NCIS Officially Reaches a Series High Thanks to a Major Formula Change in Season 24
Tony returns to the Navy Yard
Michael Weatherly returned to NCIS in Season 24 after his Paramount+ spin-off, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, was cancelled at the end of last year. His role extends beyond a guest appearance or a season-long storyline.
Tony has taken the vacant director’s position at the Washington Navy Yard. The role opened after Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, died in the show’s 500th episode, putting Gibbs’ former protégé in charge.
The article describes Tony’s appointment as a change that has brought fresh energy to the procedural. His return is part of a wider period of activity across the franchise.
Spin-offs build franchise momentum
The 2026–27 season has brought changes to the wider NCIS universe. LL COOL J leads the new spin-off NCIS: New York, alongside Scott Caan and a new team, following the cancellation of NCIS: Los Angeles.
NCIS: Origins is also continuing into Season 3, with Mark Harmon appearing on camera in a storyline about Gibbs’ past. The season reunites him with former teammates Tony DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly, and Ellie Bishop, played by Emily Wickersham.
Premiere audience sets a high
The Season 24 premiere drew 6.45 million viewers in October, making it the most-watched broadcast program that night. It also reached an audience level the flagship had not seen since the Season 21 finale in 2024.
The premiere audience was 20% higher than the average for Season 23. Across the full NCIS slate, viewership increased 39%, according to the figures reported in the article.
Strong viewing continues
The initial premiere numbers were followed by continued strength in multiplatform viewing. Nielsen recently placed NCIS among the five most-watched broadcast series, with 10.1 million viewers across live viewing and the following seven days.
The figures point to gains for both the flagship and the broader franchise. The article links the show’s performance to Tony’s return and momentum from the spin-offs.
Key points
- NCIS Season 24 premiered to 6.45 million viewers in October.
- The premiere audience was 20% above Season 23’s average.
- Tony DiNozzo has become the NCIS director at the Washington Navy Yard.
- Nielsen counted 10.1 million viewers for NCIS across live and seven-day multiplatform viewing.