NCIS Franchise Celebrates Major Milestone with 1,000th Episode
The NCIS franchise, a cornerstone of CBS programming for over 20 years, is reaching a historic milestone with its 1,000th episode. Since the flagship series premiered in September 2003, following its backdoor pilot on JAG, the NCIS universe has grown to include five spinoffs. The monumental 1,000th episode will air on April 15, 2024, as the seventh episode of NCIS Season 21, featuring special appearances from characters across the franchise.
Daniela Ruah, known for her role as Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, and Vanessa Lachey, who plays Jane Tennant on NCIS: Hawai’i, are confirmed as special guests. Although they won’t share scenes with the main NCIS cast, their roles are expected to add an intriguing twist to the episode. Additionally, Spencer Moore from All American and Superman & Lois will appear as Jared, the son of Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll).
The episode promises high drama, with co-showrunner David North teasing that a beloved character will face “grave danger” and hinting at a unique crossover involving multiple NCIS franchises. Rocky Carroll’s Vance will also feature in a personal storyline, adding emotional depth to the episode.
For Ruah, this marks her first time reprising the role of Kensi since NCIS: Los Angeles ended in 2023, and her first appearance on NCIS since the 2009 backdoor pilot. Lachey, who has previously appeared in several crossover episodes, will once again bring her character into the broader NCIS universe.
Season 21 of NCIS is shaping up to be a pivotal one, with the 1,000th episode being a major highlight. The season will also pay tribute to the late David McCallum’s character, Ducky, while continuing to explore the storylines of Nick Torres and Alden Parker, and further developing Kasie Hines’ potential as a field agent.
As the franchise evolves, the future of NCIS: Sydney remains uncertain. However, fans can look forward to upcoming spinoffs, including NCIS: Origins, which will delve into Gibbs’ past, and a new series featuring Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, exclusively on Paramount+.
