Weeks after NCIS: Hawai’i cancellation, one of its stars mocks it with CBS’ viewership data. Premiering in 2021 as part of NCIS’ expansion with spinoffs, the Hawai’i outpost of the famed agency introduced a whole new team led by Vanessa Lachey’s Jane Tennant. Focusing on crimes that involve military and national security, NCIS: Hawai’i was just starting to establish a solid fan base when the network surprisingly pulled the plug on it. While it isn’t as popular as its parent series, the offshoot was doing well enough to continue. Unfortunately, CBS thought otherwise.
In light of the divisive cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i, series star Jason Antoon, who played cyber intelligence analyst Ernie Malik, mocks the show’s end after ratings data is released.
Antoon’s first social media posts highlighted NCIS: Hawai’i ranking as the 16th overall most-watched series during the 2023-2024 season, which is a significant climb in the charts from its previous year.
He also cited its series finale ranking at number 11 in terms of the largest 7-Day lift for primetime finales airing on the key broadcast networks.
Can CBS Still Uncancel NCIS: Hawai’i?
CBS Has Walked Back A Show Cancellation Before
Cancelling Hawai’i was already controversial long before the viewership data for CBS’ latest year was released. It marks the third spinoff from the famed police procedural franchise to end, following NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans. That being said, out of all the cancelled offshoots in the universe, the Lachey-led series had the shortest time on the air. What makes its abrupt end more frustrating is that NCIS: Hawaii ended on a cliffhanger, with Tennant’s next case being set up. Now, it will remain unresolved — unless CBS reverses its initial verdict on the project.
The best example is CBS changing its mind on SWAT ‘s cancellation after Shemar Moore’s public comments about wanting the series to continue.
In any case, there is precedent when it comes to networks walking back on their decisions on shows. The best example is CBS changing its mind on SWAT’s cancellation after Shemar Moore’s public comments about wanting the series to continue. Antoon’s criticisms over NCIS: Hawai’i’s unexpected end may not accomplish what Moore did essentially on his own. However, it could spark discussions among his co-stars and the viewership that the series was building. This could prompt CBS to at least consider greenlighting NCIS: Hawai’i season 4, just so the show can end with a proper send-off instead of a cliffhanger.
If NCIS: Hawai’i’s cancellation is overturned, however, the public may have to wait for a while to learn about its broadcasting schedule. While NCIS season 22 will maintain its original timeslot, the spinoff’s old block will be taken over by Mark Harmon’s NCIS: Origins, which will tackle Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ origins story in the agency. This means that CBS will have to find a new schedule for Tennant’s team’s return. Whatever the case may be, giving them another chance to properly say goodbye is infinitely better despite a potential wait time than leaving the show with a massive storytelling question.
Why CBS Really Canceled NCIS: Hawai’i Despite Its Performance
As The Viewership Data Proved, NCIS: Hawai’i Had Good Ratings
Usual cancelations stem from the poor performance of a show. That said, as Antoon cited, NCIS: Hawai’i was doing good numbers, making CBS’ decision to pull the plug on it baffling. Subsequently, the network executives addressed the issue, by saying that the cost and ratings ratio, as well as cohesion in its overall programming, was what led to the difficult decision of ending NCIS: Hawai’i unceremoniously. It’s worth noting, however, that aside from NCIS: Origins, another offshoot from the franchise is coming in NCIS: Tony and Ziva, though it will stream on Paramount+ instead of being on CBS.
How NCIS Can Fix Hawai’i’s Cliffhanger Without Uncanceling The Spinoff
Even Without Bringing Back NCIS: Hawai’i, CBS Can Solve Its Final Mystery
In the event that CBS stands its ground despite the appeal to bring back NCIS: Hawai’i, the franchise has a way to fix the spinoff’s cliffhanger finale. The main NCIS show could just bring over Tennant to be part of MCRT on the heels of her series’ ending. Tennant could be Jessica Knight’s replacement on Alden Parker’s team, and instead of finding someone new to the franchise, recruiting an already-established character with ties to NCIS would make the difficult transition objectively easier.
Admittedly, it isn’t an ideal situation, but this is the simplest way to ensure that Maggie Shaw’s return mystery will be resolved.
There will be a caveat to this set-up, however, since it would mean that Tennant would have to be demoted to be an NCIS Senior Field Agent. For context, Tennant was the Special Agent-in-Charge on NCIS: Hawai’i, and she was highly effective in her job. Admittedly, it isn’t an ideal situation, but this is the simplest way to ensure that Maggie Shaw’s return mystery will be resolved. Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult for the spinoff to revisit the case and give the story a proper ending.