The NCIS-verse is down one show at CBS, following NCIS: Hawai’i‘s cancellation at the network on Friday
Several of the procedural’s cast members have mourned the axing on social media, including Tori Anderson (aka FBI agent Kate Whistler), who lamented: “Having a really hard time processing this one. Thank you to our incredible crew who made every single day feel like I was living a dream. I want to say thank you to all the fans. My heart breaks for you as well.
“This is a huge loss for representation,” Anderson pointed out. “Love you all so much.”
NCIS: Hawai’i made franchise history as the first NCIS series to launch with an LGBTQ agent: Lucy Tara (played by Yasmine Al-Bustami). Lucy, with Anderson’s Kate, formed the ‘ship that quickly was dubbed “Kacy,” and which got meaningful screentime — especially during Season 2.
NCIS: Hawai’i was also the first program in the franchise to boast a female lead, in Vanessa Lachey’s Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant.
Jason Antoon, who plays cyber intelligence specialist Ernie (an ally of the aforementioned #Kacy), shared his own cancellation thoughts on Instagram: “This business is brutal and makes no sense. But we had soooo much fun. Love you all and mahalo.”
Of note, Antoon’s real-life wife, Seana Kofoed, plays NCIS: Hawai’i‘s resident M.E., Dr. Carla Chase.
Series co-creator Christopher Silber also offered this tribute: “Four years ago, [Jan Nash], [Matt Bosack] and I started something very special. We joined with an incredible cast, amazing writers and crew… and gathered in Hawai’i to make a show. But ended up creating an ohana. I’m so grateful to you all.”
Co-creator Matt Bosack added: “[NCIS: Hawaii] was a dream. And while it’s ended, I am forever grateful to my partners, [Christopher Silber] and [Jan Nash], our amazing cast, led by [Vanessa Lachey], the entire crew, and this wonderful island I call home. I’m proud of the stories we were able to tell over these 3 seasons. To tell fun Navy crime mysteries but also dig into ideas about family, life, love, identity… To all the fans, especially those who saw themselves in these characters, mahalo nui loa. A hui hou.”
For a hot minute this week, NCIS: Hawai’i was the only scripted CBS series still awaiting word on its fate for the 2024-25 season; its cancellation came two weeks after NCIS scored a Season 22 renewal and more than a month after the franchise’s first international offshoot, NCIS: Sydney, was picked up for Season 2. (TVLine hears that at this time, there’s no information regarding NCIS: Hawai’i being shopped elsewhere.)
Season-to-date, NCIS: Hawai’i is averaging 7.8 million total viewers and a 0.5 demo rating (with Live+7 playback data). Out of the 14 drama series that CBS has aired this TV season, it ranks No. 6 in total audience (behind Tracker, NCIS, FBI, Blue Bloods and The Equalizer) and eighth in the demo.
The show now joins fellow CBS casualties CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd. Meanwhile, the NCIS franchise will continue to expand via the “Young Gibbs” prequel NCIS: Origins, claiming a spot on CBS’ 2024-25 schedule, and a Tony/Ziva-centric offshoot that is bound for Paramount+.
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