‘NCIS’ season 11 official; CBS renews show thanks to new Mark Harmon contract

One of the longest-running shows on TV is now going to live on a little while longer. While there was little doubt that “NCIS” would be returning for another season given the recent surges in total viewership (and some great acclaim for some Ziva-centered episodes), CBS has confirmed that there will be a season 11 premiering in the fall.

The only reason that the network waited this long to make an announcement was so they could work out a deal with star Mark Harmon, who has been a part of the show ever since he appeared back in two episodes of “JAG,” the show in which this crew first appeared on during a two-part backdoor pilot. It’s unclear just how long Harmon’s new contract is for, but given the classy nature in which he has handled all negotiations thus far (which include never bringing any discussions to the press), we have no reason to believe that he is interested in leaving anytime soon.

In a statement, CBS head Les Moonves had the following to say in praise of Harmon (which also still never forgetting about his role as a businessman):

“In a world gone niche, NCIS keeps getting bigger, and Mark Harmon continues to define the role of leading man on the No. 1 show on television … NCIS is the type of franchise every company wants in today’s global content ecosystem — high-quality storytelling that generates passionate viewers and drives revenue on every conceivable platform.”

The network is currently in negotiations with Cote de Pablo on also extending her contract for another year; meanwhile, most of the other series regulars are already locked in for season 11.

Are you thrilled by this news? If you want to read some more on the show’s frequent dominance in the ratings, you can do so over at the link here.

Photo: CBS