NCIS Returns Smash Viewership Records Thanks to Major Comebacks
The NCIS franchise just pulled off a huge ratings win for CBS, thanks to some familiar faces.
According to Collider, the network's Tuesday night lineup of three NCIS shows averaged a whopping 5.49 million viewers, landing it the number one broadcast spot for the night.
The big draw was the flagship series, which kicked off its 24th season with a twist. The premiere revealed that Michael Weatherly's character, Anthony 'Tony' DiNozzo, is the agency's new permanent director.
The other shows also got a boost. The new spin-off NCIS: New York debuted with 5.62 million viewers, while the prequel NCIS: Origins, starring Mark Harmon as a younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs, drew 4.39 million.
Those numbers represent significant jumps. The New York premiere was up 53% from the Origins Season 2 debut last year, while Origins itself saw a 20% rise from its own premiere a year ago.
While a massive three-show crossover seems logistically tricky, showrunner Steven D. Binder told Collider that given the franchise's history, it's reasonable to assume one will happen eventually.
