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NCIS season 21 will be shortest season in show history

By Danilo Castro

“A Long Time Coming” – Agents Rountree and Fatima are ambushed while searching for Kilbride, who has been MIA, and they learn that every member of the team has a hefty bounty on their head. The NCIS team must save Agent Rountree and find Kilbride while every cartel, hitman, gang and psychopath hunts them down, on the CBS Original series NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Monday, Jan. 9 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. NCIS stars Gary Cole, Wilmer Valderrama and NCIS: HAWAI’I stars Vanessa Lachey and Yasmine Al-Bustami guest star in the episode, which is the conclusion to the three-episode crossover event with NCIS and NCIS: HAWAI’I. For the first time, NCIS, NCIS: HAWAI’I and NCIS: LOS ANGELES unite for a special three-hour NCIS crossover event for the hit CBS Original series on Monday, Jan. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream on Paramount. Pictured (L-R): LL COOL J (Special Agent Sam Hanna), Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres) and Gary Cole (NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker). Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“A Long Time Coming” – Agents Rountree and Fatima are ambushed while searching for Kilbride, who has been MIA, and they learn that every member of the team has a hefty bounty on their head. The NCIS team must save Agent Rountree and find Kilbride while every cartel, hitman, gang and psychopath hunts them down, on the CBS Original series NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Monday, Jan. 9 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. NCIS stars Gary Cole, Wilmer Valderrama and NCIS: HAWAI’I stars Vanessa Lachey and Yasmine Al-Bustami guest star in the episode, which is the conclusion to the three-episode crossover event with NCIS and NCIS: HAWAI’I. For the first time, NCIS, NCIS: HAWAI’I and NCIS: LOS ANGELES unite for a special three-hour NCIS crossover event for the hit CBS Original series on Monday, Jan. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream on Paramount. Pictured (L-R): LL COOL J (Special Agent Sam Hanna), Wilmer Valderrama (NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres) and Gary Cole (NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker). Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. /
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Like most scripted dramas, NCIS was at the mercy of the actors strike. The strike made it so that actors are unable to promote or appear in films and shows made by Hollywood studios, effectively meaning that the entertainment world would be on hold until 2024.

According to Variety, the two factions tried to reach an agreement on Monday, November 6, but remained at odds on a handful of topics, which means the strike could extend into the Christmas season and even the new year. Thankfully, an agreement was reached. Deadline reports that a proper agreement was reached two days later on Wednesday, November 8, meaning all of the shows that were on hold can begin to plan their return.

How many episodes will be in NCIS season 21?

TV Line claimed that the upcoming season of NCIS will be the shortest season in franchise history, with a predicted episode count of 10-13 episodes. This will shatter the record previously held by NCIS season 18, which only contained 16 episodes due to the production issues caused by the 2020 pandemic. On average, NCIS averages over 20 episodes per season.

The decision to shorten the 2024 season to 10-13 episodes also extends to the other entries in the NCIS franchise. NCIS: Hawaii will undergo a similar downsizing, and while NCIS: Sydney has not technically been afflicted by the strike, it will fall short of the aforementioned norm of 20 episodes.

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Given that the actors and studios have reached a tentative agreement, the best case scenario for NCIS is to have an agreement reached in late November or early December, and a production that runs through the holidays so that the cast and crew can get things completed in time for a January release.

There’s a distinct possibility that production could stretch into the new year, however, which could possibly alter the final episode count of season 21 yet again. We are crossing our fingers that this won’t be the case. We maintain hope that the show gets back to work sooner rather than later, and that we will be getting at least a baker’s dozen of episodes with our favorite team of military police.

Next. NCIS star pays tribute to David McCallum. dark

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