NCIS’ Unbroken 21-Year Casting Record Is The Key To Its Success Despite Multiple Character Exits

NCIS has upheld an impressive casting record, a testament to the series’ unwavering commitment to its characters even through multiple character exits. With 21 years on television and the upcoming NCIS season 22 premiering in October, NCIS stands as one of the longest-running scripted series, a feat attributed to its dedication to character integrity. The franchise has honed various strategies to navigate significant casting fluctuations, all rooted in a steadfast rule protecting character continuity.

NCIS is a series built on rules and values. Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs, famously lived by a set of rules, a legacy from his wife, Shannon. The young Shannon Gibbs character revealed her own code in a flashback in “Heartland,” which is one of the best episodes of NCIS. The series’ success calls to mind Gibbs’ Rule #34: There is no such thing as a coincidence. The series’ longevity on CBS can be traced back to the meticulous maintenance of one rule: never recast a character.