Harmon make a cameo in the new spinoff?
CBS announced earlier this year that the latest NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Hawai’i, would premiere on the network this fall. Vanessa Lachey will play Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant in the series. Because CBS already has a production facility in the Hawaiian Islands, some fans anticipate a crossover with the network’s other Hawaii-based drama, Magnum P.I.
But could fans see a crossover with the flagship series and get an appearance from Harmon on NCIS: Hawai’i? That remains to be seen, as the network has yet to reveal any details about storylines for the spin-off’s debut season.
After the expl0sive season 18 finale, fans have a lot of questions.
Agent Bishop was fired in the season finale of NCIS (Emily Wickersham). In the season finale episodes, fans also met Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law). As a result, many believe she will take Bishop’s place on the team.
Gibbs also appeared to be riding off into the sunset until his boat expl0ded in the episode’s final moments. He did survive the expl0sion, but fans have no idea who was responsible for the att4ck.
Before the expl0sive ending, Gibbs had been suspended “indefinitely” from NCIS. He was working with investigative journalist Marcie Warren (Pam Dawber) on a serial k1ll3r case. All of these plot threads have fans asking a lot of questions about what’s coming next.
In Season 19, ‘NCIS’ and Mark Harmon are making a big change.
While there are still many unknowns about what will happen in Season 19, CBS has confirmed one thing. Because of a network rebranding, NCIS will undergo significant changes this fall. The procedural will leave its Tuesday night time slot, which it has held since 2003, to make way for an FBI-focused night.
This fall, NCIS will air on Monday nights, followed by NCIS: Hawai’i. The other spinoff, NCIS: Los Angeles, will continue to air on Sunday nights. CBS canceled NCIS: New Orleans earlier this year after seven seasons, so it will not be part of the fall schedule.
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