Why CBS canceled NCIS: New Orleans

The “NCIS” franchise is among the most successful in the history of television. The flagship program still goes today after 22 seasons and is quickly approaching 500 episodes. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, he is only rivated by the monster that is “Law & Order” in regards to the long -term cousin schedule shows. More than the program itself, “NCIS” is the gift it continues to give, since it has generated several very successful spin-offs, especially “NCIS: New Orleans”. That series, which premiered in 2014, had a star career with which anyone who creates a program could only dream. Even so, even very good things must come to an end. But why did this beloved program have to end?

“NCIS: New Orleans” finished his seven -seasons career in May 2021 after CBS decided to cancel the criminal drama established in Big Easy. The network decided to cancel the program since filming in season 7 was underway, which meant that the creators could give Agent Dwayne Pride and the gang an adequate farewell. By TvinsidsThe cast and crew were alerted to the decision in February 2021. Although they could adjust and give the show an adequate end, that did not make it less painful. As expressed by executive producer Jan Nash at that time:

“It was painful, but it was a blessing to have enough time to make adjustments and an end that feels very faithful to New Orleans.”

In total, the program worked for seven seasons and 155 episodes, which is a marking that few programs (much less spin-offs) are touched. That is to enter the territory “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Even so, fans at that time wondered why CBS was letting the program go. “I don’t understand why NCIS New Orleans was canceled,” asked a fan about Twitter As the end of the series approached. Another directly supplied with the main star Scott Bakula saying“I don’t know how to save Ncis New Orleans, but I don’t want the program to end!

The hashtag #savencisneworleans also won some traction in social networks around the “NCIS: New Orleans” era was finishing, but it was not enough. The program issued its final episode, entitled “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler”, on May 23, 2021.

So why CBS canceled the program? The answer is surprisingly simple. “NCIS: New Orleans” suffered a decrease in rather serious qualifications in its seven years. The series premiered in 2014 when Network Television was still a bigger player in the media panorama. In later years, the transmission has taken a major bite of the audience cake, with Netflix serving as the reigning king of the hill.

To illustrate how dramatic it was the change over time, the first season of the program averaged more than 15 million viewers, according to Nielsen. In season 6, that number fell to 6.3 million viewers. The strong decrease continued in season 7, when the program averaged only 4.8 million viewers. CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl, speaking with Deadline In 2021, he did not quote qualifications specifically, but made it clear that the program had followed its course:

“Every year evaluates what the strongest statement is doing for its schedule and what gives it the best circulation, what will provide you with the greatest number of viewers. You ask that question for almost all shows every year, how can we do the schedule As strong as we can in autumn, and that leads to some difficult decisions.

Like “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: Hawaii” before it, the program was canceled because it no longer made sense that the network keep it in the air. For CBS, or any network for the case, everything is reduced to cost/benefits analysis. Although the procedures are generally not the most expensive programs to produce, they are not the cheapest. It is also important to remember that cast wages generally increase as a show progresses. Then, with greater costs and decrease in the audience, mathematics were no longer reviewed.

The Covid-19 pandemia, which closed Hollywood for months in 2020, was also an important factor that hit many shows at this time. Even so, the cancellation was a surprise for his stars, which included Lucas Black (Christopher Lasalle), Zoe McLellan (Meredith Brody), Rob Kerkovich (Sebastian Lund) and Vanessa Ferlito (Tammy Gregorio).

“Being this last season, leaving in the middle of a pandemic, I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said Scott Bakula in a May 2021 interview with Tvinsids. “I am surprised that the program has been canceled.” Bakula said the program had moved the time slots several times during his career, but fans still followed them. In the same interview, the actor, also known for his papers in “Quantum Leap” and “Star Trek: Enterprise”, expressed his gratitude to fans:

“We have had a great career. They have been very supportive. They seem to have liked the program, they like the stories we tell, the characters of the program, and that is why we do it. We do it because we want people to grow a relationship and attribute and invite us to their homes and do not take it lightly.

“NCIS: New Orleans” is now being transmitted in Paramount+, Or you can take the complete series on Amazon DVD.