‘NCIS’ Ratings Hit All-Time Low
NCIS returned for its 20th season on Monday, September 19, and had its smallest same-day audience ever, down a massive 31 percent from the Season 19 premiere a year ago.
The premiere, which was a two-hour crossover with NCIS: Hawaiʻi, drew 5.82 million viewers and 0.42 rating in the 18-49 demographic, both series lows for the long-running CBS police procedural. Now fans are wondering if this drop could be due to fan favorite Mark Harmon leaving the show. Harmon, who played Leroy Jethro Gibbs, exited the series in the fourth episode of Season 19 and has since been removed from the opening credits. The show is now led by Gary Cole.
While the Harmon effect might have played some part, it’s important to note that Monday’s premiere went up against a double bill of Monday Night Football, with games running on ABC and ESPN/ESPN2, which resulted in lower viewers across the board on rival networks. It also had NBC’s much-hyped Quantum Leap reboot to deal with, which opened with 3.35 million viewers and a 0.48 rating among adults 18-49.
The crossover itself could also have had an impact on the lower numbers. As speculated by CarterMatt.com, not all viewers watch both shows, so the episode might not have been seen as essential. NCIS: Hawaiʻi premiered on CBS on September 20, 2021, and stars Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, the Special Agent in charge of a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
NCIS moved from Tuesdays to Mondays last fall, acting as a lead-in to the new Hawai’i franchise. Despite some concerns that this might negatively impact the ratings, the show still brought in the most viewers with its 2021 premiere, with 8.15 million tuning in. The ratings remained steady throughout the 19th season, even after Harmon’s departure.
Time will tell how the ratings hold up for Season 20.
NCIS, Mondays, 9/8c, CBS
NCIS: Hawai’i, Mondays, 10/9c, CBS
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Should never have cancelled NCIS New Orleans for NCIS Hawaii. New Orleans had a much better cast and the cast had chemistry! Big mistake!
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You are sooooo right!
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Sorry but I disagree. I got tired of all of Pride's weird stuff. I really like Hawaii so far.
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NCIS:HI is just plain awful. Bad writing and even worse acting. The lead is weakest link making her poor attempts at acting just so tiring. There’s no cohesion, no sparks - they’re just a boring group. Not sure if they’re either all trying to hard or not hard enough. The writing is subpar considering it’s an NCIS franchise. Heck they don’t even use the islands beauty to their advantage.
NCIS is old. Though, at least, this group of actors can act and make watching their interactions fun and interesting. There are only so many stories that can be told and they’ve pretty much all been told over 19 seasons. Hopefully it’ll pick up a bit because this one is still the best of the franchise.
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Never like NCIS HI. Watched it once when it came out. Never watched it again. If they do again like they did Monday. I’ll quit NCIS. Which is my favorite since it started. . They need to stick to solving crimes and stop the romance stuff. Who cares
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I won't watch ncis anymore. I miss the old cast. It was hard enough without abby and tony... but losing Gibbs was the final straw! I watch reruns. I do not like the new cast at all!!
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What new cast?
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NCIS needs Gibbs, just because his replacement has grey hair doesn’t make him Gibbs. Writer’s knew how to write before when they had a good team to write for now they are all over the place and going nowhere.
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I didn't even know the new season had started! But a crossover w/NCIS HI...no thanks! Still like NCIS but PLEASE quit w/all the changes (put Mcgee in charge & should be a solid team IMO). ✌️
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Don't know who was behind the idea to dump NOLA and go to Hawaii but they should be long gone. NCIS Hawaii is AWFUL - the story concepts, the writing, the acting, need I go on?
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Agree and probably was same person that decided to dump Magnum.
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I watched last season and by the end, decided I was not interested in the new characters. I've watched since the beginning, so dropping it was a big deal to me. Only watching NCIS:LA for now.
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Other then no chemistry between Torres/Emily and Jimmy/Knight romances and the bad character of Knight the shows the same. Knight isn't a good character. They need to hire female writers.
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NCIS Hawaii is absolutely horrible! NCIS NEW ORLEANS should never have been canceled! Excellent cast and rapport! This week's crossover was very tiresome. Only watched NCIS HAWAII because of crossover but will never watch it again.
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Used to plan night to be sure not to miss NCIS. Made it through 3 episodes last season and no longer care.
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The show is not the same without, Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, Abby and Ducky. They were such strong actors and characters. It is hard to stay involved.
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I have watched NCIS since it first began. It was a fantastic show for years. Unfortunately, it has run its course. The 1st episode of season 20 was terrible. The writers have run out of ideas, and the campy humor is annoying. Either up your game or calls it quits.
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While I miss Mark Harmon, I think Gary Cole is doing a great job. NCIS HI on the other hand does not have the character connections. I like some, but there are others that are boring and have no chemistry.
