Why did CBS cancel NCIS: Hawaii?

The “NCIS” franchise has said goodbye to some beloved shows in recent years. In 2023, NCIS: Los Angeles has ended after 14 seasons and 322 episodeswhich is a great showcase for any TV show. Unfortunately, NCIS: Hawaii didn’t see the same longevity, as it was sent on the chopping block after three seasons in 2024. What’s more, it never had the opportunity to make a new movie. An all-time great series finale Since no one expected it to be cancelled, it withdrew in a disappointing manner. So why did CBS decide to cancel the series?

As he documented it diverseCBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenback revealed that NCIS: Hawaii was canceled for several reasons, including factors such as Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike And the desire to renew things between them. Here’s what she had to say:

“Everything has come back (from the Hollywood strikes) really strong, but ultimately we have to look at the consistency of the flow of the schedule. We have to evaluate the financials and overall performance, and make tough decisions.”

Season 3 of “NCIS: Hawaii” generated some strong ratings, with the show averaging more than 5 million viewers most weeks. Unfortunately, strong reviews were not enough to save it, and other successful performances were sent along with popular procedurals.

As previously reported, “NCIS: Hawaii” was cut due to CBS executives wanting to add new shows to the network’s schedule. Fortunately for fans of the procedural series, some of these shows are part of the “NCIS” universe, including “NCIS: Sydney,” “NCIS: Origins” and the upcoming spin-off series “NCIS: Tony & Ziva.”

For comparison’s sake, CBS also made a shocking decision to do so Tom Selleck’s ‘Blue Bloods’ canceled Around the same time fans learned that “NCIS: Hawaii” would not be renewed. The cop show had been one of the network’s biggest hits for over a decade and there was a desire among the cast and crew to continue producing new episodes. However, CBS felt a change was needed and made the call for its cancellation. Likewise, CSI: Vegas was canceled after three seasons in 2024, despite receiving strong ratings and being part of one of the network’s franchises.

Unlike “Blue Bloods,” “NCIS: Hawaii” never got a chance to end on its own terms. That’s a shame, too, as the Season 3 finale raised some interesting questions ahead of the previously planned fourth installment.

The final episode of “NCIS: Hawaii” ends with Special Agent Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) arriving home expecting to find her daughter waiting for her. Instead, she sees Maggie Shaw (Julie White), her teacher, waiting in the living room. Shaw asks Tennant for a drink after the concerned mother inquires about her daughter’s whereabouts, and the screen fades to black. It’s a strong way to end the season and build anticipation for the next season, directors Jean Nash, Christopher Silber and Matt Bosack said TVLine They would handle it differently now.

“If we had known it was coming, we may not have ended the series on such a cliffhanger. And the fact that the studio and network didn’t shut us down makes it seem like they probably didn’t see it coming, either. We loved our show and I know others loved it, too, but the TV business is a fickle mistress and can’t One has to make business decisions personally, but it still hurts.

The creators teased that the disappearance of Tennant’s daughter was connected to the agent’s history as a spy, and could also have been involved with her mother. Unfortunately, fans may never get to see this story unfold on screen, as the decision to cancel “NCIS: Hawaii” appears to be final.