NCIS: New Orleans Concludes After Seven Seasons: A Look Back

The NCIS: New Orleans team has just celebrated their last Mardi Gras. CBS has officially announced the cancellation of the show, which will conclude at the end of its current Season 7. This means that the procedural, featuring Scott Bakula, will end after 155 episodes—less than half the total episodes produced by the flagship NCIS series, which recently reached a milestone of 400 episodes.

As fans come to terms with this cancellation, many may wonder why such a beloved show has come to an end. The primary reason, as with many television series, is a significant decline in viewership. Reports indicate that Season 7 has seen a decrease of nearly 25% in viewers compared to Season 6, marking it as one of the most substantial ratings drops among CBS shows. This decline has been compounded by the fact that NCIS: New Orleans consistently attracted fewer viewers than its predecessor, NCIS: Los Angeles, and less than half of the audience that watches the original NCIS on Tuesdays.

Despite maintaining respectable ratings—especially during competitive slots like Sunday Night Football—the show ultimately could not survive in a year where other CBS programs dominated the ratings. For instance, during the week starting February 8, CBS claimed the top five most-watched primetime shows, including NCIS, 60 Minutes, The Equalizer, FBI, and Young Sheldon. In contrast, NCIS: New Orleans ranked 15th among 23 scripted shows on CBS for the 2020-21 TV season, averaging only 4.8 million viewers.

Insights on the Cancellation of NCIS: New Orleans

According to Deadline, one of the main reasons for the cancellation was that NCIS: New Orleans struggled to match the ratings and lucrative off-network deals enjoyed by the other two NCIS series. This challenge was further exacerbated by the fundamental changes in the television industry over the past decade, which have impacted viewer habits and network strategies.

In a sign that the end might have been near, the showrunners of NCIS: New Orleans were recently announced to be taking on a new project, NCIS: Hawaii. This new series is expected to take over the timeslot currently held by NCIS: New Orleans if it receives a full season order.

Reflecting on their experience, showrunners Silber and Nash expressed their gratitude, stating, "It has been our sincere pleasure and honor to work on this show and with this incredible cast and crew for over 150 episodes. As disappointed as we are to see NOLA end, we couldn't be prouder of the work we've done and are grateful to the spectacular and resilient Crescent City that embraced us for seven wonderful years."

CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl acknowledged the show's unique flavor, saying, "From the start, NCIS: New Orleans was able to distinguish itself with its New Orleans authenticity. From the colors and music to the vibrancy and stories you can only find in the Big Easy. Thanks to the amazing talents of the producers, writers, cast and crew, NOLA has played a key role on our schedule. We’re pleased to give it a big sendoff and that viewers will have the opportunity to say goodbye to their favorite characters as the final season wraps."

As the series comes to a close, fans can still catch the remaining episodes of NCIS: New Orleans, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CT on CBS. The show has left an indelible mark on its viewers, and its characters will surely be missed.