With Mark Harmon’s Contract Reportedly Ending on ‘NCIS,’ Will Season 18 Be Its Last?
Is NCIS, the series that kickstarted two successful spinoffs (Los Angeles and New Orleans), approaching its end date?
Even as rumors fly that yet another spinoff is on its way (set in Hawaii), The Hollywood Reporter reports that Mark Harmon, who has played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs since NCIS was introduced as a backdoor pilot on JAG in 2003, could soon say goodbye to the show. His contract takes him through the current 18th season and, according to THR‘s sources, he’s set to leave, though is in talks “to return for a handful of episodes” should there be another season.
It wouldn’t be the first time NCIS lost a cast member, but it does give us something to think about. Over the years, Sasha Alexander (Kate Todd), Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo), Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto), and others have left. Maria Bello, who plays forensic psychologist Special Agent Jack Sloane, is exiting this season, and the series has already teased how her character could be written out.
Agents, forensic scientists, and directors can be replaced (and have been), but can Gibbs? The fan favorite has been the team’s leader for almost two decades. It’s hard to imagine, and likely not something to which CBS would commit without seeing how viewers react to news of his absence, and his possible replacement. One candidate: Special Agent Tim McGee, played by Sean Murray, who we met as a probie and is now senior field agent. It would certainly be fun to see his journey if that happens. Fans may not accept someone entirely new.
Shows can’t last forever (though the NCISs and Law & Orders are giving it a shot). So, chances are that whenever Harmon does says goodbye to Gibbs — maybe he’ll sail off on his boat, and we can see how he gets one out of his basement — fans will have to say goodbye to NCIS.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
NCIS, Tuesdays, 8/7c, CBS
Grab Your News!
Get absolutely everything about NCIS in your inbox!
Conversation56 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
C
Honestly, without Mark Harmon as LJG, there is no NCIS. None of the other characters (including Sean Murray's) has the gravitas to carry the show now that most of the original cast is gone. If Harmon decides not to renew his contract, they might as well cancel the show.
49 1
-
G
I'm 60 years old and I've watched this shows from the get go and I hate to see Gibbs leave and surely see the show come to an end. I've watched Mark Harmon from St. Elsewhere to Emergency to his Western right up to NCIS and he's one of the best. He brought us great entertainment which we don't have to much anymore. Today we have way to much awful reality garbage on TV these days. My husband and I watch all the NCIS and FBI shows along with S.W.A.T. show and Seal Team, and Chicago Trio as well as our Friday night channel 5 Shows because there good and have substance and a plot to fallow. All these shows I've named are coming to an end in the next few years and then God only knows where we'll be. I vote to keep Gibbs alive and well played by Mark Harmon. Thanks for listening.
35
-
G
You forgot Blue Bloods, and Mcgyver
7 1
-
-
P
If Gibbs leaves I am done with the show. My fav characters are all gone.
36 1
-
C
Hope Gibbs doesn’t leave it’s a great series
27
-
P
Without Gibbs/- there is no NCIS
29 3
-
O
Gibbs IS the show.
No Harmon - end the show. Otherwise it will fail.
22
-
P
I think they are losing their minds! Let's pump up the episodes like they used to be, like N/O is. And you're canceling it! I'm a long standing fan and have voiced my opinion as well as others have but it seems no one at NCIS or CBS cares. I've never cared for Bishop and i love NCIS/NO so go figure!!!
15
-
G
Same!
2
-
G
I actually love Bishop
9 1
-
-
R
if Gibbs leaves, I'll watch only if Ziva comes back also -
13
-
C
If Gibbs leaves, they should send him off with/after Ms Sloan. How cool would it be for him to show up on his boat, where she is.?! Both of their characters deserve a happy ending like that.
14 2
-
P
Unless they bring backTony and Ziva and have Mark Harmon appear as the retired Gibbs, i wont watch w/ a new group of players. It would ruin series completely.
10 1
-
R
The only way to save the show without Gibbs is to have Tony and Ziva come back full time. McGee should get his own team as well, and more Delilah! I love Torres, but I can’t stand Eleanor!
5 1
-
-
O
Gibbs could join Jack at her bar on the beach in Costa Rica, and drop in every once in a while ala Mike Franks!! I’d watch that...
7 1
-
O
Gibbs is the show he can’t go!!
4
-
P
Rtsundeen. The way it could work is having Michael Weartherly ( sorry about spelling) return as team leader . Then, Vance leaves, Tim becomes the youngest director of NCIS! Imagine the creative tension there! Throw in a Bishop tores love affair and we are off to the races!!
