The cancelation of NCIS: Hawai’i was already a major blow, but one ruthless CBS programming update is even more shocking in its aftermath. The island-based series was the third NCIS spinoff and one of the most diverse until it was canceled in 2024. I thought it was bad enough that the franchise pulled the plug on its most diverse spinoff, but replacing it with NCIS: Origins just added salt to the wound. While I’m excited about the prospect of the Leroy Jethro Gibbs origin story, NCIS: Hawai’i still holds a special place in the franchise.
A new update only worsens things. Viewers got the impression that NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled ahead of season 4 to make room for a new spinoff series. While the suits at CBS haven’t confirmed this directly, the latest update makes it harder to believe that the Hawai’i spinoff wasn’t canceled to make room for others. While I trust that CBS had to follow the numbers, I don’t know if I agree with sticking to the cancelation of a show that has received such an outcry of support following its cancelation. I’m sad for NCIS: Hawai’i fans, especially following the update.
NCIS: Origins Officially Took NCIS: Hawai’i’s Former Time Slot
CBS officially released its fall television cycle, and the network giant has NCIS: Origins in the old NCIS: Hawai’i time slot. With such a direct swap, it will be hard for some fans to make peace with the change. Many viewers have already promised to boycott the Origins spinoff lest CBS returns NCIS: Hawai’i. It’s now looking less likely than ever that Hawai’i will return, and the same could be said for Hawai’i fans tuning into the new origin story spinoff. I empathize entirely because, while origin stories are interesting, NCIS: Hawai’i offered diversity that no other NCIS spinoff comes close to offering.
Why NCIS: Origins’ Scheduling Is So Controversial For The Franchise
The scheduling is controversial because there is an outcry of support to save NCIS: Hawai’i, and rather than address their viewer’s concerns, CBS is signaling that they are replacing the female-led NCIS series completely. I also understand the network taking advantage of their beloved central character, Jethro Gibbs, and capitalizing on the success of shows like Young Sheldon. However, their dedicated NCIS: Hawai’i fans will interpret this as a direct offense. It’s arguably a short-sighted way of building excitement for the new series.
I’m just in awe of how vastly the franchise is departing from its location-based spinoff trend.
In a time when reboots are the norm, I have every confidence that NCIS: Hawai’i will return. I think the series was heading in a promising direction, and I loved Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant. At day’s end, I’m excited to see the Origins spinoff as well, and that’s mostly because the franchise’s decision to depart from its location-based spinoff trend is a fascinating gamble. I think the police procedural genre could use a lot of work, so I’m open to what Origins has to offer, but I don’t agree that snubbing NCIS: Hawai’i indirectly was an intelligent move.
