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| Starring: | |
| Num Episodes: | 10 |
| Network: | CBS |
| Episode List: | List of NCIS episodes |
The twenty-first season of the American police procedural television drama series NCIS was announced on February 21, 2023, by CBS, and premiered on February 12, 2024, and concluded on May 6, 2024. This is the first season not to feature David McCallum (as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard), who died on September 25, 2023, though he is still posthumously credited in the first two episodes. Due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the season consists of only 10 episodes, the shortest amount in the show's history, thereby beating the record previously held by the eighteenth season which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. This season also includes the 1,000th episode of the entire NCIS franchise, which aired on April 15.
On April 9, 2024, CBS renewed the show for a 22nd season.[1]
NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., the NCIS team is led by Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker, an ex-FBI Special Agent and a skilled investigator.
See main article: List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters.
See also: List of NCIS episodes.
On February 21, 2023, NCIS was renewed for a twenty-first season, which premiered on February 12, 2024. The production of the season was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the United States.[2]
David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the show's first 20 seasons, died on 25 September 2023. The second episode of the season paid tribute to him with various clips from past episodes to celebrate Ducky's life and memories with the team, as well as the appearance of former cast member Michael Weatherly, with DiNozzo showing support to Palmer moments before the funeral.
On January 5, 2024, it was announced that star Daniela Ruah would be directing an episode this season,[3] later revealed to be episode 4, titled "Left Unsaid".
On March 14, 2024, it was revealed that both Ruah and Vanessa Lachey would make an appearance as Kensi Blye and Jane Tennant, respectively, in the 1,000th overall episode of the franchise, though neither Kensi nor Jane appeared “in person” alongside the D.C. team.[4]