Will NCIS make it to 400 episodes? There’s a very good chance…
Tuesday night’s new episode of the CBS series, entitled “Voices,” is the whopping 338th episode of the show. There aren’t many scripted dramas out there with more — you’d have to look at Law & Order: SVU as one, given that this show recently aired its 416th episode.
Will NCIS find a way to be able to cross that 400-episode threshold as well? It’s hard to think about, mostly because the idea of any show making it so far into a run is almost inconceivable at this point. Yet, with this series CarterMatt does think there is a pretty good chance we could see it happen for a few different reasons.
1. The ratings are still good – Are they what they once were? No, but this remains the most-watched drama series on television — and the most-watched television series in the entire world. When you consider that, it’s hard to imagine CBS deciding to end the show any time soon.
2. Some of the original cast is still there – While Pauley Perrette may be leaving the show at the end of the season, this is a show that does still have many of its longtime cast members around including Mark Harmon, David McCallum, Brian Dietzen, and Sean Murray. While not all of them were regulars from the get-go they have all been part of the show for well over a decade and there’s a certainly familiarity that viewers have with them. After a long day of work there’s something comforting about being able to go home and see some of these familiar faces.
3. There are plenty more stories to tell – The world is always changing, and with that of course comes a wide array of different cases that the NCIS team could take on. The military is as important in America as it was back when the show first premiered — there isn’t any shortage of stories to tell as a result of that.
When would a 400th episode arrive?
If the show continues to air seasons of 24 episodes or more, there is a good chance that you’ll get a chance to celebrate a milestone 400th episode of NCIS at the end of season 17 — that’s only two more renewals! That’s probably not as far in the future as some would think and we do believe that it’s absolutely possible.
In looking at the show’s future beyond this milestone we do think that it will last however long the cast and crew wants to make it happen. Beyond Perrette, there hasn’t been much in the way of legitimate stories involving around other cast members leaving.
Do you think NCIS will make it to 400 episodes?
Share in the comments below! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the story here to see more of what is coming up on NCIS this season.
Also, like us on Facebook to get even more insight regarding both NCIS and many other shows we cover at CarterMatt right now. (Photo: CBS.)
Janet Furcello
November 13, 2017 @ 2:33 pm
I am quite optimistic that NCIS will go to at least Season 16–TPTB seem to be focused on looking forward–and,as Mark Harmon stated in his TV Guide interview “there is still a real feeling of creativity and sense of invention on our set.”As for reaching 400 episodes-which would mean Season 17–I’m a skeptical romantic–would love to see it happen but too early to call and even if it did not–NCIS can be justly proud of it’s amazing success.To go that long-or longer–I’m thinking gradual shifting of cast and the characters’ evolution of their roles ala the Law&Order model. AS for ratings/viewers–so many people (especially “anti-fans” of shows) are either not aware of,or deliberately refuse to recognize the “Gunsmoke Rule”–Across the board broadcast scripted shows are posting lower actual numbers in both ratings/viewers because the Nielsens are based on Live+overnights–and every year a higher number of viewers are delay/binge/alternative watching–That time frame and the 18-49 focus is NOT by the networks’ call-it’s the Advertisers’ call.To give by example other shows–4 years ago-Big Bang Theory was #1 in ratings with 5.25–last year it was #1 with a 3.11-and was the ONLY show to break 3,’s—This year it is already posting lower at 3.04-Every other show is lower than 3,0.Empire toppled BBT #1 spot 3 years ago with a 4.42-last year down to 2.78-already lower at 1.98.NCIS is STILL CBS’s #1 highest ratings/viewer Drama This June it won the Golden Nymph Award for TopTV International Audience–All the LEGIT ratings tracking sites consider the show to be one of the safest stable shows out there.
Amber Langteau
November 13, 2017 @ 12:44 pm
As long as Mark wants to keep working and making the show then the show will keep on trucking.I think people forget that this show has made CBS over a billion dollars according to CBS executives years ago….People might not watch live (ratings have been hit hard) but people are watching 3 day and 7 day ratings prove it……I think at the end of the day this show proves the point that it should be viewers counting not a demo cuz at the end of the day which show do you think will reach more people. The show that’s only pulling 8-10 million viewers or the one that’s pulling 13-18m viewers every week. I wish the rating world would move past the advertisers so called demos cause to be honest the more people you reach watching a show will show when word of mouth of product gets out. I also find it funny that demo’s are being measure still even after recent research that the demo’s they are hoping to reach to go out and buy is actually not spending according the recent research alot more are saving then spending. Plus at the end of the day who is really buying the car being advertising in the commericals…It’s not the younger generation most of the time it’s the older generation….I think ratings need to be reevaluated…