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Can't take Valderama.
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Didn't watch NCIS because of Hawaii. Turned off Hawaii last year before the first commercial break and haven't been back since.
Didn't want to watch NCIS only to have it end in a cliff hanger never to be resolved. Will be back for the next episode.
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The shows are moving away from the original formula. Same sex is crammed in too much in Hawaii. 2% of population doesn't add up to multiple characters.
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Non heterosexuals are more then 2% but regardless of orientation it seems NCIS LA, NCISHI seems more focused on soap operas then cases
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I’ve lost interest in NCIS now that Gibbs is gone. I wouldn’t mind if they brought back Tony and Ziva. Tony could take Gibbs place running the unit.
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I had high hopes for NCIS Hawaii. So disappointing. When will Hollywood get it? Fans of NCIS want mystery and adventure. I have no interest in the drama of the lesbian relationship they have been cramming down my throat. There is a large group of us going to other channels at 10pm on Mondays.
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I want mark harmon back and all the first crew Tony Abby Ziva Ducky. Bring back New Olearns back I miss them. See if u can get Lucas Black back on new olearns.
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I saw another article from the show saying the cross over was a success, and “everybody” loved it. They did not allow comments. I see a lot of commenters here lamenting the tossing of NOLA. The reason they tossed NOLA is because of low ratings. Harmon had every right to retire, and frankly, I was tired of his dark character. People got used to the blond replacing Ziva; they’ll get used to Mr Cole too.
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NOLA's ratings weren't low. A rock could of replaced the stereotype known as Ziva. Loved Gibbs but Harmon's choice to retire is his. Cole is a good actor, Parker is kinda bland though.
The blonde Emily I liked, liked Kate but DIDN'T like the Abusive Ziva. Don't care for Knight either. Like a milder Ziva.
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We need the old team back
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I like NCIS but NCIS is still a work in progress for me. Would love to have Hawaii 5 0 back or Magnum instead.
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I loved the season opener of NCIS. I loved seeing Fornell back too. Hawaii not so much.
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I loved NCIS with the original cast never missed an episode, I don't like any of the new cast I'm sure they could have found much better replacements, I won't be watching anymore
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Stop with the crossovers. Get rid of NCIS Hawaii period. Put McGee in charge and get rid of Parker. Get rid of Knight. The shows are going nowhere fast. Football didn't ruin the views. The shows ruined the views.
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Still love NCIS and sometimes NCIS LA. Really miss New Orleans. These three are different enough to love all. Hawaii is way below standard. It feels Cookie press, nothing to make Story line or Characters engage my attention.
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I don't watch NCIS Hawaii, so not interested in crossovers. Funny, but I remember at the beginning, we were told crossovers were not going to happen!
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Still enjoy NCIS, Gary Cole is a good addition. DO NOT watch crossover events.
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Ncis mediocre at best. Ncis HI doesn't merit air time. I've had the misfortune of watching HI on Disney+ here in UK but switched off after 10 minutes. Bring back New Orleans or get Gibbs back. Dismal viewing all round.
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Fun, hilarious just like watching old episodes makes great relaxation, i miss gibbs but trying to watch the show and they hover the relationship angle way too much. The case boss!!!!!
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NCIS has gone down hill the last few years. Doesn't even rate a Dvr setting.
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Yes Mark H. gon Parker is the best fit for the job NCIS HI. IS Great
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It's actually annoying to have the same template on every one of these spin-offs, whether it's NCIS or CSI. They have the major lead. They have the annoyingly weird, eccentric pathologist and lab person. Then they have the mix of secondary actors and their personal issues. I agree that NCIS Hawaii is strained in its acting. But I also don't appreciate being force-fed same sex relationships. I'm not interested in watching their relationships develop, so I turn it off every time that becomes the focus. If they continue I'll probably do watching, but continue watching NCIS.
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I will continue with NCIS but really turning me off with the Lesbian relationship in Hawaii ncis.
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I love the show. I think viewing was down due to baseball and football starting
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I tried the first episode of NCIS: HI last year and it was awful! Never watched it again so not interested in either half of a crossover. I usually watch NCIS (later by way of DVR - because football).
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I tried about half a season or so to be fair and stop as stories on NCIS might of worked but on Hawaii were less inspired.
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I thought the crossover story line was boring. It would have been better If they had separate episodes. Also some of the interaction between the characters were child like and unprofessional. The occasional humor within NCIS Was always a plus but never took away from the credibility of the characters.
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Fact they're pushing Hawaii with the xovers shows it's tanking and now the constant xovers are tanking NCIS too.
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Liked show much better when Gibbs was in charge. I also don’t care for Katrina law. Her character does not reflect what a agent would really be like. Zika and Eleanor were portrayed as agents much better. Love watching the older shows.
