NCIS (season 18)

The eighteenth season of NCIS, an American police procedural drama television series, premiered on November 17, 2020, on CBS,[1] and is set to contain sixteen episodes,[2] including the series' 400th episode. The season is set to be produced by Belisarius Productions and CBS Studios.[3]

NCIS
Season 18
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes7
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseNovember 17, 2020 (2020-11-17) –
present (present)
Season chronology

NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The series stars Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Emily Wickersham, Maria Bello, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Rocky Carroll, and David McCallum. The season will be Bello's last season as a series regular, as she is set to leave after eight episodes.[4]

Cast and characters
Main article: List of NCIS characters

Main

Recurring

Guest Stars

Episodes
See also: List of NCIS episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
3991"Sturgeon Season"Michael ZinbergScott WilliamsNovember 17, 2020 (2020-11-17)180210.35[7]
While the team tries to figure out the whereabouts of a missing body, Gibbs assists Fornell in tracking down the leader of the drug ring that supplied opioids to Fornell's daughter Emily.
4002"Everything Starts Somewhere"Terrence O'HaraSteven D. BinderNovember 24, 2020 (2020-11-24)180110.15[8]
The discovery of a dead body in the basement of NCIS headquarters is linked to a group Gibbs investigated in his past. Flashbacks reveal how Gibbs was introduced to Ducky and the agency. The episode ends with Gibbs accepting invitations from the team to go out for drinks.
4013"Blood and Treasure"Diana ValentineChristopher J. WaildDecember 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)18038.53[9]
A murder investigation is linked to a years-long treasure hunt. The team investigates while recovering from their night of drinking. Also, Gibbs and Fornell continue their secret investigation into the drug ring, with Fornell going undercover as a fast food restaurant employee.
4024"Sunburn"Rocky CarrollMarco SchnabelJanuary 19, 2021 (2021-01-19)18049.63[10]
McGee and Delilah's vacation in the Bahamas turns into a high-risk mission when a case NCIS is tracking from a dead escape room manager has ties to the island. Gibbs fears the worst when his search for Fornell leads to blood.
4035"Head of the Snake"Tawnia McKiernanBrendan Fehily & David J. NorthJanuary 19, 2021 (2021-01-19)18058.74[10]
Gibbs and Fornell's crusade to find the head of the drug gang responsible for Fornell's daughter Emily's overdose, climaxes. In addition, Gibbs and Vance finally inform the team about a case that has dangerous implications.
4046"1mm"Diana ValentineGina Lucita MonrealJanuary 26, 2021 (2021-01-26)180610.02[11]
Following a lead on arms smuggling, Bishop and Torres engage in a shootout at the home of a former sheriff which is now a historic site, only to find themselves locked in abandoned cells there.
4057"The First Day"[12]James Whitmore Jr.Margaret Rose LesterFebruary 9, 2021 (2021-02-09)1807TBD
4068"True Believer"[13]Terrence O'HaraJill WeinbergerMarch 2, 2021 (2021-03-02)1808TBD

Production

Development

The season was ordered on May 6, 2020.[3] On June 3, 2020, Steven D. Binder announced that the writers had begun working on the season.[14] On August 12, 2020, it was announced that CBS Television Studios had signed a deal with the law enforcement advisory group 21CP Solutions, to consult on its crime and legal dramas, which includes NCIS. 21CP Solutions will help the series' to more accurately portray law enforcement; this comes after the George Floyd Protests, which caused the television industry to rethink their portrayal of law enforcement.[15] On September 21, 2020, it was announced that the season would start by exploring where Gibbs, played by series star Mark Harmon, disappeared to during the episode "Musical Chairs" from the previous season, before returning to the present day.[16] On October 27, 2020, it was announced that season would contain sixteen episodes.[2]

Filming

The planned twenty-first episode of the seventeenth season, which was postponed due to production on the season being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to be the first episode filmed of season eighteen. The planned twenty-second episode of season seventeen, which would have been the 400th episode of the series, is set to be filmed and aired second, which will keep it as the 400th episode.[17] On August 13, 2020, it was announced that NCIS had been assigned the tentative start date of September 9, 2020 to begin production on the season. Production will be done under strict COVID-19 protocols, and the series will continue to be filmed in Los Angeles.[18]