6 2
-
B
Please just send Torres out to Los Angeles and let them blow him up
4 3
-
G
Love Torres and Bishop together
-
-
G
Michael ain't leaving Bull. That is A great show and he is the lead. Vance would not retire I think he would have to die to get him outta there
-
-
P
If Mark Harmon leaves I will not watch NCIS anymore. Gibbs is what makes the show
3
-
R
If Gibbs leaves I will not watch it anymore ! Too many main people have been written off !
4 1
-
C
If Harmon leaves there will be no more NCIS. He is the reason I've watched all these years.
2
-
G
NCIS WITHOUT MARK HARMON is NO NCIS!
2
-
O
Would not watch ncis if gibbs leaves no way.
2
-
G
Without Gibbs, no NCIS. That's it bottom line! Give that man whatever he wants but make sure he stays!!!
2
-
O
I love ncis new Orleans I love all the location and love the actors I'm from that area hate to lose it/
2
-
C
I agree if Gibbs leaves I am also done with the show. All the great ones have left but ii
no Harmon, no show. I am finished!
1
-
O
She is off in a desert. His boat Four Wheel drive?
1
-
G
If Gibbs goes so do I. He is the only reason I watch besides ducky since Tony and Abby are gone. Bring tony and Abby and ducky back.
1
-
P
Without Harmon, there's no NCIS. It's Gibbs' show. It's that simple. If they do wrap it up, they need to develop a storyline to bring back Di Nozzo, Ziva and Abby one more time to join Gibbs, Ducky and Jimmy to solve a case. That being said, I think the last iteration of NCIS with Torres, Bishop and Sloane have been the weakest. Their characters are too 2 dimensional.
3 2
-
G
No Gibbs, no show possible! 👍❤️🇨🇦
1
-
C
Ljg go's I'm done
1
-
R
Abby was one of my favorite, she one by one not good
1
-
B
If Gibbs leaves not worth the watch.
2 1
-
R
agree, Gibbs is the show.
-
C
Me too.
-
C
I am very upset that NCIS may not be back. I wont watch NCIS Hawaii & cancelling NCIS NEW ORLEANS is a mistake too. CBS will lose a lot of viewers; good luck getting advertisers.
-
P
doesn't seem like the show would work without Gibbs. He would need to continue as either like Mike Franks or just always have him at the diner so that the team can come and get his thoughts on the case. I think NCIS New Orleans went downhill when the character of Christopher left.
-
C
It will be interesting when Pam Dawned plays in the six episode arc ...
-
O
So is this why his real wife is being cast on the show to maybe be a love interest and sail off in the sunset? NCIS does not have a strong enough character to replace Gibbs so if Mark does leave then the show will be over!I have been a fan right from when NCIS was introducesd in S8 of JAG and will be sad to see it go that is if it does!
-
O
If NCIS is going to end, one thing the fans need to know....How in the hell did Gibbs get the boats out of the basement?
-
O
Bring back David James Elliot "Harm Rabb" to replace Gibbs.
-
B
I watch the show because I love mark harmon. The show is one of my favorite.
Please do not get rid of the show. There are so few of good shows left.
-
O
She mentioned the Friday night shows, which includes McGyver and Blue Bloods
-
C
I love this show, NCIS Los Angeles , FBI, and FBI most wanted is also good.If you have time to watch and try it.
-
-
R
Love Mark. This show so awesome the rest of cast is great too. Just can't miss it
-
G
If they do keep Gibbs he needs another role other than ‘Field Agent’. It’s getting hard to swallow having a 60 year old man working cases.
-
R
Gibbs character has run the course.nothing left to develop but retirement.time for a strong younger character or end the series.
1 1
-
O
You lost one on NCIS new o but now on this one it's messing the one that started off all of them it would not be the same.
-
R
That's not nice
-
O
Why not reassign Scott Bakula from NCIS New Orleans
1 2
-
R
I think there's no show without Gibbs. (And I have loved Eleanor Bishop's character's development. Ziva was great but grew into a caricature of herself).
1
-
C
I think the show could continue without Gibbs. It would be different. But when Michael Weatherly left I thought it would be not as good a show. But it has been good. Hate to see Mark Harmon leave.
2 3
-
O
With DiNozzo gone, the show finished collapsing. MCGee as Gibbs replacement? What a joke. HIs character never really fleshed out after becoming lead field agent. The last 2 new characters are weak and don't fit in within the character of the show.
Story lines the last 2 years seem to be searching for a purpose, but have landed flat.
1 3
-
O
Gibbs is a big part of the show but I think if he chooses to leave the show Should continue. McGee can take his place.
3 6
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services