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NCISNO is looking better in the rear view all the time! NCIS is stale and in decline.Please no hook up between Jimmy and the agent. Forget the drama between the two females on NCISHI not interested.
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I agree whole heartengly on that!
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I have one word: NETFLIX! Or is that two? Once they announced the NCIS characters would get more personal (around the beginning of 2020) it turned into a soap opera! Only watch reruns for my NCIS fix. I like Torres but every time I see him I think,
Hyde: "I'm going to write an awesome slogan, like 'I hate the fuzz' on my ass!"
Fez: "If you hate the fuzz on your ass, why don't you just shave it off?"
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I feel like do you have so much baking on this spin off that they’re trying to force it down the throats. I mean even with NCIS Los Angeles they did the first episode and then they didn’t wanna take in the third season you know and they’ve done other episodes but never the first two seasons back to back multiple times and then even with NCIS New Orleans the they did a backdoor pilot and they did one episode in a bar episode with Abby Sciuto and they actually had a way of making people fall in love with the characters because with the differences with New Orleans we met the characters first we got to fall in love with them with this we didn’t get to meet these people so there’s no connection that’s why they needed to bring in someone from New Orleans on the show something that they promised the fans that’s a thing a little pissed me off about it too because they told us in the very beginning hey we’re taking two people from New Orleans and putting them in Hawaii that never happened they push this to Ceres way too fast this is another incident like right arm CSI cyber originally CSI cyber was amazing the original one but they decided to mess with it I know they went downhill the second season
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I won hundred percent agree with you I try the first episode I hated it I didn’t watch the crossover episode again um they did last season still don’t like it watch the crossover episode I did this season hopefully it’s the last time they’re like trying to make us like this show that I hate I think they gave up on New Orleans which was so much better from the jump it had passion is show does not have passion and honestly this is I missLeroy Jethro Gibbs was the show without him it just feels like it’s missing something and I do miss him even seen his face last year in like the beginning credits for feel something for me without it this year is like a heartbreaking
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Let's face it; NCIS without Gibbs is not NCIS 😡
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Read all comments most people do not like NCIS Hawaii... they cancel a good Magnum show with good chemistry to put this one. Surprised it was renewed
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Since the time is later we watched it On Demand two days later. My family and I love NCIS and can't wait until we can watch the next one each week. Sometimes we record the show.
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It's just not NCIS without Gibbs. Why bother.
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Change of character has destroyed everything. Used to like it so much but now struggle to watch just one episode to the end. Did not even know new season is back
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I kinda like NCIS Hawaii. I just don't care too much for whistler and Lucis
Relationship. Other than that same sex stuff the show is pretty good I think.
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NCIS has still been good, even though Mark Harmon made his exit. NCIS Hawaii is beautiful to watch because of the scenery but Vanessa Lachey is less than believable in her role and her acting leaves much to be desired. Also, this week's Hawaii show starting out and ending with a lesbian love scene will certainly have many viewers of NCIS shows turning the dial..r
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They got rid of most my favorites Gibbs, Ziva, Tony, and Abby. Only one left is Ducky.
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Go get original writers. These stories seem like 6th graders wrote them. Too predictable and boring. Gary Cole doesn't have leadership qualities needed for this agency...
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😥😥
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I love Hawaii, but so-so with NCIS
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Without the character of Jethro Gibbs, Abby Sciuto, Ziva NCIS is not the same and reason why I don't watch it
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NCIS is nothing without LJG. Gary Cole is awful. What a terrible way to treat one of the best shows ever on television. Shame on you.
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Don’t care for the new guy, Gary Cole. Need Gibbs back. I don’t watch like I use to I would rather watch reruns on the other channel.
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New characters are all so similar in personality. Very boring interaction. Went to bed instead of suffering the last final 30 minutes. Hawaii is beautiful but not the show filmed there. The end for both is very near.
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Show should have been canceled when Gibbs left the show
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In the UK you can only watch it on Disney plus not many people have Disney plus it's the wrong channel for an adult audience. I used to love watching all the NCIS but now can't
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Gary Coleman just not believable. Sorry.
Watched Hawaii for half the show premiere last year. Shut it off. Either put Magee in charge or bring Denosoe back. Otherwise I'm done.
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I don’t like the guy who’s taking gives his place the only one I like is McGee I wish the best we’re back but I know that’s not gonna happen so I’ll just quit watching
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NCIS Hawaii is boring at best tho a couple characters are interesting. It definitely brought NCIS down from even mediocre. The original formula is all that works. It as boring and infantile to say the least. Please end this while there is still a reputation to be remembered.
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Love NCIS Hawaii. Different story lines. NCIS New Orleans got old. Love regular NCIS also
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