Casting

On May 6, 2020, it was announced that Harmon had closed a new deal with CBS Television Studios.[19] On July 24, 2020, it was announced that series regular Maria Bello is set to leave the show during the season, and will appear in eight episodes to wrap up her character's storyline.[4] On September 9, 2020, it was announced that Harmon's son Sean, would return in episode two as a younger version of his father's character.[5] On October 21, 2020, it was announced that Adam Campbell would also return in episode two, as a younger version of Ducky.[6]

Release

The season is set to premiere during the 2020–21 television season as part of CBS's Tuesday lineup with FBI and FBI: Most Wanted.[20] On August 26, 2020, it was announced that CBS hoped to begin airing the season in November 2020.[21] On October 13, 2020, it was announced that the season would premiere on November 17, 2020.[1]

Reception

Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of NCIS
No. Title Air dateRating/share
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)		DVR
(18–49)		DVR viewers
(millions)		Total
(18–49)		Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Sturgeon Season" November 17, 20200.9/6[7]10.35[7]TBDTBDTBDTBD
2 "Everything Starts Somewhere" November 24, 20200.9/6[8]10.15[8]TBDTBDTBDTBD
3 "Blood and Treasure" December 8, 20200.7/4[9]8.53[9]TBDTBDTBDTBD
4 "Sunburn" January 19, 20210.8/4[10]9.63[10]TBDTBDTBDTBD
5 "Head of the Snake" January 19, 20210.8/4[10]8.74[10]TBDTBDTBDTBD
6 "1mm" January 26, 20211.0/6[11]10.02[11]TBDTBDTBDTBD

References
  1. Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (October 13, 2020). "CBS Sets Premiere Dates For 10 Scripted Series Including 'NCIS' Trio, 'Young Sheldon' & 'S.W.A.T'". Deadline. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (October 27, 2020). "CBS Trims Episode Orders As Broadcast Series On All Nets Face Abbreviated Runs In COVID Impacted 2020-21 Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  3. White, Peter; Andreeva, Nellie (May 6, 2020). "CBS Renews 18 Series, Including Freshmen 'FBI: Most Wanted', 'Bob ♥ Abishola', 'All Rise' & 'The Unicorn'". Deadline. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (July 24, 2020). "Maria Bello Signs With Gersh As She Nears Exit From 'NCIS'". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. TV Insider Staff (September 9, 2020). "Inside Scoop on What's Ahead for 'NCIS,' 'Supernatural' & 'Outlander'". TVInsider. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  6. Hahn, Kate (October 21, 2020). "Inside 'NCIS' Episode 400: Gibbs & Ducky's Meet-Cute, Personal Choices & More". TV Insider. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  7. Metcalf, Mitch (November 18, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.17.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  8. Metcalf, Mitch (November 25, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.24.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  9. Metcalf, Mitch (December 9, 2020). "Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.8.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  10. Metcalf, Mitch (January 21, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.19.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  11. Metcalf, Mitch (January 27, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.26.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. "(#409) "The First Day"". The Futon Critic. January 25, 2021.
  13. "NCIS – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  14. @stevebinder (June 3, 2020). "Stay turned. We are in the (z)room working on the next season as we speak" (Tweet). Retrieved August 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. Porter, Rick (August 12, 2020). "CBS TV Studios Brings on Advisory Group for Crime and Legal Shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  16. Mitovich, Matt Webb (September 21, 2020). "NCIS Will Start Season 18 With a Backwards Time Jump — Find Out Why". TV Line. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  17. Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 24, 2020). "Maria Bello Exiting NCIS in Season 18". TVLine. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  18. Andreeva, Nellie (August 13, 2020). "'NCIS' & 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Set Tentative Start Dates; 2 More CBS TV Studios Dramas Get Go-Ahead To Resume Filming As CBS' Fall Lineup Begins To Take Shape". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  19. Andreeva, Nellie (May 6, 2020). "'NCIS' Franchise Stars Mark Harmon, Scott Bakula, LL Cool J & Chris O'Donnell Close New Deals To Return As All 3 Series Are Renewed By CBS". Deadline. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  20. Goldberg, Lesley (May 19, 2020). "CBS Plots Business as Usual Fall Schedule — For Now". The Hollywood Reporter.
  21. White, Peter (August 26, 2020). "CBS Adds 'Star Trek: Discovery', 'One Day At A Time' & 'Manhunt: Deadly Games' To Fall Schedule As Net Eyes November Launch For Scripted Originals". Deadline. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
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